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Ultraframe sets the industry agenda at Cyprus Uzone event

Over 150 of the UK's largest conservatory fabricators and installers enjoyed Cypriot hospitality last month thanks to Ultraframe. The company used the event - the 'Uzone Convention' - to unveil both major new product and marketing initiatives, all which serve to reinforce its position as the market leader.

The Uzone convention was staged at the Four Seasons hotel, one of the best in Cyprus, and provided a relaxed and stimulating environment for customers to view new products and debate issues facing the industry - as well as valuable opportunities for networking.

Three separate 'sessions', using the laiest audio visual, video and theatrical production techniques created impressive light shows and stimulating product reveals. During these sessions, the audience of key installers, fabricators and distributors learnt how Ultraframe has invested in three key areas that will set the future agenda of the industry, namely
• improved product performance and affordability;
• raising standards and maintaining consumer confidence; and
• accelerating consumer demand.

These will be explained in detail on The Gl@zine in coming weeks.

These initiatives enable Ultraframe customers to unlock over 5.6 million 'hot prospects' - consumers who fit a likely conservatory-purchasing profile; all of whom add up to £40 billion sales opportunity for the industry.

To stimulate this latent demand from homeowners, Ultraframe announced:
• The groundbreaking new Uzone roof, which joins the existing classic Victorian to create a 'one stop shop' destination, offering conservatory systems in all styles for all budgets.
• The introduction of The Ultraframe Guild of Approved Conservatory Installers, recognising, for the first time, installation standards alongside Ultraframe's existing high product and fabrication standards.
• The launch of The Ultraframe Essential Guide fo Conservatories, a glossy magazine delivering homeowners with accessible, crucial information to conservatory purchasing, and which forms a key part of a sustained consumer communication programme.

One of the most important aspects of the business agenda was the establishment of the Ultraframe-sponsored Conservatory Forum. This unique high-powered forum discussed major issues of the day - such as FENSA, Building Regulations for conservatories and the problems caused by cowboy builders - and featured presentations by three industry heavyweights, followed by an interactive Q&A session.

But the Cyprus Uzone convention wasn't just all work: there was also lots of fun and socialising as part of the package. Golf, sightseeing trips, shopping, gala dinners, Cypriot feasts and local singers, musicians, and belly dancers all enabled customers to network, catch up or simply chill out.

Stewart Houlihan, Managing Director of Consort, one of the UK's leading trade suppliers of complete conservatories, said of the event, 'We all appreciate the legendary quality of the Ultraframe product and the Cyprus convention was a quality happening too. It enabled us to combine business and pleasure and proved to be a truly remarkable experience. It's certainly one I would like to repeat next year'.

Private House Builders - £38 billion market newly mapped by Windowbase

Over a year of research gives industry a new database of Private House Builders - launched this month. Windowbase, already known for its specialised databases of Building Materials, says it's a "New kind of Database" for those wishing to reach House Builders throughout the UK.

It's the contact names and addresses of over 5000 people in 3900 companies and regional offices who, between them, build around 200,000 dwellings. It also shows the numbers of house units built in the previous year and, for the regional and head offices, details of major group affiliations. All information is only derived from the companies themselves, and uniquely provides the date when collected. "That way," says Windowbase, "users can make their own decisions about the confidence they put in the data."

An extended version of the database is also available, using information provided by about half of the companies. It includes price ranges of houses sold, and materials usage for cladding, windows and conservatories. That is how they came up with the statistic that the average number of houses annually built by the companies on the database is 55. From those responding to the additional questions the average price is about £188,000, with 17% over £300,000. So Windowbase defines the market as around £38 billion.

The information is available by region - in computer format suitable for the user's software - or as mailing labels addressed to the senior executive in each company (or regional office) and the senior buyer where this is different.

Demonstration data is available from the Windowbase website www.winbase.co.uk where Datasheet 10 - for the Standard database, and Datasheet 11 - for the enhanced data, are also downloadable. The data sheets can be posted to those who e-mail hb@winbase.co.uk with their company name and address. The latest Newsletter - "Issues no 26", is also available on request from hb@winbase.co.uk

How much? A licence to use the database costs £1480, and the enhanced data is available at an additional £860. A set of 5200 mailing labels to named individuals is available for £750, but smaller amounts for any regional selection can be had for as little as £120. Windowbase are offering the standard database for orders placed before May 31st at a special launch price of £980 + vat cash with order.

As with their databases on other industry sectors, Windowbase sets out to be each customer's research department, providing data from which sales and marketing plans can be made and carried out successfully.

HT TROPLAST AG 'Performs Well in Testing Conditions', and Pins Hope for Future on Self Clean PVC-U Frame!

With Group sales of Euro855.3m worldwide (previous year 847m), HT TROPLAST AG in Troisdorf, Germany achieved stable figures in fiscal year 2002 on a still depressed construction market.

Gross sales in the part of the HT Group comprising the consolidated HT affiliates also remained stable at Euro740.6m (previous year 743.8m). With few exceptions, this presents an accurate picture of the HT Group's European activities. The pre-tax profit after goodwill tax write-off slipped from Euro 29.4m in 2001 to Euro 26.1m in 2002.

In the plastic window profile sector, the TROCAL and KBE brands particularly as a result of encouraging trends in Eastern Europe - recorded growth in sales. With KOMMERLING, sales in Germany declined because of the slump in the building industry. TROSlFOL films for laminated safety glass continue the successful trend of recent years.

The fall in profits is largely attributable to the higher cost of raw materials, the squeeze on prices in the profile sector and ailing TROCELLEN foam activities in Germany. lmprovements in the result were achieved with TROSlFOL and DYNOS vulcanized fibre for flexible abrasive discs. Business with KOMMERLlNG PVC sheets also made good progress and developed encouragingly in the fast-growing US market. As a result of the decision to relocate the administration from Dillingen to the production site in Germany's capital Berlin, KBE will benefit from enhanced efficiency.

'The backlog of demand in Eastern Europe is huge', says CEO Dr. Hans Werner Kleffner. 'The advantages of modern plastic windows are highly valued, and particularly the possible energy savings. On the market for window profiles, HT is not alone, but occupies a clear leading position not only in Germany, but also beyond Germany's borders in Poland, the Ukraine, Russia, the Baltic states and all of South-Eastern Europe - and in some instances with large shares of the market. The heartening growth here and, more modestly, in Western Europe further reduced HT's dependence on the German market in 2002.'

In a project for the future, HT is working with the glass industry on a PVC-U window frame that rarely has to be cleaned (pictured). Through the application of a photocatalytic surface, cleaning work can be reduced to a minimum.

Initiating expansion In the structural glazing sector, TROSlFOL polyvinyl butyral (PVB) films for laminated safety glass are the market leader and are very well set for the future. Laminated safety glass is on the advance. Because of its high safety, this type of glass is capturing shares of the market from other types. TROSIFOL's export rate is 85 per cent.

East of Moscow, in Nizhni Novgorod, a new production plant for PVB films is currently being built, in which both recycled and virgin material will be processed. As Russia's oniy manufacturer, TROSlFOL is thus taking a clear stand. TROSlFOL runs straight from the roll into glass production. This is an extremely efficient process in which virtually no waste is generated. TROSlFOL celebrates its 50th anniversary this year: launched back in 1953, 'TROisdorfer Slcherheits FOLie' (Troisdorf safety film) has accompanied many advances in the glass sector.

HT also breaks new ground in recycling and in the elimination of certain additives. When it comes to UV stabilizers in plastic windows, it is substituting lead with calcium-zinc stabilizers much faster than demanded by law. This is a pivotal aspect of the voluntary undertaking by the PVC industry, in which HT has had a large hand. Last year 75 per cent of PVC products were changed over, and the whole process will be completed by the end of 2003.

Over and above this, and independently of competitive ambitions, HT has promoted dialogue within the industry and favours voluntary undertakings from market participants in the field of recycling as well. The REWlNDO window recycling scheme launched at the beginning of 2002 together with leading competitors is intended to raise PVC recycling rates.

Duraflex Bucks Trend as it Reports Q1 Sales up 16%

Forecasts of the window market shrinking are no barrier to the continued growth of Duraflex. Following a record year in 2002, sales in the first quarter of 2003 are already up by over 16%, compared to the same period last year.

Whilst new business wins have certainly played their part, the company has benefited from a close working relationship with its existing customers in the key market sectors of New Build and Commercial. Sales in these areas have increased dramatically on the back of the company's commitment to product development and proactive lead generation.

"Our investment in machinery, technology and, most importantly, people is helping us to build a competitive product and service offering which is delivering tangible benefits right across our customer base," commented Duraflex MD, Chris Phillips.

Contact: Neil Roberts
Tel: 08705 351351
http://www.duraflex.co.uk

UAP acquires NG Hardware and Rolls out New Products

UAP's recent acquisition of the assets of NG Hardware have further strengthened their range in the hardware market. Sales Director, David Clegg comments 'we have always had an excellent range, and some products have been on the fringes of what we did as standard.

'With the NG Hardware asset acquisition some of these products have now been taken as part of our core business, door chains being one of them. Door Chains are extremely important to the security of any door and at UAP we offer two different types of chain.

'Our economy chain is a traditional chain available in either brass or chrome, and our luxury chain is a high quality modern looking product giving the maximum security, and again is available in brass or chrome.

'Added to our core door chain range we have recently introduced a high quality security letterplate shroud, available in silver or gold anodised. These superb security shrouds are required by Secure by Design in various applications.

The shrouds work with most of the letterplates available in the market and are available in either 10" or 12" versions. With an easy fix facility they are the ideal way to prevent any would-be thieves breaking into a property via the letterplate access.

Tel: 0161 763 5290
mailto:univ.imports@ukonline.co.uk
http://www.universal-imports.com

Thermoseal achieves 20% Growth and Invests for the Future

During a record year in 2002, Thermoseal Group moved into new head quarters to cope with an expected upturn in business. This growth did materialise, with sales up approximately 20% on the previous year. The company would have struggled to cope with this prior to the factory move as new cantliever racking meant that complete stillages of spacer bar and other bulk products could be shipped intact, enabled stock holding to be doubled.

'Thermoseal Group is the fastest growing independent specialist of insulating glass components in the UK market place', says sales director Mark Hickox. 'Every day a new "Big Player" in the market is considering the switch to Thermoseal's modern distribution methods which are aimed to directly meet the needs of the customer, not just to make things easier for ourselves!'

The Georgian fabrication department at Thermoseal has recently seen large re-investment. Three new complete bend stations with complementing saws and tooling have been installed at all the depots around the UK and Ireland. This will ensure even faster turn around on standard patterns and less pressure on the specialist fabrication department in Birmingham.

A new Panther-Cad resin design table was recently installed in the Artisan Design department at Thermoseal head office in Birmingham (pictured). This was to help speed production of the many new specialist creations undertaken by the design team.

'If you want something unique all you need is a sketch or a vision we can do the rest!' says Mark. ‘A large work was recently manufactured for a famous footballer's house in the north of England’, he adds.

Contact Mark Hickox on 0121 331 3950.
http://www.thermosealgroup.com

'The Energy White Paper places great importance on reducing energy use in buildings. Our industry has strived over the past 12 months in particular to develop more and more energy efficient products to meet the UK's Kyoto requirements and demands from Building Regulations. Despite all this the Chancellor has again chosen to ignore these issues.

''I repeat the statement I made in relation to the Chancellor's pre-Budget address - a reduction in VAT will provide the Government with a 'win win' situation in a number of areas. These include reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the environment which will help the UK meet its 2010 targets; keeping the existing housing stock in good condition and finally helping the industry in its battle to combat the cowboys." He concluded.

Budget of Modest Assistance, Says BPF

Speaking immediately after the Chancellor's Budget speech, Peter Davis, BPF Director General commented that the outcome will be only of modest assistance to the hard pressed plastics manufacturing industry in the UK.

'Clearly we are pleased that not only he has frozen the Climate Change Levy (CCL) rate but has also announced an intent to reform and abolish a large number of regulations. He has recognised that the Government's Better Regulations Task Force has made little impression on the problem, as the Nine Associations have long argued.

'It's good news that corporation tax and capital gains tax are all being frozen as are vehicle duty rates. We also welcome the encouragement given to innovation through the extension of tax breaks for Research and Development.

'Businesses will also breath a sigh of relief that NICs are left untouched after the recent unwelcome increases. For the plastics packaging industry, there had been fears that a plastic bag tax inspired by the misconceived Irish model could have featured in the budget with implications for other types of packaging, however lobbies so far have appeared to ward this off.

However, it has to be said that this Budget will do little to help those struggling companies competing in global markets to improve their situation in the short to medium term. We are concerned that there still doesn't appear to be an accurate appreciation of real growth in the economy. Whilst the Chancellor has reduced his forecasts, nevertheless he still appears somewhat optimistic from the standpoint of the industrial grassroots.'

NFB responds to chancellor’s 2003 budget

The National Federation of Builders gave a lukewarm reaction to the Chancellor’s 2003 Budget. 
 
The trade association, which represents almost 3,000 medium sized contractors and smaller builders, welcomed the Budget’s package of tax reliefs, incentives and red tape cuts for SMEs.
 
However, NFB chief executive Barry Stephens said the measures had to be viewed in the context of a hike in National Insurance contributions and rising employers liability insurance costs which continued to erode contractors’ margins.
 
The NFB also applauded Gordon Brown’s decision to raise the qualifying threshold for small and medium enterprises to the European maximum of £20m, saying it would enable thousands more construction companies to benefit from capital allowances on items such as plant and machinery and IT.
 
It also said the Chancellor’s commitment to sustained investment in public services, despite the loss of momentum in the UK economy, was welcome news for contractors active in the public sector.
 
Mr Stephens also said the Chancellor had once again failed to recognise the benefits of a VAT reduction on repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) work, calling it a ‘missed opportunity in tackling the shortage of affordable homes and the on-going problem of rogue traders’. 
 
He said: 'We have long maintained that a reduction on RMI would not only help level the playing field in the market, but would also stimulate the refurbishment of thousands of empty homes across the country and help the Government meet its targets.
 
'This is more evidence of a lack of joined up thinking between Government departments and central government policy.'
 
Mr Stephens said the NFB would also be fully representing the interests of its members in the Government’s consultation exercise on the tax treatment of employer provided vans.

Glass Industry Failing to Meet new Quality Management Standard, says BSI

The UK glass sector is being warned that it may lose contracts if they fail to update to the new international quality management standard.

The warning comes from leading certification body, BSI Management Systems, which estimates that only five per cent of the 640 businesses that hold the old ISO 9001 certificates have transferred to the much improved ISO 9001:2000.

Companies that fail to transfer before the December 2003 deadline may miss out on the clear benefits of ISO 9001:2000 including the potential cost savings and reduction in red tape that the standard brings.

For example companies would face problems meeting the quality requirements of customers in the automotive sector, many of which will specify that suppliers must meet - as a minimum - the updated ISO 9001:2000 standard. This provides the base for progression to the automotive specific quality standard, ISO/TS16949:2002, which is increasingly being mandated by vehicle manufacturers and tier one component makers.

The International Organisation for Standards (ISO) regularly updates all standards. ISO 9001:2000 was created after feedback from UK business illustrated the shortcomings of the old standard, introduced in 1994. ISO 9001:2000 has three distinct new benefits:
* less red tape - companies will find it easier to show that they meet the requirements of the updated standard
* focus on customer satisfaction - the updated standard helps companies ensure that customer satisfaction is central to their operation, making them more competitive
* more flexible - the updated standard is more flexible, enabling companies to run quality management systems the way that is most relevant to them

Nick Moy of BSI Management Systems, says:
"All standards are updated periodically to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of business and deliver real benefits. As businesses evolve, standards must also evolve and ISO 9001 is no exception. The standard was changed to benefit those companies certified to it; it is less bureaucratic than the old standard and focuses more on customer satisfaction. The updated standard will be of real benefit to companies in the glass industry but they risk missing out if they don't transfer from the old standard."

The old standard ISO 9001/2/3:1994 was criticised as bureaucratic, inflexible and focused on providing fixed standards rather than encouraging continuous improvement of quality.

The main difference between the old and the updated standard involves the manner in which management systems are to be implemented. ISO 9001/2/3:1994 required that a company met its requirements by showing that it undertook a set of distinct activities to safeguard quality. ISO 9001:2000 however encourages that these systems are interactive and provide feedback:
* under ISO 9001/2/3:1994 a company did not need to show that it had a customer complaints/comments system
* under ISO 9001:2000 it has to show that not only does it have a system to record comments but that these comments are fed back in and acted upon, helping to improve overall quality of the product or service and increase customer satisfaction.

Companies requiring further information should contact BSI Management Systems Helpdesk on 020 8996 7720.

Eurocell Had Biggest Stand at Glassex, but says it had Successful Show

Eurocell Profiles was satisfied with this year's Glassex, despite having the largest stand at the exhibition:

"Although numbers were down on last year, we feel that many customers were drawn to our stand by a number of new product innovations, as well as looking more closely at our 60mm and 70mm window and door systems. There was also a great deal of interest in Eurocell's Pinnacle Modular and Traditional Conservatory roofing systems. Our sales force are currently following up a number of very positive leads from the exhibition, and hope to have a number of new customers on board shortly,' says Martin Saunders, Eurocell Profiles Sales Director.

Eurocell Building Plastics who have recently celebrated opening their 50th depot were consistently busy on their 'mock up trade counter,' continuing the promotion of their range of plastic home improvement items. 'Eurocell Building Plastics are going from strength to strength, during the show we also confirmed the opening of our 51st depot in Chester,' says David Salt, Eurocell Building Plastics Sales Director.

Eurocell continue to offer potential and existing customers 'the complete package' through its 60mm and 70mm window and door systems, conservatory roofs and full range of building plastics.

During Glassex, Eurocell Profiles were also presented with BBA certification for their Ultimate 70mm PCE system, highlighted in the photo.
http://www.eurocell.co.uk

K2 Glass Still Counting the Enquiries from Glassex

K2 Glass Ltd saw enquiry levels rocket for their new and innovative conservatory roof glass, Celsius at this years' Glassex show.

This new and revolutionary glass was displayed in the form of a heat and water tunnel on a separate stand to the main K2 presence in order to highlight the significant performance characteristics over standard glass and polycarbonate products.

Improved insulation and thermal properties combined with an easy clean coating and a subtle blue tint has resulted in the development of a truly technically superior product. K2's industry leading levels of support also mean that the product is available within 5-7 days and at a price nearly half that of other performance conservatory roof glass. The first units have already been manufactured since the show and delivered to several new customers across the country.

David Bradshaw, managing director of K2 Glass Ltd commented 'Such was the confidence in the product that we gave over 1,000 brochures and 150 heat lamp kits out each containing a lamp, standard glass, polycarbonate and Celsius samples for comparative purposes.'

'With orders already coming through I believe we have launched a truly exceptional product that will provide further success for K2.'

Tel: 01254 693111

Ultraspan announces Rebranding as Robinsons Structures

Ultraspan, supplier of glazed structures, walkways, canopies, atria, large conservatories and swimming pool enclosures announces that as from April 2003 the company will be known as: - Robinsons Structures Ltd, with the strapline to its new logo: 'the future covered'.

'Over the years we have established ourselves as a market leader in many sectors, including numerous prestigious bespoke projects for local authorities, universities, garden centres and major retail outlets', the company says.

'The directors and staff wish to assure all customers and clients that the change of name is part of a major initiative in the development and expansion of our business and future strategy'.

Contact: Steve Abraham, Business Development Manager.
Tel 023 8052 8165
mailto:sales@robinsons-ltd.com
http://www.robinsons-ltd.com

Shepley's 2003 Customer Conference attracts over 130 Delegates

Shepley wishes to say a big thank you to over 130 delegates who helped make the 2003 Shepley Customer Conference such a success. Organised in an exhibition style setting with new products on display, seminars and business presentations, the conference also gave Shepley's customers the opportunity to meet the Shepley team and share ideas and experiences with other installers from across the country.

New products on show included developments to our conservatory roof system, a new and improved composite door range, extended marketing support, Shepley's recently launched web site, as well as a number of exciting developments for the future.

Taking centre stage was the Buyer's Club, an exclusive shopping service using the cumulative buying power of Shepley' dealers to obtain preferential trading terms from a group of Approved Suppliers. All suppliers have been hand picked for their reputation, quality and competitiveness. These were chosen to help installers make money or offer advice on how to be more effective in running your business.

Tim Walker, sales director of Shepley, comments, 'With the installer network now approaching 70 dealers with a combined turnover of around £100m we think it's important to hold initiatives like the Customer Conference. Getting customers, the Shepley team and suppliers all together in one place gives us all a great opportunity to develop relationships and benefit from each other's experiences. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this such a successful conference.'

Tel: 0161 339 2433
http://www.shepley.com

Coral Windows Switches to Deceuninck Profile System

Bradford based Coral Windows and Conservatories have become the latest fabricator and installer to manufacture Deceuninck profiles. Since moving to (and restoring) the Coral Mill in Bradford, Coral have become one of the north of England's most successful replacement window, door and conservatory companies.

A determination to achieve and maintain top standards, by demanding the best products and service, has helped ensure that they are one of only four companies in the country to gain the British Board of Agreement Security standard for both its window and door products. This, along with meeting the West Yorkshire Police Recommendation Standard, gives them 'The Coral Difference'.

Roofline replacement is a market that Coral will continue to develop using Deceuninck's Perc Installer Scheme to its best advantage.

'I'm a firm believer in stability. This is only the second time in our twelve year history that we have changed supplier, but quite simply the quality of the Deceuninck product and the service back-up we receive is second to none' - John Valente, Managing Director, Coral Windows.

Tel: 01249 816969
Email: mailto:deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com
Web: http://www.deceuninck.com

CertainTeed's Newest Window Manufacturing Plant Open for Business in Lebanon, Indiana

On March 31st CertainTeed Corporation, the North American building products manufacturers, began full production at the company's new vinyl window manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Indiana. The official grand opening of the facility will take place on June 19th, where local media will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

'We are open for business, taking orders, and glad we chose to build this plant in Indiana,' said Harald Jacobsen, president of CertainTeed's Window Group. 'We have hired a wonderful group of people from the local area and we are committed to nurturing a positive and safe working environment for each of them with excellent growth opportunities.' The multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility currently employs 75 people, but employment levels could reach as many as 350 within five years.

'There is growing demand for our windows in the Midwest,' says Jacobsen, adding, 'Lebanon is a perfect location and will certainly help us meet this demand, while driving a high level of service for our wholesale distribution customers.'

Located just 25 miles northwest of Indianapolis in the Lebanon Business Park, the 210,000 square-foot facility is a window fabrication facility. The vinyl components of the windows are produced by CertainTeed's Hagerstown, Maryland window facility. The Lebanon plant takes those components, assembles the windows, and distributes them to customers throughout the region. The plant also houses a research and development center as well as a product showroom and training facility for customers and remodelling contractors.

'The construction of the Lebanon plant is a key component of our strategic objective to become a nationwide, fully integrated window manufacturer and supplier,' says Jacobsen. CertainTeed now owns and operates four window manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. The others are located in Auburn, Washington; Richmond, Virginia; and Corona, California.

'We couldn't be more pleased to welcome CertainTeed to Indiana,' said Joseph Kernan, Indiana Lieutenant Governor. 'The decision to locate this facility in Lebanon will benefit the company, the community and our state as a whole. The investment brings quality jobs to our residents and great opportunities for CertainTeed to grow.'

CertainTeed Corporation is a North American manufacturer of building materials, including roofing, siding, insulation, windows and patio doors, ventilation, fence, decking, railing, foundations and pipe. 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 $2.5 billion in 2002.

Web: http://www.certainteed.com

Strong Cost Savings Help Offset Higher Energy Prices, Driving Alcoa's Income From Continuing Operations Higher

Highlights of the quarter:
*Income from continuing operations was $0.23 per diluted share versus a loss of $0.15 in the previous quarter and income of $0.22 in the year-ago quarter
*Revenue was $5.11 billion, up from both the prior and year-ago quarters
*Gross margin expanded sequentially from 19.2 percent to 20.3 percent
*Cost savings were $52 million in the quarter, bringing the Company's annual run rate on savings to $808 million
*Every segment of the business demonstrated improved sequential profitability except Packaging and Consumer, which experienced seasonal declines.

On April 4th Alcoa reported income from continuing operations in the first quarter of $195 million or $0.23 per diluted share compared to a loss from continuing operations of $125 million or $0.15 per diluted share in the previous quarter. The loss in the fourth quarter of 2002 included restructuring charges, goodwill impairment and losses on divestitures totaling $258 million. Income from continuing operations was $184 million or $0.22 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2002.

'We are focused on managing what is under our control in a challenging business environment,' said Alain Belda, Chairman and CEO of Alcoa. 'Despite significantly higher energy prices which offset more favourable metal prices, we achieved solid cost savings results from the restructuring undertaken over the last two years as well as synergies from acquired businesses. Every segment of the business demonstrated improved profitability except for Packaging and Consumer, which experienced typical seasonal declines. Given the uncertain economic and geopolitical outlook today, we will keep our focus on controlling costs, improving productivity, and building closer connections to our customers.'

Finishing Touches put to Paternoster Square with Robot Technology

LMC Group's specialist curtain wall, facade and fenestration installation and management contractor, LMC +, has utilised robot technology to put the finishing touches to its Paternoster Square contract.

The robot has been used to install unitised curtain walling to Building K2 at the Stanhope Estates development. In total, LMC + has supplied up to 50 installation technicians, logistics and supervisory personnel to the contract, managing the installation of units on the exterior envelope, atrium walls and roofs, and shop fronts, reporting to main contractor Bovis.

LMC + has used its industry knowledge to position itself as a highly specialised installation resource centre. The company retains knowledge of personnel, materials and logistics and at very short notice can assemble and mobilise specific teams suited to installation and remediation projects of all shapes and sizes.

The service comprises installers, trained to a level in excess of the European standard, and experienced project and site managers who can plan and execute the perfect installation or remediation programme.

'Curtain wall installation suffers from a reputation of being informal and poorly disciplined. LMC + provides a highly professional, superbly trained premium service for developers and clients,' says Managing Director Rod Milicevic. 'Our approach is to look at each job individually and consider the specific logistical challenge it presents, before assembling a team ideally qualified and experienced to tackle it. We understand legislation, safety demands, advanced methods and materials. Although we have had a robot for many years, we have used this and other key mechanical handling equipment and adapted them to suit each bespoke application. At Paternoster Square, the robot technology proved to be the prime solution for the particular task.'

New Canary Wharf Building gets the High Glass Treatment from Optima

A project featuring dramatic architectural glass in Canary Wharf in London's Docklands has been completed. The contract was won by Optima Architectural Glass and involved the installation of over 1,000 square metres of glazed doors, screens and fittings. The five-storey building, known as DS8, is in Canada Square and includes 200,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities, with a link to existing underground shops and cafes.

The glass work together with ancillary equipment and steel work was manufactured and installed in less than five months. The components include: steel-framed bridges with glass balustrading, sliding doors, fire screen, full-height atrium glazing, external cladding, glazed roller shutters and access doors.

The shopfront for a new Waitrose store consists of a 12mm toughened glass front, four sliding access doors with stacking glass partitions and high level spandrel glazing using 6mm toughened heat-soaked, silk-screen printed glass. External cladding comprises powder coated aluminium frame panels with double glazed glass and block in-fills.

More than 25 full-height atrium glazing panels, each weighing 320 kgs, were used on level four of the building, and required specialist hydraulic glass lifting equipment to position them safely.

Optima has also addressed fire safety issues with its stainless steel framed, fire screen designed to withstand intense heat for up to 60 minutes.

The Radstock-based steel fabrication company, Curtsons, also a member of the HLS Group, manufactured and delivered the steel framework.

Optima Architectural Glass has recently finished fitting out the new Reebok flagship UK sports club located at the top of DS8, and is due to complete a large project for a new shopping centre, also located in the Canary Wharf complex, early next year.

Architects on this project were Chapman Taylor and the main contractor was Canary Wharf Contractors Ltd.

Optima Architectural Glass, part of the HLS Construction Group, is a specialist glazing contractor based in High Wycombe with more than ten years experience in the design, management and installation of glass. It provides an extensive range of services and products for all architectural glass applications.

Web: http://www.optimasystems.com

Shepherd's Glass House Palace

Shepherd Construction is currently refurbishing the 1960s complex of office towers that was the former BT Swan House building in Newcastle Upon Tyne. The building had been left to decay over recent years, but later this year it will emerge renamed as 55 Degrees North, offering state of the art living in a city centre location.

The redevelopment programme comprises of the conversion of offices on floors 4 to 10 into 165 city centre apartments, including 19 split level penthouses on the new glazed 11th floor. The last windows are currently being installed and the external walls of the structure will be 60% glazed, offering tremendous day lighting benefit due to the nature of the concrete panel system. Breathtaking views of The Tyne Bridge, St James Park and the 'blinking eye' Millennium Bridge, plus views across Gateshead and Newcastle City Centre are visible from all the properties. The redevelopment has proved to be one of the most popular Newcastle has ever seen, with contracts already exchanged on 117 flats.

Shepherd has just won a further £1m contract to completely strip out and refurbish the South podium for bar and restaurant tenants. The contract also includes landscaping to create the correct ambience for cosmopolitan pavement style bars and cafes.

Shepherd began work on the redevelopment for London based client Crown Dilmun, in March 2002 and the project is due for completion in summer 2003.

Tel:01904 660521

Modplan Introduces Colour Range

Differentiation is important to Modplan's diverse customer base and the introduction of Veka's Rosewood foil products, 18 months ago, has proved to be a success story, with sales now outstripping those of traditional mahogany.

The latest innovation is the new colour range from Veka, which Modplan displayed at Glassex 2003, providing a choice of blue, red, black and green frames.

Currently undergoing trials at Modplan's production plant are Veka's co-extruded outer frame and sash, which it is anticipated will become standard product during the next quarter, creating greater efficiency in production and installation, whilst eradicating the chance of gasket shrinking.

With the opportunities provided from the growth in the conservatory market, customers of Modplan take advantage of its package. Together with the company's windows and doors, as part of the Burles Group, the company offer the Versatile Roof System, providing differentiation in the GRP ridge and beam, aesthetics and time saving installation benefits.

The focus on close working relationships was highlighted last month, when Modplan hosted two open days. Existing and potential customers were able to view the Modplan and Versatile operations at first hand and at the same time were offered the chance to see the full range of Veka product displayed in the 27 tonne Veka Big Rig.

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