Interbuild 2004 brought forward to April
Following
the success of Interbuild 2002, the show’s organisers, Emap MEL,
have announced that Interbuild 2004 will be held once again at the National
Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. The dates, however, have been brought forward
to 25 - 29 April.
Said Steve Webb, Interbuild Event Director: 'We are delighted to be able
to meet the demands of the construction and building services industry
and move the dates of the 2004 show to an earlier time slot. With the
new exhibitions that have become part of Interbuild this year, such as
Electrex, these earlier dates help to meet everyone’s requirements
and are designed to help avoid clashes with other events as well as the
seasonal holiday period.
'Reflecting the construction process, Interbuild 2004 will also be located
on one side of the NEC, using the new halls 6 through to 20. With many
of our visitors specifying products from a number of sections it is increasingly
important that we provide seamless access to all the product areas. For
our visitors, locating Interbuild on one side of the NEC allows the visitor
to make best use of their time when visiting Interbuild, as well as enabling
us to fully utilise the superior conference and meeting facilities within
this area.'
Exhibitors will have the opportunity to reserve their stand space for
2004 at Interbuild 2002, and can look forward to another successful event.
http://www.interbuild.com
GGF Convention attracts 130 delegates
Some
130 delegates attended the annual GGF Convention at the end of May. Held
once again in the salubrious surroundings of the Belfry, and sponsored
by SAPA, the event had a twin track seminar system which occasionally
led to some hard choices. However, there was certainly something for everyone,
with 10 top flight presentations throughout the day, and a very enjoyable
drinks reception and banquet in the evening. As usual an essential place
to meet up with old friends from the glass industry - and nowadays, of
course, new friends from the plastic window industry.
Paul Everall, Head of the Building Regulations Division at the DTLR, attempted
to pour oil on troubled waters by explaining FENSA and Part L in terms
of the replacement window industry. He pointed out that Part L does not
affect windows in which broken glass, fogged dg units or rotten frames
are replaced. He warned installers not to risk contravening the Gas Safety
(I&U) Regs, which are retrospective. Although at pains to point out
that Part L is a direct response to the commitments of the Climate Change
Conference to reduce C02 emissions by 1.4m tonnes per annum, he also suggested
that there was a desire to make replacement glazing ‘a controlled
fitting’. Whether this means control over general quality or control
over lost tax revenues is, of course, a moot point.
Removing conservatories from exemption is only a matter of time, with
a working party meeting on 21st June to take this to the next stage. In
supporting FENSA, Mr Everall also flagged up the need for industry to
recognise the government Quality Mark and Constructionline schemes, both
of which, however, have attracted a fair amount of criticism.
Mr Everall outlined the transitional arrangements for window fitting contracts.
Those started before 1st April are exempt from the regulations; those
contracts signed prior to April 1st have until July 1st to be started
otherewise they will be subject to part L.
Companies who adopt the FENSA scheme however, may still have their certificates
rejected by the Local Authority. However, before rejecting a certificate,
the Local Authority will ‘probably’ have to make an inspection,
for which they will not be able to charge a fee.
Mr Everall praised the GGF for investing time and money in FENSA, and
for registering some 5000 firms since April 1st, ‘a very considerable
achievement’ when one considers that applications are coming in at
a rate of 250 per day (another moot point: by my reckoning this means
they have processed only 20% of applications, not that good when companies
are waiting for a FENSA certificate before a contract can be authorised).
Brian Waldron, Technical and Standards Manager - Europe for Pilkington
Primary Products, holds an impressive record for the number of UK and
International Glass Industry Standards in which he has played an active
role. In his talk on CE Marking, Brian urged delegates to be prepared,
not scared when faced with CPD compliance requirements. In particular
he warned against complacence, urging all manufacturers to go for CE Marking
whether they export or not (the CE Mark is not mandatory in the UK for
UK produced products), but to remember that they must not make any claims
which cannot be backed up with supporting evidence. He closed by suggesting
that all interested parties should attend the GGF 2002 Forum at The University
of Warwick which is on September 20-21st and will strongly feature the
topic Compliance with the CPD.
Geoff Baker is the Divisional Operations Manager at the Health & Safety
Executive, directing eight teams of inspectors in the East and South East.
He was speaking about The Glass Charter and how improved training invariably
leads to fewer accidents in the workplace. Indeed, he had some good news
to impart: figures show that industrywide, the fatal injury rate has dropped
from 5.6 per 100,000 in 1961 to 0.9 per 100,000 in 1996/7. However, the
construction industry remains one of the most unsafe. ‘We can all
make a difference’ he says. As well as injury reduction, the HSE
are on the tails of workers taking days off through ill health: they want
a 30% reduction in days lost from work related injuries and sickness by
2010.
Paul Clifton, who was recognised as National Salesman of the Year for
one of the Nationals before he was 30, with an 82% conversion rate, nowadays
runs The Profit Shop. He was talking about ‘The Golden Rules of Profit
Success’
Clive Knowles joined the Metropolitan Police in 1982 after studying Mechanical
Engineering at Birmingham University for three years. Since 1990 he has
specialised in Crime Prevention, being seconded in 1999 to ACPO Crime
Prevention Initiatives, the Association’s first commercial company.
His role is to promote Secured by Design (http://www.securedbydesign.com),
which was the subject of his talk.
Other speakers included Mike Wood, Head of Marketing for Fire Protection
Glass at Pilkington and chairman of the FRGG, who navigated us around
the European Fire Testing Standards for Glass. His conclusions? The new
standards are possibly avoidable, a bit of a nuisance, but on balance
we should support them.
Chris Richardson, Group Technical Director of Ultraframe, gave us un update
of the conservatory roof market, particularly relevant to the inevitable
inclusion of conservatories within Part L within a year or so. Ultraframe
has introduced glazing which is Low-E and Self-Clean which will bring
U values down to 2.0 and will increase the amount of time it is possible
to use the conservatory by an amazing 17%.
Tel: 020 7403 7177
Web: http://ggf.org.uk
Assa
Abloy Finishes Second Overall
In a nail biting last leg Assa Abloy sailed across the finish line in
third place in front of thousands of German race fans in Kiel. djuice
won the leg, followed by illbruck. The last leg saw some exciting and
extremely frustrating moments for the multinational crew on Assa Abloy.
The start was not great but just after midnight things looked up with
illbruck in fifth place and Assa Abloy in second. But illbruck managed
to fight back and claimed second spot and the overall victory.
illbruck
is welcomed into Kiel in second place taking first place overall for the
race. Leg 9, Gothenburg - Kiel
Photo: Rick Tomlinson
http://www.volvooceanrace.org/homepage.html
With
this final result Assa Abloy is 2nd overall in the Volvo Ocean Race. After
almost nine months of racing around the globe through treacherous and
desolate oceans, dodging icebergs, or doldrums, the race winner is finally
decided. illbruck claims first place overall by showing great form from
start to finish. The Assa Abloy Racing Team ends successfully with a second
place overall. Third place is for the crew of Amer Sport One.
Assa Abloy challenged the German team for the last seven legs. After a
good start of the race but a disappointing result in leg one and two,
Neal McDonald and the crew climbed back up the leader board and nearly
managed to prevent race favourite illbruck from claiming overall victory.
Since Sydney Assa Abloy scored the best result of all teams.
Assa Abloy was one of the last teams announced and just before last in
the water. The team started sail testing less than four months before
the start in Southampton. At that time Dutchman Roy Heiner was still skipper.
In July Neal McDonald joined the team followed by Magnus Olsson in August,
being the last of the twelve crewmembers to be announced.
The Project is unique in set up as it was initiated and led by an experienced
management group (former EF and Intrum Justitia) instead of a skipper.
This eventually led to a successful result on the water as well as on
the commercial side of the project for the Assa Abloy Racing Team and
its partners.
The same management group also replaced Roy Heiner by Neal McDonald after
the first leg in South Africa. The new team with McDonald in charge had
a promising start of leg 2 until closer to Australia where the team was
too eager and lost a few places rounding King Island finishing 6th. With
a 6th place overall the team started the new year winning the Sydney Hobart
and eventually the third leg. Ever since Assa Abloy outperformed the rest
of the fleet with two more wins in Miami (leg 5) and in Gothenburg (leg
8) and one second and two thirds.
Skipper Neal McDonald. 'We wanted to beat illbruck, but I am happy. Happy
with what we achieved but also that we were beaten by the better team.
But I was always confident we could pull off a great result. After leg
two I knew we had a good boat and the team was great. We just had to keep
pushing for a good result. And we did. We worked harder, all of us, not
only the crew, but the whole team and all our sponsors. That worked. It
also proves that the structure of the campaign was paying off. The way
Atlant managed this and Richard Brisius was running it worked very well.'
ASSA
ABLOY finishes second overall in Kiel
Photographer Thierry Martinez
Tactician Chris Larson analysed: 'When I joined the team they were in
6th position and I knew it was possible and I was happy to contribute
to that. There was a lot of solidarity in the team and the boat was good.
The turning point was at Tasman Island when we pulled away and won the
Sydney Hobart. There the team knew we could do it and we did. It all came
together. We are on very good terms. It is a true melting pot of nationalities
and thanks to teamwork and effort from all of us we started working together
well.'
Navigator Mark ‘Rudi’ Rudiger looked tired, 'It was one of my
longest days in my life. Happy this leg is over. This leg we were late
to get it right. I always knew finishing first was going to be hard. But
I also knew we could be second overall in the race. And we managed that
and we believed in it and pulled it off,” Rudiger said.
Trimmer Richard Mason was all smiles but summed it up, 'We leave in turmoil
and arrive in style,' said the young New Zealander referring to the start
and the finish but also referring to the whole rave overall. 'We were
fighting to the end that is good. Second place will do until next time.'
Position/Yacht/Total points
1 illbruck 61
2 ASSA ABLOY 55
3 Amer Sports One 44
4 Tyco 41
5 News Corporation 40
6 djuice 33
7 SEB 32
8 Amer Sports Too 16
http://www.assaabloyracingteam.com
Re-Organisation
of Yale Security Products UK
Yale Security Products within Assa Abloy UK has been restructured to allow
the development of the major brands within their redefined (traditional)
markets. The company has been renamed Security Products UK Limited, eliminating
the confusion between Yale the company, and Yale the brand.
'The changes we have made are a pre-curser to developing an organisation
in the UK which focuses on supporting distinct market segments and enhancing
our understanding and support of our market by becoming progressively
more focussed,' says Geoff Norcott, Group Vice President who has taken
up the role of Managing Director of Security Products UK Ltd.
The sales and marketing function has been divided into two units. The
Residential Sales and Marketing Division, headed by Paul Browne (previously
Marketing Director),is responsible for the development of Yale as a focussed
residential brand. Yale is a truly global lock brand and is chosen for
reliable and accessible residential locking solutions through out the
world.
The Commercial Sales and Marketing Division, headed by Craig Sellers (previously
Sales Director, OEM and Trade), will re-establish Union as the pre-eminent
commercial specification brand providing the most complete and professional
commercial locking solutions in the UK whilst developing its export markets.
The Chubb brand will be positioned as a leading edge high security brand
to be carried on the company's most sophisticated products.
With the launch of the new branding approach at Interbuild 2002, Security
Products UK Ltd has implemented a communications programme to advise customers,
suppliers and the trade media.
Tel: 01902 366911
Email: mailto:info@yaleuk.com
Web: http://www.yale.co.uk
Asset
Completes Second Phase of £1m Factory lnvestment Programme
The second phase of a £1million investment programme designed to
double output potential at Asset Manufacturing's double glazing factory
in Thetford to make production quicker and more efficient has been completed
with the introduction of a PC-controlled cutting and machining centre.
The Schirmer BAZ 1000 system (pictured below) is being run by three people,
allowlng five others who used to do repetitive work on smaller machines
to move to more diverse jobs in the factory.
Asset's
Production Manager, Richard Norton, said: 'It offers repeatabillty and
higher consistency and has therefore improved our already high quality
standards.
'We can achieve an output of 900 window frames in 40 hours with it when,
before, we were struggling to hit 550 in the same period. Together with
an Urban VertiQuad automatic sash welding system we installed a year ago
it has altogether moved us forward.'
The machining centre works from data prepared and put onto a PC disc by
Asset's processlng team. It will make all cuts and drill all holes - such
as drainage holes, notchlng for joins, letterbox openings on doors and
fixtures for handles on window sashes - required on the outer PVCu frames
of doors and windows manufactured by Asset.
It produces highly accurate notches for joins and prepares material for
various fixings before the VertiQuad welds the units. It is a strong part
of Asset's policy to have the absolute minlmum of wastage so, as with
all surplus gloss, steel and cardboard arislng from the production process,
the Schirmer sends surplus PVCu to a cage, where it is collected for recycllng.
Asset's Managing Director, Jack Walters, said: 'Increasing demand for
our products from both the commercial and domestic sectors of the market
led to our new investment in the factory, as we needed to increase production
capability to meet the demand.
'We are confident of the future and I am sure that seeing the investment
golng in to the factory also gives our team of employees confidence for
the future.
'We are making production more streamlined and are producing even better
products, and further improvements will be coming along in due time.'
Tel: 01842 763529
Email: mailto:info@asset-wlndows.co.uk
The
UK Door Panel Network Continues to Grow
The UK Door Panel Network has recently taken on 3 new members taking their
ever-growing number to 105. The UKDPN is an independent group of locally
based door panel manufacturers and in total they now supply in excess
of 1,200 panels per week into the UK market.
David
Jennings md (pictured right) says of this growth, 'Our members find that
they have a superb locally based business, this is exactly what the UKDPN
intended when they began some 3 years ago. We found that many buyers of
PVCU door panels want to buy their panels locally as opposed to making
long distance phone calls and having goods arrive by carrier.
'They prefer to know the people they buy from, and need to be able to
collect their panels, or have them personally delivered to site. It is
exactly the same service that is offered by local trade window fabricators.'
The UKDPN have been regularly targeting key regional areas for new members
and the results have been superb. David said, 'We currently have 125 active
sales leads for people wanting to make their own door panels and service
local areas.
'At the moment we are setting up a new member every 7-8 working days.
Once we reach total distribution we shall stop looking for new members
and simply concentrate on helping our customers to generate even more
business locally.'
The UKDPN have found that the capital cost of setting up a manufacturer
can be repaid within a mere 12 weeks on a typical company buying or selling
8-10 panels per week. Furthermore, there has been a significant bias towards
stained glass companies wanting to extend their product offer and offer
decorative door panels as a means to increasing business.
Email: univ.imports@ukonline.co.uk
Web: www.universal-imports.com
Luc
Willame to head the worldwide flat glass activities of Asahi Glass
Luc Willame has left his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Glaverbel
Group to head the worldwide flat glass operations of Asahi Glass, the
majority shareholder in Glaverbel and the world's leading glassmaker.
In this capacity, he has also been appointed Senior Executive Vice President
of the Asahi Glass group.
Luc
Willame (pictured left) joined Glaverbel in November 1982, subsequently
holding various posts including Admin. & Finance Director and member
of the Executive Committee, where he helped to define and implement the
Group's development strategy. In September 1989 he was appointed CEO and
Chairman of the Executive Committee. Under his direction, the Group redeployed
its industrial activities to become the only Western glassmaker with a
presence throughout greater Europe, from Spain to Russia.
In line with the worldwide reorganisation of its majority shareholder
Asahi Glass, the Glaverbel Group has remodelled its activities into two
operating arms, namely Raw Glass and Processed Glass. The Group will be
headed by Arthur Ulens, who takes over from Luc Willame.
The
members of the new Executive Committee of the Glaverbel Group include
the following:
Arthur
Ulens (56) (pictured left) takes over from Luc Willame at the head of
the Glaverbel Group, becoming its Chief Executive Officer. After obtaining
degrees in chemistry and economics at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,
he joined Glaverbel in 1969, where he successively managed the construction
glass products for European and overseas markets, established and managed
the Glaverbec float glass plant in Canada, and directed the Architectural
Glass business unit. He became a member of the Executive Committee in
1998, since when he has headed the Building division.
Christian
Dauby (49) (pictured right) is the sales and marketing manager of the
Raw Glass activities of the Glaverbel Group. After obtaining a doctorate
in chemistry from the Université Catholique de Louvain, where he
also worked as a researcher, he joined the Glaverbel R&D Centre in
1984, heading the research team tasked with improving the quality of mirrors.
He has headed the Group's Mirrors business unit since 1995.
Jean
Luc Batkin (43) (pictured left) heads the Processed Glass activities of
the Glaverbel Group. After graduating as an engineer Arts et Métiers
and obtaining a degree from the Institut de l'Administration des Entreprises
in Lille, he began his career in glass in 1986 with Boussois in Aniche,
where he eventually became plant manager. He subsequently acted as sales
manager Northern Europe and general manager for float glass products at
PPG Glass Europe. In 1998 he became raw glass marketing manager for the
Glaverbel Group.
Michel
Grandjean (41) (pictured right) is appointed Chief Financial Officer of
the Glaverbel Group. After obtaining a law degree from the Université
Catholique de Louvain, a degree in business law from the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel, and a management degree from the Solvay business school, he worked
with the corporate finance department of the Indosuez bank. He joined
the Glaverbel Group in 1994, where he headed the Group Treasury and Corporate
Finance department.
Grorud
Appoints New Reversible Window Hinge Distributor for Scotland
Grorud Industries Ltd, the UK supplier of locks and hinges for windows
and doors, has appointed a new distributor in Scotland for its System
2000 - Top Turn range of fully reversible hinges.
Falkirk-based
Sealco has been appointed because of its specific expertise and experience
in supplying specialised hardware products to Scottish PVCu and timber
frame window manufacturers as well as local authorities, housing associations
and builders' merchants.
The move will strengthen Grorud's growing presence in the Scottish market
and reflects
further success for its reversible hinges. Recent Top Turn contracts have
been placed by Scotland's West Lothian and Renfrew District councils.
The reversible window hinge market in Scotland - the largest in the UK
- accounts for an estimated 60% share of the overall hardware products
market and is worth nearly £3.5 million a year in sales.
Designed to enable the quick, safe and easy rotation of sash windows for
cleaning and maintenance purposes without colliding with curtains or window
ledge displays, Top Tum is available in different module sizes to suit
most timber and PVCu window designs.
Douglas Crawford, Grorud's sales manager for Scotland, said: 'This is
an important strategic move for Grorud. Sealco has specific expertise
and knowledge, which will enable us to increase the profile of the Top
Turn brand among key customers and specifiers in Scotland's burgeoning
reversible window hinge market.'
Sealco was formed over five years ago and has achieved rapid year-on-year
growth through attention to customer requirements, both in product and
on service.
Managing director Derek Malcolm said: 'Over the last 18 months, our customers
have wanted a complete window and door hardware package. With the partnership
between Sealco and Grorud, we are now in a position to offer our customer
base a one-stop-shop service from our Central Scotland premises.'
Tel: 01207 581485
E-mail: mailto:grorud.industries@btinternet.com
Web: http://www.grorudindustries.com
CGII
Appoint New Representative in Far East
CGI International Ltd has increased their world-wide network of representatives
with the recent appointment of Goodways International to cover Hong Kong
and China.
Run
by Joseph Lam (44), and with offices in both Hong Kong and Beijing, Goodways
have been a major supplier of building materials to some of the most prestigious
projects in the region including Hong Kong International Airport, Bank
of China Beijing, Shi Min Centre Shenzhen, Beijing Kerry Centre, Citic
Centre Guangzhou, Peninsula Hotel Extension Hong Kong, Hong Kong Convention
and Exhibition Centre and Pudong International Financial Building Shanghai.
Joseph recently visited CGI for comprehensive product training and is
pictured with Simon Ellison, CGI’s quality engineer demonstrating
the impact safety features of Pyroguard Fire glass.
Joseph commented 'CGI’s product range is comprehensive and offers
the market a one stop shop for all its fire glass needs." Backed
up by an extensive range of approvals covering a variety of applications,
we believe that CGI can make a sizeable impact in the Hong Kong and Chinese
Fire Glass markets.
Tel: 020 7960 6060
Email: mailto:info@cgii.co.uk
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk
Adams
Rite Europe Limited Acquires Safeguard Doors
Adams Rite Europe, the architectural hardware specialists, are pleased
to announce the recent acquisition of the assets of Safeguard Doors Limited,
a Midlands based security door manufacturer who will operate as 'Safeguard
Doors A Division of Adams Rite Europe Limited'.
Iain Mackay, Managing Director of Adams Rite said, " The acquisition
of Safeguard Doors presents an exciting opportunity for Adams Rite to
diversify into other sectors of the security market. A key factor in the
decision was the synergy that existed between the two companies for the
supply of quality products and a high level of service to the customer."
The General Manager of Safeguard Doors, John Bowden, has been in the industry
for many years and with his knowledge of the market and the skill and
expertise of his team Safeguard will be able to offer a range of security
and ballistic doors which can be manufactured specifically to individual
requirements.
John Bowden said, "This is an exciting time for us and we look forward
to being part of Adams Rite. An immediate benefit has been the opportunity
to increase and streamline our manufacturing capability by moving to newly
built premises in Wednesbury. These premises have been designed specifically
for Safeguard Doors and will allow us to offer our customers high quality
'bespoke' security and ballistic doors at a competitive price".
Further information can be obtained from
Safeguard Doors
A Division of Adams Rite Europe Limited
Unit 6-9,
Bridge Business Park
Bridge Street,
Wednesbury WS10 0AW
Tel: 0121 556 9138 Fax: 0121 556 7275
Golf
Day 21st June
JoTiKa’s third annual Golf Day will be held this year on Friday June
21st at Stonebridge Lodge, Meriden, near Birmingham.
The competition is open to all-comers with teams playing individual and
team Stableford rules playing off full handicap system, best two from
three scores per hole.
Last year’s Individual and Team Cup winners were The Glass Shop Ltd,
with Holdens Supaseal 2nd. In 3rd place third was Interpane Glass (UK).
There were some special awards too, including ‘Hitting The Cameraman’,
which was won by Mike Timbrell of County Glass, and the ‘Best Excuse
of The Day’ presented by Austen Harlow Flitter PR. Brian Carter of
Oakland Glass talked his way into that one.
The Media Challenge will also be contested, with most of the UK glazing
industry trade press taking part. So if you want to mix with the media,
call JoTiKa on 01386 793 415 or email sales@jotika.com
and enjoy a round of golf in the Heart of England’s glorious countryside.