News @ The GL@ZINE

Get 'Six Appeal' at G06!

Make Friday 15 September a night to remember - the date for the G06 Awards Presentation, the industry's most sparkling event, has been announced. Once again, this official recognition of our industry's achievements and innovation will be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, NEC Complex in conjunction with the GGF Annual Convention. The Awards will culminate in a Gala Dinner hosted by another top celebrity.

Event sponsors already include Glass & Glazing Federation, WHS Halo, FENSA, Laird Security Systems, Emap Maclaren, Pilkington Activ and Aluplast with further sponsors to be announced very soon.

This year the categories are:

• Fabricator of the Year
• Installer of the Year
• Conservatory Installer of the Year
• Social Housing Project of the Year
• Glass Company of the Year
• Energy Efficiency Initiative
• Training & Development Award
• Customer Care Initiative
• Health & Safety Initiative
• Promotional Campaign of the Year
• Glass Project of the Year
• Specialist of the Year

The brand new G06 fully functional website will go live at the end of January giving full details and regular updates about the event as well as the facility for applicants to enter the Awards category of their choice quickly and efficiently on line. The web address is www.g-awards.com.

To discuss any of the above or other exciting sponsorship opportunities now available, contact event organiser Tony Higgin at tony@theglazine.com.

Pilkington Gets Activ With Promo Roadshow

Pilkington is staging a six centre Pilkington Activ™ Roadshow to preview the company’s massive national advertising campaign aimed at spurring home improvers into action to choose the world’s first self-cleaning glass for their new windows and conservatories this spring.
The television, press, Internet and public relations campaign, the biggest of its type in at least a decade, is designed to stimulate sales by showing the very real benefits of Pilkington Activ™. The campaign, which goes live from mid February through to April, will be the centrepiece of the Roadshows, which take place in Gatwick, Birmingham, St Helens, York, Glasgow and Bristol in early February.

The Roadshows will also outline all of the developments that have taken place since the launch of Pilkington Activ™, how it works and all the benefits it can deliver and everything installers could possibly need to sell more windows and conservatories with Pilkington Activ™.
Each presentation lasts for around 90 minutes and lunch is provided. There will also be the opportunity to talk to the technical specialists that actually created Pilkington Activ™. Registration is completely free of charge!

Tickets are available by clicking here

How do you prove integrity? Well if you are a politician faced by a questioning national press, that question may be difficult to answer! Having integrity is one thing but proving it is an entirely different matter. However, future owners of a conservatory who choose an Ultraframe roof with Framelock sideframes will be able to prove the integrity of their conservatory, which is fully supported by their BBA accredited 'Certificate of Structural Assurance'.

There are many considerations for a homeowner when purchasing a conservatory. Key in their minds will be whether it will meet their needs and dreams, whether it will be large enough yet not overwhelming, and whether its appearance will complement their house and garden. More recently, probably prompted by unusual natural weather phenomenon such as the Boscastle floods and the Birmingham tornado, the question of weather tightness and structural integrity has also been brought to the forefront of consumers' minds.

Ultraframe has in the past been able to confirm the structural performance of the roof, and with the launch of the Framelock system it says that it can now guarantee the integrity of the entire conservatory. Framelock is a series of aluminium pillars and rails that are fitted together using the proven Clicklock jointing technology to form structural 'frames', into which PVCu windows and doors can be fitted. The use of Clicklock technology makes installation on site quicker and fitter friendly.

The customer simply specifies the conservatory they are designing to Ultraframe, which then supplies them with dimensional drawings to pass to their frame suppliers. Ultraframe then factory fits the clips onto the Framelock rails and pillars. The factory fitting minimises the potential for site error, ensuring consistent quality installations, a great benefit for conservatory companies with several fitting teams, or those who use sub-contractors. A further benefit for those who choose this option is that windows and doors can be factory glazed and installed on site without the need to deglaze and rebead. Transporting fully glazed frames can protect the glass during shipment and moving as much fabrication to the factory as possible helps to ensure quality and reliability, further reducing the risk of on-site problems during construction.

It is likely that in the near future, a 'Code of Practice' will be created for conservatory design and installation that is likely to include standards for structural integrity. Installers wishing to differentiate their consumer offering will be keen to demonstrate compliance with any such code and underline the quality and performance of their conservatories.

Owners of conservatories constructed using an Ultraframe roof and the Framelock system will receive a 'Certificate of Structural Assurance' which will be BBA accredited. When coupled with the Ultra Installer Scheme & Certificate of Authenticity, it will offer the homeowner peace of mind, help to demonstrate compliance with the very latest performance standards and give the installer a competitive advantage.

To the property owner, the design of the conservatory is vitally important. They need their new conservatory to blend in with the appearance of the house and meet their practical needs. At the same time, their conservatory must be of the right size and layout to allow them to use the enhanced living space appropriately and effectively. The use of the new Framelock system from Ultraframe delivers all the ingredients of competitive advantage to the conservatory installer. It helps the designer to meet the individual needs of the customer, ensure a fail safe and structurally sound installation, and it enables more of the manufacturing to take place in the factory for greater reliability and quality. Framelock highlights the completed conservatory as one of the highest quality and assists the installer in meeting the very latest industry best practice. Finally, it also proves integrity in the very broadest sense of the word, combining the Ultra Installer Scheme with the BBA accredited 'Certificate of Structural Assurance' for the entire conservatory.

Ultraframe has acted in response to tough market conditions and restructured its pricing matrix across the Classic range of conservatory roofing systems to demonstrate even better value to its customers.

The conservatory designer and manufacturer announced the price changes after a period of consultation with fabricator partners. The changes, applied to orders from 28th November 2005, mean Ultraframe customers will benefit from lower prices across a range of the most popular standard roofs.

The new pricing system is also presented in a simpler and more comprehensive format making it straightforward for trade customers to compare prices against competitor roofs and to demonstrate Ultraframe's value.

‘Ultraframe has listened to its customers and adapted the Classic pricing matrix to help them compete during a difficult time for the industry,’

commented Ultraframe's Marketing Director, Linda Doughty. ‘We are now offering lower prices on our customers' most common roofing requirements. For example, a 4m x4m white Georgian roof with jack rafters, glazed with clear polycarbonate will now be 14% cheaper. The re-structured price matrix is also designed to make specifying roofs easier. We have unbundled our product pricing replacing it with clear base prices for the roofs and pricing additional options as extras.’

Ultraframe has also added additional matrices to help customers calculate the correct price first time and reflect the changing pricing needs of the market. For example, an extended front three bay Victorian roof and a splay bar Georgian roof now feature in the Classic matrices.

Linda Doughty concluded: ‘The restructured prices on the Classic range are a reflection of Ultraframe's ongoing focus on customer service. We are constantly reviewing the conservatory market and listening to our customers to give them the tools to be more competitive and fight in a tough market, while supplying the leading brand.’

For more information on Ultraframe's new Classic pricing or to find out more about Ultraframe roofs call 0870 4141002.

Trade fabricator John Fredericks has signed a new deal with WHS-Halo to fabricate the new Rustique 2 fully sculptured profile. The profile is easy to glaze and fit thanks to a newly introduced single leg glazing bead.

John Fredericks, which exclusively fabricated WHS-Halo's flagship Rustique product for more than a decade, will be the first super fabricator of the new profile.

The company will offer the new, enhanced system to its nationwide customer base from mid-March 2006 in a move that the company says underlines its commitment to continue to invest in high quality, innovative and fitter friendly products, and provide technical and sales support combined with a flexible customer approach.

Rustique 2 has been developed to offer high performance and make installation as quick and easy as possible. In response to market demands for easy to glaze and install products, it introduces a single leg glazing bead to significantly speed up fitting times and glazing both on-site and in the factory.

Maintaining its distinctive profile shape to provide a consistent product appearance throughout the entire range, Rustique 2 also benefits from a five chamber profile design to provide exceptional strength and durability as well as enhanced thermal and noise insulation.

A major advantage of this new profile is that it is lead-free calcium organic. This development has many environmental benefits over traditional systems. It will be available in white, woodgrain and woodgrain on white and is capable of accepting 28mm and 32mm glazing options. The new system will also benefit from the very latest high security hardware.

Kevin Hill, John Fredericks' managing director, said: ‘John Fredericks is the most experienced and longest established Rustique system fabricator in the UK. We offer the highest levels of technical and sales support to our customers. This, combined with our flexible business approach and our wholehearted commitment to be easy to buy from, means that we are confident that this new and improved profile will be very successful with both our customers and the discerning homeowner.’

Tel: 01422 314100
Email: khill@johnfredericksplastics.com
Web: http://www.johnfredericksplastics.com

Three new trade fabricators are among the latest intake of companies accepted as members of Network VEKA:

* Westport Windows & Conservatories of Atherton, Greater Manchester. Set up two years ago by former VEKA New Business Manager Bernard O'Malley, Westport manufactures from the fully sculptured VEKA Matrix FS to trade only. Phone 01942 889333.

* Leivers & Millership of Newstead, Nottingham. This trade and domestic fabricator has just moved into a new £1million factory where it manufactures from VEKA Matrix 70mm profile. Phone 01623 754048.

* Woodland Trade Windows. This Torquay-based trade and domestic fabricator manufactures from VEKA Matrix 58, offering a range of frames but specialising in vertical sliders. Phone 01803 616003.

Membership now qualifies each to supply PVC-U frames to any Network VEKA installer member and entitles any of their other trade customers to apply for Network VEKA membership in their own right.

After a 12-year absence, Emplas Windows Systems Ltd is returning to Glassex to not only mark its 26th year in business, but also launch its new fully sculptured suite and two key initiatives designed to generate business for installer customers.

Emplas plans to unveil its new Profile 22, fully sculptured 70mm window and door suite as part of its Vogue range, further extending its already extensive product range to suit the changing demands of the market. This PVC-u suite has been designed with four chambers comprising pre-applied gasket and click-fit beading, and has been measured up to look like its more traditional timber-framed counterpart. This new system has been confirmed to achieve a U value of 1.8 W/m2 deg K when used in conjunction with standard Low-E glass only, meaning that it conforms to the current requirements of Document L and Scottish Technical Standard Part J, as do all Emplas 70mm window and doors.

As the traditional home improvement markets of the glazing industry continue to experience difficulties, Emplas has developed two initiatives to offer support to its customers that it will also be exhibiting at Glassex '06. The first of these is Profitdriver ™, a programme that is designed to maximise profit at every stage of conservatory sales, right through to the installation process. This new initiative includes a range of more than 270 conservatories designed to compete and beat the offerings of the DIY retailers.

The second of the new initiatives is Diversify™, a dynamic programme designed to assist installers to break into alternative market sectors, and thus reduce reliance on private home improvements.

Commenting on Emplas' return, its MD Kevin Johnson said: ‘Although we have not been at Glassex for 12 years now, we have been working hard to improve and increase our efficiency and quality in every part of our business. Our product range is more extensive, accommodating a wider market, and our two schemes Provitdriver™ and Diversify™ were developed as a result of practices we as a group have successfully applied, resulting in our most successful trading period to date. I believe that Glassex provides the perfect platform for those companies that have something interesting to shout about.’

Glassex 2006 will take place at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from 5th to 8th March 2006, inclusive. For further information please go to http://www.glassex.com.

Romag 2005 Pre-Tax Profits up 20% on Strong Sales from Powerglaz

The year to 30th September 2005 has seen further progress at Romag Holdings plc, the specialist manufacturer of glass and plastic composites for security, architectural and transport applications, not just in the realignment into higher margin products but, more importantly, with the introduction of the new production facility for Powerglaz (building integrated photovoltaics) where sales for the first full year were £1.4m.

Sales rose by 14% to £15.8m (2004 £13.8m) with pre-tax profits moving ahead by 20% to £1.6m (2004 £1.3m). Earnings per share grew from 2.4p to 4.lp. Approximately 1p of this increase resulted from 'one-off' factors affecting taxation which helped to turn a £326,000 charge last year into a credit of £174,000 this year. This is an exceptional year as far as taxation is concemed and the directors anticipate that tax in future years will retum to a charge closer to the standard rate of corporation tax.

With the introduction of the new Powerglaz production facility, manufacturing costs rose in the year under review, including staff training and bedding down a new manufacturing facility, combined with a substantial additional depreciation charge relating to the new facillty. This has reduced gross profit margins to 28.4% of sales in 2005 from 30.9% in 2004.

'As sales volumes build in this new area of activity, we expect to see a steady improvement in gross profit margins.The policy of reaiigning the company's business to decrease the dependence on lower margin general architectural products has continued and shown good progress in the year under review', said chief exec Lyn Miles.

Sales of bullet resistant materials into the vehicle sector have shown strong growth. With increasing concerns for security around the world, the directors anticipate that the market for bomb and bullet resistant materials will continue to grow in the years ahead. This policy of realignment will allow management to focus the business in two important market areas, security and photovoltaics, which the directors believe will underpin an improvement in trading margins.

The first full year of production of Powerglaz has been successful and in line with expectations. The tumover achieved of £1.4m has enabled the new production facility to be fully tested and employee training to be completed to a high standard. The photovoltaics market continues to grow world-wide. To some extent, this growth has been restricted by a shortage of silicon, the material used to manufacture photovoltaic cells. However, the silicon manufacturers and photovoltaic cell manufacturers are responding to the growth by increasing capacity, including BP's recent announcement that they are investing a further £8bn in the renewable energy sector and that they are doubling their capacity in photovoltaics from 100mw to 200mw over the next twelve months.

The Global Alliance Agreement with BP has been extended for two years.

Management Changes at Kyro - Glaston - Bavelloni

Some recent management changes at the Kyro Group have been made which brings more expertise from the toughening plant side of the business, Tamglass, and from both architectural and automotive glass disciplines. Long standing Managing Director of Bavelloni, Dino Bavelloni will be retiring at the end of the year.

A significant appointment has been made in Kyro Group's main business area, Glaston Technologies. Claus Carlsen, 40, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Glaston Technologies' Glass Processing Group and Tamglass Safety Glass Ltd. as of 1 January, 2006.

Carlsen has previously worked at Tamglass in 1989-1997, as Marketing Director among other positions. Carlsen now transfers to the Kyro Group from a British packaging company, LINPAC Group, where he worked as Managing Director of the German and Nordic group companies. Carlsen's versatile international experience makes him the right choice for carrying out our Glass Processing Group's profitable growth and internationalisation, comments Kyro Group CEO & President Pentti Yliheljo (pictured).

The long-standing Director of the Glass Processing Group and Tamglass Safety Glass Ltd., Pertti Iivanainen, will in the new year become the Business Development Director of the Glass Processing Group and continue as a member of the group company boards.

Sasu Koivumäki is the Managing Director of Tamglass Finton Oy (Balcony Systems) and Jorma Nenonen is the Managing Director of Tamglass Insulating Glass Ltd. Both companies are part of Glaston Technologies' Glass Processing Group.

Claus Carlsen will report to Pentti Yliheljo.

As of 2 January, 2006, Paolo Sandri, 47, MSc (Eng.), has been appointed as Managing Director of Z. Bavelloni, a part of Glaston Technologies. Z. Bavelloni is the world's leading glass pre-processing machinery supplier.

Sandri joins the Kyro Group from the automotive industry since 1987. He has held management positions in production, product development as well as after sales and service operations of the Fiat Group and its partner companies. Sandri's experience of these areas essential to Bavelloni is a good starting point for continuing profitable growth and innovative development.

Z. Bavelloni's long-standing Managing Director Dino Bavelloni will retire at year-end and continue as a member of the Z. Bavelloni Board.

Paolo Sandri will report to Pentti Yliheljo.

Kyro Founds New Tools Company For Glaston Technologies

A new company has been founded to complement Kyro Group's main business area, Glaston Technologies. DiaPol S.r.l manufactures tools meant for glass and stone pre-processing. DiaPol continues and expands the existing Tools division operations of Z.Bavelloni, a part of Glaston Technologies. The main reason for the incorporation is Glaston Technologies' wish to develop and grow the tools business. The growth strategy of the Italian-based DiaPol is founded on expansion of the company's product portfolio as well as its sales channels.

DiaPol will continue the manufacturing of diamond glass and stone grinding tools under Z. Bavelloni's recognized top-quality brand. Furthermore, it has developed a series of polishing tools alongside the grinding tools selection. Expanding its product offering makes DiaPol the only global company in the glass and stone processing industry manufacturing and providing both grinding and polishing tools.

Until now, Bavelloni's Tools division has manufactured tools mainly for Bavelloni's pre-processing machines. DiaPol manufactures tools suitable for Bavelloni's as well as other manufacturers' machinery. Hence, tools are now available to a wider range of customers. Bavelloni is the leading supplier of grinding machinery. This provides the new company with a good market position, as the synergies between Bavelloni's machinery manufacturing and the tools business are strong. DiaPol will sell Bavelloni tools through the worldwide Tamglass-Bavelloni sales organisation. It will also operate as a contract manufacturer of other brands, sold through sales channels such as tools wholesalers. In addition to Italy, the company has manufacturing in Brazil and in China, adjacent to Glaston Technologies' glass machinery assembly factory.

Cosimo Gabriele, the Director of Bavelloni's Tools division, has been appointed Managing Director of Diapol S.r.l.

The Bystronic glass Group recently took over the Canadian technology company, Intra Product Development. Now called the Bystronic Solution Centre the company develops technologies for the cost-effective manufacturing of PVCu windows.

Bystronic glass will therefore be in the position to offer its customers a complete solution concept from glass cutting through to finished windows. As a result, Bystronic will strive to maintain superior standards and aims to provide total solutions in the manufacturing of architectural and automotive glass.

Claus Rieger was appointed General Manager of the Bystronic Solution Centre, in addition to his positions as General Manager of Bystronic Inc. and Manager of the USA/NAFTA Market Region. Other members of the Management Team are the previous Intra owners Stephen Field and Michael Glover.

The Bystronic Solution Centre is now working together with partners in the glass and window industry to create innovative production methods for PVCu windows.

The newly-developed Fusion Assembly™ and Friction Corner Welding™ manufacturing techniques will be launched on the American market next year.

Claus Rieger comments: ‘We are firmly convinced that the production process we have developed will have a permanent effect on the production of windows for the residential market. This new technique will make it possible for our customers to reach a significantly higher level of productivity with less material, fewer machines and a higher degree of automation. On the bottom line, this means more than significant cost reductions. At the same time, our customers will be able to achieve their individual design requirements with new materials’.

Once Fusion Assembly™ and Friction Corner Welding™ have been launched in the USA, these techniques will be expanded into other market sectors including Europe.
Bystronic is a global supplier of total solutions for the economical, application-engineered manufacture of architectural and automotive glass.

Planet has emerged from a high profile management buy out with a renewed focus in the North West and Midlands. ‘Over 70% of Planet's sales came from the seven showrooms in these areas so it made sense to refine our focus for the long term future,’ explains Dean St John, Planet's Chairman, ‘We're projecting £30 million of sales in 2006 with a leaner and fitter organisation. And to kick off the New Year we're pleased to announce a new supplier for profile and roofs, Synseal. We'll be using SynerJy blu and Global blue, giving us a complete conservatory system all in one colour.’

Nick Dutton, Synseal's Sales and Marketing Director, adds: ‘We have seen massive changes in the industry over the last 12 months, and Synseal believes companies like Planet that react quickly and decisively to emerge stronger, are likely to be the winners of the future. That's why Synseal is delighted to support Planet in the next stage of its growth.’

Tel: 01623 443 200

Cristal Glass and Glazing has recently joined Edgetech IG Inc. Having been established since 1990 the company has been searching for ways to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive market. The business covers three areas which include the manufacture of sealed units, emergency response services and a trade counter.

Dave Brewin, Executive Director explains his reasons for choosing Edgetech: ‘We believe that working with Edgetech will give us a major advantage in the manufacture and supply of warm edge units. We manufacture 1500 units per week so it is vital we continue to provide the quality units our customers expect from us. To spread the warm edge message we have plans to launch 'CristalTherm', a superior sealed unit made with Super Spacer®. All existing and potential clients will be receiving a sample unit with promotional material explaining the benefits to support them when selling to their customers. Edgetech's service and support has been excellent and I don't think we would have achieved EN1279 Part 2 without the company. It provided us with demonstrations, samples and helped with the installation of plant equipment. It is a dynamic and exciting company to be working with.’

Anne O'Connor, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator at Edgetech comments: ‘Edgetech has the knowledge and support in place to help companies, like Cristal, develop and grow their business. More companies are finding that we can provide an easy route to enable them to differentiate themselves and gain commercial advantage.’

Tel: 02476 705570

(L to R) David Cox, Technical Sales Manager Edgetech, Dave Brewin Executive Director, Cristal Glass and Glazing

Opportunities for window companies in the South West to offer coloured window, door and roofline products have expanded with the appointment of South Western Plastics to Karnaval Group's growing nationwide network of specialist applicators.

According to colour-coating specialist Karnaval Group Ltd, 2005 has seen a growing trend towards more imaginative use of colour in both domestic and commercial applications. Now fabricators and installers in the Bristol area who wish to differentiate their offering can access the services of Bedminster-based South Western Plastics for all their colour-coating requirements.

Originally established in 1964 as a plastic coatings company, South Western Plastics maintains its specialist reputation in the coatings business, offering a range of services from powder coating to its latest techniques using the Karnaval product.

Commenting on the company joining the Karnaval applicator network, Director of South Western Plastics Shaun Keating says business took off from its first week.

‘Having the expertise in this sector to begin with meant that we were able to immediately offer the levels of service and quality that this PVC-U profile colouring process demands,’ he explains.

‘Having seen the high quality finish that the Karnaval Kolor product achieves, we were immediately convinced of its potential for what is a growing market for colour. There's a big market out there, especially for refurbishment where homeowners can either change the colour of their windows and doors, or simply spruce up discoloured frames, but without going to the often considerable expense of buying completely new products.

‘As the spraying of existing frames can be done in situ, this represents a considerable saving in both money and inconvenience of full replacements,’ continues Shaun.

Recent PVC-U colouring work carried out by South Western Plastics has included dark green PVC-U windows for a private house and black sprayed onto brown grained foiled PVC-U frames to suit the aesthetics of an older property.

‘I thought that colour would be more popular with corporate clients, but we are getting a lot of interest from homeowners expressing a more adventurous attitude towards different shades on PVC-U. Especially so in conservation areas where more progressive window companies recognise the genuine opportunities and can really sell the benefits,’ observes Shaun. ‘We have also noticed that beiges and creams, particularly for skylights, are another emerging trend. Roofline products, such as soffits and guttering, can also be colour-matched to windows and doors for a totally co-ordinated appearance. Colour is definitely going to be the next big thing.’

Shaun and his team received comprehensive training from Karnaval in colour mixing and spraying techniques, along with technical support and advice to ensure they were completely familiar and confident with the whole process. Dedicated spray booth facilities providing a dust-free environment at the South Western Plastics site mean that quality assurance is of the highest standard.‘Making the industry aware of what colour can offer and overcoming price perceptions are two of the biggest challenges facing colour-coating specialists,’ admits Shaun. ‘But although 'seeing is believing', getting people away from white is not going to be that easy.

‘The industry needs to be aware of the endless possibilities offered by colour, and the fact that PVC-U coating can be achieved easily, reliably, and just as importantly cost-effectively. Companies will then realise that this can open up more selling opportunities to grow their businesses, as it has ours. Colour is the way forward,’ he adds.

Karnaval Kolor is a weather-resistant and UV-stabilised coating that permanently bonds with the substrate to give a durable maintenance-free finish that will not crack, flake or peel and is guaranteed for ten years. Karnaval Kolor is offered in all RAL, BS or even special colours and complies with current British Standards. For further information, contact South Western Plastics on 01179 531811 or Brian Saunders at Karnaval Group on 0800 1979700 or visit http://www.karnavalcoatings.com

Irish composite door manufacturer New World Developments, has extended factory operations by adding another shift to cope with the demand for its Apeer and Monno. Already achieving demanding targets set for production in ‘05, the company aims to substantially increase these in ’06.

A major employer in Co Antrim, New World’s 60,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility is one of the most advanced in the area. The new shift will keep manufacturing operations open for a 16 hour day, lowering lead times and bringing more prosperity to the community of Ballymena.

Already well known for its PVC door panels, the company’s move into composite doorsets began about six years ago. After three years of research and development the double-rebate ‘Apeer’-ed at Glassex 2004 . Single rebate Monno, targeted for LA developments, was launched in ‘05 at the CIH exhibition. Both have PAS 23 & 24 and Secure by Design status.

New World is taking Monno to Glassex ’06 and it will be the first time fabricators have a chance to inspect all its qualities. With many of the advantages of Apeer including the patent-pending glazing cassette, the double GRP skin and the distinctive ‘pip’ details which enhances the traditional appearance, Monno will be suitable for cost-effective, secure and attractive entrances.

Tel: 028 2563 2200
Email: linda.tomb@nwd.uk.com
Web: http://www.nwd.uk.com

Joining GU Ferco's Sold Secure initiative has paid off for the UK stable door manufacturer, Dorluxe Ltd. Based in Suffolk, Dorluxe says that it offers the very best in strong, secure and stylish PVC-U stable doors, using GU Rhinobolts and gearing on all its products.

In spring 2005, the company decided to join GU's Sold Secure scheme - the independent non-profit making scheme which covers a broad cross section of security products - and is already reaping the benefits. ‘Traditionally stable doors were only available in timber and were once perceived as being insecure and prone to leaks,’ explains Dorluxe general manager, Phil Balder. ‘However, the high quality PVC doors we specialise in are extremely secure and totally watertight. Sold Secure helps to reassure the trade and public that they can trust our products to perform in all conditions.’

Operated by the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), Sold Secure is closely associated with the Police and insurers. GU Ferco products are currently the only ones in the marketplace allowed to carry the Sold Secure symbol - proving that they have been independently tested to withstand forced entry and attack. In addition to the marketing benefits, all members of the scheme - new and existing qualify for GU's ‘Lock Solutions’ scheme, which is designed to eliminate the problems and cost of customer call backs due to breakdown or installation faults.

This means that in the very unlikely event of a GU/Ferco product proving to be faulty due to product failure, a mobile engineer from Lock Solutions, which provides a national 24 hour emergency lock repair service, will undertake a site visit and repair or replace the faulty item. If the failure is due to product manufacture rather than installation, GU will replace the product and cover the cost.

Dorluxe supplies doors primarily to the trade but recently provided a stable door for a member of the public in Cumbria. After receiving the door and fitting it himself, the customer called Dorluxe to say how delighted he was with it. ‘However, several weeks later he phoned again to say it was no longer operating properly,’ explains Phil Balder. ‘We simply called on the GU Lock Solutions team who dispatched an engineer to the remote house to fix the problem as soon as possible. Needless to say, it turned out to be a fitting error, not a GU hardware fault.’

Because the call-out involved an installation problem, Dorluxe is currently recouping the bill for the service from the customer, yet was still very impressed with the service. ‘The amount we were billed wouldn't have even covered the fuel costs had we sent someone from our Lowestoft factory all the way to Cumbria, let alone the time lost and possible overnight accommodation,’ says Phil Balder. ‘In theory, the call-out should cost us nothing but we have saved time and money anyway. This is the first and only time we have ever had to call on the GU/Lock Solutions service and we found it to be excellent. The response was totally professional and has worked smoothly and successfully.’

Tel: 024 76217927

Goldweld.co.uk is a new online shop selling Teflon® (PTFE) coated welding fabrics directly to PVC-U window, door and conservatory fabricators. The e-commerce shop has been set up by Biscor Ltd, Bradford based manufacturers of PTFE coated fabrics, to appeal directly to the end-user of the material, rather than by selling via distributors and agents. The company says that Goldweld has been known within the industry for some time, hence the decision to build the brand and awareness of the product. As the customer buys direct from the manufacturer, they will receive value as well as service. The site has a wealth of features including the facility to manage your own account area and view past orders and the status of current orders.

PVC-U welders of windows, doors and conservatories often use a considerable amount of Teflon® coated welding fabric as part of their fabrication process. Typically bought via machine manufacturers and distributors, the cost of the material can vary greatly - as does the quality.

Goldweld is a premium grade welding fabric, available in adhesive and non-adhesive formats - bought by the roll or in packs of sleeves or die cuts to suit specific machine models.

Goldweld is manufactured by Biscor Ltd, an expert in the PTFE coating sector. (PTFE is polytetrafluouroethylene which is the chemical name for the DuPont™ brand Teflon®). Biscor Ltd is based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and has been coating process fabrics for nearly 30 years. Biscor's markets include many industries from food processing to aerospace and practically everything in between.

The online shop http://www.goldweld.co.uk will allow the PVC-U door, window or conservatory fabricator, to purchase Goldweld online 24 hours a day, pay safely and securely by credit card and receive a roll of Goldweld the next day. ‘No matter how much experience of the Internet one may have, the online shop is easy to use,’ says the company. ‘Visiting the site itself will be an informative experience, download technical data for Goldweld and Goldweld Adhesive, read about the product uses and also enjoy our 3D movie of a window welding machine using Goldweld.

‘If you have any questions or queries - you will be able to find out the answers on the site, or by emailing our dedicated customer services team. Our team is in close liaison with technical staff and will endeavour to answer your question straight away - or at least within one working day.’

Goldweld.co.uk will be exhibiting at Glassex 2006.

For further information visit http://www.goldweld.co.uk or call 0800 731 148.

A new on-line company, www.truesash.co.uk says that it is set to provide customers with quality sash windows, that capture all the style and appeal of traditional wooden windows, yet avoid many of the associated pitfalls - including warping, rotting and annual maintenance.

Made to bespoke requirements by skilled craftsmen, TrueSash's range of PVCu replacement sash windows claim to offer a modern upgrade to old wooden windows, while reducing the cost to the customer.

The new company, whose headquarters will be in Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been developed with the sole purpose of offering customers the opportunity to fit or replace sash windows in homes that are either traditional or modern in build, without ‘breaking the bank’. The website will feature a collection of natural home situations to browse rather than posed photography.

http://www.truesash.co.uk is now live in the New Year after a period of research and development carried out by Leeds-based EHS Brann, which was involved in the creative process, including the brand development of the logo and full website design.

The specialised research and web site development agency had been employed to target the perceived thinking and buying habits of the consumer, particularly through the internet.

With research showing that many people were replacing original sash windows with standard double glazed windows due to concerns over cost, www.truesash.co.uk offers an easy and attractive website which showcases affordable windows to those on a budget.

Richard Baird, Senior Business Consultant for www.truesash.co.uk explained: ‘The Leeds agency has helped us to identify an important gap in a highly competitive market by pinpointing the misplaced conception that replacing or installing sash windows is very expensive.

‘Utilising Pilkington K Glass and complying with all Building Regulations, we are offering six different models of high quality sash window. All orders are backed up by a 10 year guarantee and unrivalled standards of manufacture and installation. Our aim is to enhance any property in terms of both character and value,’ concluded Richard.

Sanjit Gill, Head of Client Services at EHS Brann, added: ‘Right from the beginning our involvement meant we were tied into what our target consumers were thinking. As a result we have been able to develop a website that not only addresses a need but communicates the message in the right way. We are confident we have developed a website which is different and informative and, importantly, will stand out from the competition.’

Tel: 0800 731 2011
Web: http://www.truesash.co.uk

Pultec's Optima range of new generation FRP windows was the only product to meet national house builder Morris' specification for 27 distinctive apartments created behind the imposing Georgian-style façade of a listed former Victorian hospital near Warwick.

Pultec supplied 200 windows with glazed Georgian inserts for the Kings Gate apartments, which are the focal point of Morris' prestigious King Edward's Park housing development. With their narrow sightlines, Pultec's slim and neat Optima windows were a suitable modern replacement for the building's original steel windows set in stone reveals.

Beverley Hall, sales director for Morris in the West Midlands, said: ‘There was no other product on the UK market that was so completely sympathetic with the style of this listed building, as well as meeting all our other performance and environmental requirements. The result is a spectacular centrepiece for King Edward's Park’.

Pultec's window systems are manufactured from pultruded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP), the building material of the future, according to BRE, and the new alternative to PVCu and aluminium. They meet the highest performance standards with a guarantee of 20 years and an anticipated lifespan of 50 years. FRPs using a pultrusion process also have excellent environmental credentials, as shown by an overall 'A' rating from BRE's Green Guide to Composites, published last year.

Portal Products in Cheltenham has taken delivery of a new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) door router machine from Weeke.

Since introducing GRP (fibreglass) composite doors to its Paladin range in May 2005, the company has seen an unprecedented response from customers, with demand for the product far outstripping all early predictions.

The new machine will give Portal the ability to prepare doors for hinges, locks and other hardware onsite, meaning better customer response times and greater flexibility in terms of design.

Haydon Statham, sales and marketing manager, Portal Products, says: ‘It's clear from initial sales that the Composite GRP Paladin door complements our PVC-U panel and Steel Composite door products perfectly, giving our customers greater choice and more sales opportunities.

‘The capital investment in this new machine puts us in control of our own destiny and shows our commitment to a continuous improvement plan allowing us to service our customers more efficiently and effectively.’

For further information about Portal's range of products or to request one of the new Portal brochures please contact the sales team on Tel: 01242 267000 or visit the website: http://www.portal-products.co.uk

The technology group Linde has agreed to purchase the American speciality gases company Spectra Gases, Inc. (Branchburg, New Jersey) from the founding family Alvin and Andy Dietz. The contractual parties have agreed to maintain silence about the purchase price. The transaction is valid pending the approval of the relevant antitrust agencies.

'This acquisition helps us to add systematically to our product portfolio in the specialty gases market, which is growing at an above-average rate', says Dr. Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG and responsible for the business segment Gas and Engineering. 'Spectra Gases is built on a technology platform of comprehensive specialised know-how and allows us access to market segments, in which we have not yet been strongly represented.'

Spectra Gases produces high purity speciality gases and chemicals used in manufacturing, research and analytical industries as well as speciality gas mixtures which are used, for example, in the semiconductor industry and for excimer lasers. The company has an annual turnover of approximately 50 million euros with 200 employees worldwide. Within the Linde Group, Spectra Gases is going to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Linde Gas, Inc. (USA).

Already in December 2004, Linde had expanded the speciality gases business by taking over the major part of the joint venture MNS Nippon Sanso. The joint venture supplies the European electronic industry with speciality gases such as silane or boroethane.

Linde is an international technology group, which occupies leading positions in each of its two business segments Gas and Engineering as well as Material Handling. In the financial year 2004, Linde achieved a turnover of more than 9 billion euros and currently employs approximately 42,500 people worldwide.

Leeds-based trade window fabricator H.W.L. Trade Frames has cemented its long term relationship with SFS intec following its decision to hand the company total supply chain responsibility and management for fasteners, door hinges, tooling and C-parts.

Established around two years ago, H.W.L. is a success story. Having entered a fiercely competitive market, the company was producing treble the number of frames it had forecast within just three months of starting production. H.W.L.’s director Mark Haley puts this success down to a combination of excellent, consistent product quality and good management practices.

'When we started up, we knew that there was a growing demand amongst trade customers for a premium quality product,' says Mark. 'This demand was – and continues to be on the whole – not satisfied by the trade fabricator market, so we ensured our windows were manufactured using only the highest quality products, including SFS fasteners and door hinges.'

H.W.L., which operates from a 10,000 square foot factory at Armley, has now handed over the complete responsibility for the supply chain of fasteners and door hinges to SFS intec, as well as tooling and consumables. By taking advantage of this service from SFS, H.W.L. has gained key production benefits, principally having to spend significantly less time involved in managing and ordering stock and improving productivity by never running out of essential product lines.

Mark continues, 'Having SFS look after the supply of all these numerous C-parts is a win-win situation for us. Firstly we can virtually guarantee that we will never run out of essential items without thinking about it and, secondly, we know that the quality of these products is going to be consistently high. We get more time to concentrate on what we do best, safe in the knowledge that SFS is doing what it does best.'

One of a number of flexible approaches that SFS intec offers to help fabricators improve productivity, the supply chain management service involves SFS managing stock levels on customer premises and ordering the right quantity of fasteners, door hinges and consumables to maintain production.

Neil Ackroyd, regional sales manager for SFS intec says, 'We are finding that a growing number of window and door fabricators are finding how working smarter, not harder, is the key to improved performance and better quality products. And central to this is getting their supply of components and consumables in order.

'Increasingly it is small and medium sized fabricators who are reaping the rewards of supply chain management. Some have tried to become more profitable simply by squeezing suppliers on price and often buying the cheapest, poorest quality components, but more and more fabricators are thinking differently and looking closely at the way they do things.'

With its international pedigree and multi-million pound investment in supply chain technology, SFS intec has shown how suppliers can do much more for fabricators, often delivering greater efficiency and profitability, and ultimately better customer service.

For further information on the supply chain solutions from SFS intec, contact Mick Maddison on 0113 208 5500.