Brugmann merges with Salamander Industrie
Brugmann
GmbH (including Brugmann Ltd) has now merged with Salamander Industrie
Produkte GmbH forming one of the largest groups in Europe. This is very
exciting for both companies as each wanted to get a foot hold in the UK
and Irish markets.
the company will be known as Salamander Industrie Produkte UK and will
promote the Brugmann brand. They have already been successful over the
last two years in the UK and with the main backing and investment from
the German Company they intend to expand further. More details are available
on web sites www.brugmannltd.com
or www.salamanderuk.com
CRS
and HW Systems Sign Sole Supply Agreement
Conservatory roof specialist, South Wales-based CRS Ltd has signed a four-year
sole supply agreement with HW Systems. Working in partnership with HW
Systems allows CRS Ltd to supply its 'unique one-piece roofs' to the conservatory
market. Many of the products supplied by HW Systems are unique to CRS
Ltd and tailor made to their specific requirements.
Barrie Harding, CRS Ltd's Sales and Marketing Director states: 'CRS Ltd
is in a unique position in manufacturing a fully welded aluminium roof
that is clad or sleeved with PVCu sections. This method improves the aesthetics
of the roof and enables the installer to supply a complete PVCu solution
that matches both windows and roof. Particularly in the domestic sector,
homeowners want continuity of finish and the added cosmetic appearance
that PVCu offers to the conservatory roof.'
To maintain its efficiency to clients and to manage the ever growing demands
for its products, CRS Ltd has invested in a new automatic polycarbonate
saw. This machine allows shapes to be cut more quickly, accurately and
with much cleaner edges than when cutting by hand. According to Ken Phillips,
CRS' Production Director, the new saw also eliminates the need to blow
out swarf from the flutes, reducing time and further improving the neatness
of the finished product.
Tel: 01625 420400
Web: http://www.hwsystems.co.uk
Going,
Going, Gone?
Don
Sims, Commercial Manager of hardware distributor, Wagner (GB) Ltd, has,
after a couple of false starts, finally hung up his braces and decided
to retire.
For the 15 years prior to 2002, Don was responsible for Wagner's advertising
and exhibition stands.
At the many exhibitions supported by Wagner the company's stands were
always a centre of attention and many show-goers will remember not only
the window and door hardware, but also such themed stands as the 'Bowling
Alley', 'Athenian' and 'Fairground' stands, which proved so popular.
Don, whom it is rumoured hit 70 this May, sends his best wishes to all
of his friends and colleagues within the Industry and hopes to still see
them occasionally at some of the exhibitions.
Don's role at Wagner has been taken over by Gary Gleeson, who is Wagner's
Technical and Marketing Manager.
Contact: Gary Gleeson
Tel: 01634 263263
Email: mailto:sales@wagnergb.com
Web: http://www.wagnergb.com
Ebor's
New All-in-One Automatic Laminating Machine
Ebor Equipment Ltd, supplier to the flat glass industry, has launched
a new Automatic Glass Laminating Machine.
Applying
any sort of safety backing or protective film to flat glass can have its
problems especially if you are doing it manually.
Working with GSPK, Ebor's new laminating machine, built with an all aluminium
frame for strength and engineered for precision and accuracy, creates
a consistent application of the safety film.
The Auto Laminating machine has bearing mounted precision ground lamination
rollers, which incorporate a high adjustment facility and spring loading
of upper roller. With this flexibility various thicknesses of glass can
be laminated, anything from a minimum of 3mm to a maximum of 15mm.
With an invertor controlled AC motor, the auto glass laminating machine
ensures accuracy and consistent laminating speed creating the perfect
finish.
Specification:
Conveyor(max glass size) 1350mm
Laminate Roll Max 1200mm roll
Max Glass Thickness 15mm
Min Glass Thickness 3mm
For more information or to arrange a demonstration of the Automatic Glass
Safety Backing Machine contact the Ebor Accessory Sales Division by calling
01706 869691 or by emailing mailto:general.enquiries@ebor.co.uk.
Web: http://www.ebor.co.uk
Glass Repair Saves Contractors Thousands
Glas.Weld
Systems, Kent, who recently introduced their distortion free glass polishing
system to remove scratches from all types of glass, ‘Renovator’
to the trade press at the Building Centre, London, have been overwhelmed
by the enormous response.
As a result technical manager Gary Missions, has been on the road for
the past three weeks, demonstrating the system and training new and potential
customers and staff in its use. The company even had an enquiry, followed
by an order, from the ballistic glass division of St Gobain in France.
A by product of the publicity has been referrals to customers of glass
processors to solve other problems and, in one week, Glas.Weld were asked
to repair glass recently installed in a London Underground station, a
bank in Sheffield where contractors discovered damaged glass after installation
and were faced with replacements costing thousands of pounds, plus the
considerable disruption on site.
Using its windscreen repair technology and expertise gained during the
past 13 years Glas.Weld technicians were able to repair the glass, injecting
a UV setting resin into the damage and restoring the integrity of the
glass and its appearance.
'For less than £150 we solved both problems, each in under an hour,
and needless to say the customers were delighted,' says Glas.Weld general
manager Alan Button.
'We are very grateful to specialist glass processor Romag, for recommending
our services to their customers, and pleased to hear that within a day
of purchasing a Renovator kit themselves, and being trained in its use.
Romag were able to recover the cost of the kit by the restoration of glass
that would have otherwise been rejected.'
Romag Quality Inspection director Joe Paisley said 'If we did not use
the equipment again it has already paid for itself in its first day of
use.'
Glas.Weld employ the services of more than 150 glass technicians nation-wide,
trained and equipped to restore most damage to both laminated and toughened
glass, as well as offering to sell a Renovator polishing kit to processors
for ‘in house’ use.
Tel: 01474 564783
Email: mailto:glasscare@lineone.net
New
Name Heads up Status
Status Systems general manager Steve Hanson has handed over the general
manager role of the company to industry newcomer Chris Foreman.
During his two years with Status Steve was instrumental in growing the
business - 16 per cent in 2001, 22% year to date - and managing over £1.5
million worth of investment in operations.
'Having worked with Status on a consultancy basis in the past, and then
for two years as general manager, I feel I have gained a considerable
understanding and knowledge of the industry and its expectations,' said
Steve Hanson. 'Unfortunately, I have to move on for family reasons. It
was a hard decision, but my family has to come first. I have decided to
move into manufacturing, as a Status fabricator, so I will stay part of
the Status family'.
Chris Foreman has now taken on the role of general manager at the Delph
based extrusion plant. He brings with him blue chip experience from the
automotive and printing industries, and is looking forward to continuing
to develop the Status brand.
'Status is obviously a well thought of company in the industry. Being
chosen to take over from Steve is both an honour, and a challenge - he
has built a good team that is obviously grasping the opportunities in
the market place with both hands. I am looking forward to working with
Roy Shipley and the rest of the company to take Status into its next period
of growth and consolidation.'
Tel: 01457 875731
Email: mailto:info@status-systems.co.uk
Web: http://status-systems.co.uk
When
Network Veka met UK Fasteners
'Network Veka's commitment to becoming the leading premium brand in the
industry is total,' says John Ogilvie, Managing Director of Network Veka.
'All members of the Network comply with the highest standards and are
regularly audited. But it doesn't stop there.
'Network Veka members work with a list of approved suppliers so that the
Network's customers get the best, most consistent quality throughout the
UK and Ireland,' comments John. 'Everyone benefits from excellence. Suppliers
and members because they maintain their reputation, and customers because
they are confident of the quality they receive.'
'We are thrilled to have received this recognition of our quality from
Network Veka,' comments David Ballinger, Managing Director of UK Fasteners.
'We have always offered the highest standards of quality and service to
our customers and back this up with a BBA certificate on Marutex. On Marutex
and austenitic stainless steel we offer a 20 year £20million insurance
backed warranty. Becoming a member of the Network takes this commitment
to quality a stage further.'
Tel: 01242 577077
Email: mailto:ukfasteners@btconnect.com
Web: http://www.ukfasteners.com
New
Look For Titon
2002 sees thirty years in the window fittings industry for trickle ventilator
expert Titon, and it's kicking off the celebrations with a makeover. Launching
the company's new look logo and updated mask emblem, were Chief Executive,
David Ruffell, Managing Director, Manufacturing Division, Ron Brighton
and Marketing Director, Tyson Anderson.
Tyson, third generation of Titon's founding Anderson family to be involved
in the business, explained why they've made the change. 'We've evolved
enormously as a company, and knew we had outgrown our existing image,'
he said, 'We're a research and development led, leading-edge organisation
and it was time our look reflected that again. The need for change happily
coincides with our thirtieth anniversary, so we decided to involve everyone
in the launch.'
Titon's 200-strong workforce at the company's Haverhill manufacturing
plant was first to view the new logo. Titon has also dropped the word
'Hardware' from the familiar name. 'Perceptions of the term 'hardware'
have changed over the years, and it no longer helps people to understand
what we do in providing top class fittings for the window industry. The
Titon name is strong enough to stand on its own,' Tyson Anderson concluded.
Tel: 01206 562400
Email: mailto:sales@titon.co.uk
Web: http://www.titon.co.uk
Union
- The Professional's Choice
Union, supplier of commercial security and architectural ironmongery solutions
for the professional, has developed a number of initiatives that it claims
will provide comprehensive support throughout the specification and building
processes.
One such initiative is the Union Design Centre Network of Architectural
lronmongers and Commercial Locksmiths. Companies from around the UK as
well as key international markets will be invited to join the network
and membership is inclusive but will be subject to meeting specific criteria.
As well as getting assistance from the Union Specification Consultants,
the range of benefits open to the network will include the supply of key
tools to be successful in specification. Each Union Design Centre will
be provided with a Door Scheduling Software Package ('U-Schedule'), a
tailored and bespoke training programme ('U-Learn'), the option to overprint
their company's contact details onto a new dedicated specification brochure
('U-Specify') and access to a full database of Union products to specify
from.
A re-designed and updated Union Product Catalogue ('The Red Book') is
also being produced. Complete with new products introduced, this is the
comprehensive guide to what products are available from Union.
Tel: 01902 366911
Email: mailto:union@locksinfo.co.uk
Web: http://www.unionlocks.co.uk
Cardiff
Glass wins second New Build project with Belway Homes
Status fabricator Cardiff Glass is currently working on its second contract
with Belway Homes. The £190,000 window installation is part of a
development of luxury apartments in what was once the dockside financial
district of Cardiff -Mount Stuart Square.
Viceroy Mansions Mount Stuart Square comprises 200 quality apartments.
Due to the historic nature of the area Cardiff Glass had to ensure the
fenestration scheme complied with strict planning restrictions in addition
to conservation implications. The resulting specification incorporates
150 tilt and turn PVC-U windows, and 40 sets of PVC-U French doors, all
manufactured using the Status 7Omm chamfered suite.
"The waterfront setting of the buildings meant that there were weather
and atmospheric exposure issues we also had to address when drawing up
the fenestration scheme," said Cardiff Glass director Shaun Armstrong.
"In addition to this, Viceroy Mansions is a timber framed construction
which meant that alternative installation procedures had to be applied."
Cardiff Glass had previously completed an installation of 350 PVC-U windows
and 70 sets of French doors for Belway Homes at Sophia Mansions, a
prestigious development in the up and coming Penarth Marina area of Cardiff.
As a result of this Cardiff Glass were included in the 2001 NHBC Pride
in the Job awards presented to Belway Homes.
Tel: 01457 875 731
Email: sales@status-systems.co.uk
Web: www.status-system.co.uk
Business
Micros helps Polyframe track every piece of plastic in its factory
Halifax based fabricator Polyframe is currently investing a total of £2.5
million in various automated machining lines1 and software supplier Business
Micros is working closely with the company on related software requirements.
Once completed this latest installation will enable Polyframe to triple
its production capacity.
The fabricator has also developed its own in-house IT department, headed
up by Microsoft engineer Lee Pidgeon. Business Micros has been heavily
ensconced with Lee to help further enhance the company's IT capabilities.
"It is now virtually
impossible for a product to go astray," commented Lee confidently.
"Every single product is bar coded from the moment the order is placed,
and there are scanning points strategically placed about the factory to
ensure consistent tracking."
"Business Micros proved to be an invaluable source of expertise and
experience," continued Lee. "It often felt that they were an
extension of our own IT department. When I arrived at Polyframe lust over
a year ago there were just 15 PCs and one server. Today there are 90 PCs
and 10 servers. We could not have made such significant progress in such
a short amount of time without Business Micros reacting so quickly and
effectively to our requirements, often going beyond the call of duty."
Polyframe has also give its entire nationwide customer base access to
its IT department, and most have had their own software supplied via Business
Micros by Lee to further enhance their own businesses.
As well as helping Polyframe minimise errors in production, Business Micros
has also helped the company increase efficiencies within the factory by
consistent data capture linked to highly relevant management reporting
tools. This enables Polyframe to organise the allocation of its operatives
to be efficient to the last man minute. The same is true of the systems'
stock control - every single item right down to the number of screws used
per frame is logged per job and captured within optimisation modules for
management analysis.
Tel: 01848 330588
Email: info@businessmicros.co.uk
Web: www.businessmicros.co.uk
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain supplies Microsoft
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain fire resisting glass has been installed in a new world-class research facility in Cambridge. The prestigious contract was for exterior fire-resisting glass beside entrances to a new European research laboratory for the Microsoft Corporation.
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain's
Pyroswiss Classic glass was chosen for the Microsoft Research Building by
installers Airedale Glass & Glazing because of its high performance
characteristics and cost-effectiveness.Pyroswiss Classic is a clear fire resisting safety glass giving 30 minutes of integrity. However, its versatility allows it to be also used in most applications instead of conventional architectural glass - giving much higher levels of safety.
Over recent years, new manufacturing processes have reduced the relative cost of fire resisting glass which has, coupled with more stringent building regulations, led to a growing awareness among specifiers of the advantages of using specialist glasses.
Apart from its fire resisting qualities, Pyroswiss Classic has the added advantages of having high-impact mechanical strength and tempered glass break-safe characteristics - safety features often overlooked by architects or specifiers.
Furthermore, as part of the production process, Pyroswiss Classic undergoes an additional quality process in the form of heat soaking. This eight-hour process eliminates the possibility of the glass spontaneously breaking through nickel-sulphide inclusions - essential for any monolithic tempered fire resisting glass. Pyroswiss Classic is tested to BS 6206 and, like all of Vetrotech Saint-Gobain's fire resisting glasses, is certified as a Class A glass.
"An important feature in high-performing glasses is their ability to safely break - for example by a fireman's axe - without causing injury. This turns a fire-resisting glass into a safety glass - which should be an important part of the specification process," said David Clarkson, the UK managing director of Vetrotech Saint-Gobain.
Microsoft Research is a research arm of the Microsoft Corporation, the world's leading computer software company, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates. Nathan Myhrvold, Microsoft's former chief technology officer says that "Microsoft's goal with this Cambridge-based research lab is to create a home for those world-class researchers based in Europe who want to develop innovative new technologies and impact the lives of millions of people around the world."
Tel: 0113 239 1500
Email: infovsguk@vetrotech.co.uk
Web: www.vetrotech.com