BBC's
Homefront comes a cropper with Lambeth Council
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is the man who has transformed hundreds of interiors
and back gardens on behalf of BBC's Homefront programme - and not always
to the liking of the inhabitants. But in an unusual case in the leafy
backstreets of Streatham in South West London, while the homeowners were
delighted with the rather eccentric exterior makeover, the neighbours
complained to the local Planning Officer - and won.
The
'garden structure' in question turned out - to the horror of local residents
- to be a massive floodlit building more than two metres high, surrounded
by slate standing stones and made of interlocking railway sleepers and
coloured perspex, all held together by steel pins - and complete with
built-in stereo speakers. As a final outrage, a chrome shower unit was
added, and the entire structure was bedecked with a removable orange canopy.
Descriptions of the complainants ranged from 'a blot on the local landscape'
to 'garish', 'grotesque', 'outlandish' and 'a vulgar, showy piece of modernism'.
Neighbours also described the Homefront crew as 'selfish, rude and inconsiderate.'
The BBC has now been ordered by Lambeth council to remove Llewelyn-Bowen's
creation.
The council ruled that 'New oak railway sleepers, coloured perspex and
an orange canvas canopy are not typical features associated with the Telford
Park Conservation Area'.
The owner of the house in Killieser Avenue, a magazine marketing manager,
said he was resigned to the structure coming down, but added: "We
have been reassured by the BBC that they will re-do our garden and, if
we end up with more of a legal garden, then that's fine.
Lambeth Council explained its decision based on Design Considerations:
Policy CD 2 indicates that in determining applications within conservation
areas, special regard will be given to issues such as bulk, height, roofscape,
materials and colour, design details and style.
SPG 2.l is clear that an appropriate degree of subordination is required
when considering extensions to buildings. SPG 2.2 notes that materials
should be in keeping with the complexity and richness of the typical original
materials of the property and locality.
SPG 2.8(1) specifically highlights Lambeth's policy within conservation
areas, indicating that extensions should preserve and/ar enhance the character
and appearance of the Conservation Area and should not upset the scale
or proportion of the building, nor adversely affect the character or setting
of neighbouring buildings.
Glass
art goes t*ts up and becomes 'booby prize' of 'Metric Martyrs'
SUNDERLAND
Page 3 girl Danni May has had her assets immortalised at the National
Glass Centre.
The glamour model's chest became one of celebrity body parts to join the
National Glass Wearside tourist attraction's 'Wall of Fame'.
The glass boobs - made by Sunderland University students - took two weeks
to complete, and they joined the star display, where the feet of Sunderland's
star striker Kevin Phillips, club Player of the Century Charlie Hurley
and Newcastle Falcons' director of rugby Rob Andrew, already feature alongside
the fist of Wearside's ex-boxing champion Billy Hardy, and the hands of
Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup Final goalkeeping hero Jimmy Montgomery.
Agony aunt Denise Robertson and North-East Paralympic champions Tanni
Grey-Thompson and Hazel Robson are also immortalised in glass.
Danni, 21 said: 'I'm over the moon. I think it will be great to get the
bits that have made me famous immortalised in glass.'
As
an interesting twist to the story, the 'glass bust' was auctioned by local
newspaper editor Patrick Lavelle of the Sunderland Echo and the highest
bid was offered by Neil Herron of the Metric Martyrs, and the £200
paid went to Niall Quinn's Childrens' Charity. (The 'Metric Martyrs' was
formed by five men who were arrested for selling food in imperial measurements
and who lodged papers at the European Court of Human Rights last week,
12th August)
The glass cast has been mounted and offered as a 'booby' prize every month
to the politician – national or local – who drops the biggest
clanger.
'We expect the nominees to treat the award with the spirit in which it
is intended......totally serious ! .........and we expect that in the
next few weeks some of the front runners may try something to take them
to the top of the poll, such as Blair calling for a referendum on the
Euro, Peter Hain and Jack Straw buying holiday homes in Gibraltar or Elliot
Morley becoming a British fisherman'.
A
real pane
Also from the Sunderland Echo comes the following story....
A DOUBLE-GLAZING saleswoman who tried to target Tony Blair’s East
Durham home missed her window of opportunity.
The eager sales rep got through to the Prime Minister’s constituency
home, Myrobella, in Trimdon Station, which is listed as A.C.L. Blair in
the Teesside phonebook.
Commenting on the pleasant weather, she then started to explain a sales
offer to the PM’s agent, John Burton, who works from the house.
Keen to get a sale, the woman asked John: "What sort of windows do
you have now?" to which he replied "Half-inch thick and bulletproof."
However, not to be put off, the saleswoman went on: "Is there any
external security at your house?"
"Two blokes, 24-hours-a-day carrying Kalashnikovs," came the
reply.
The woman then realised which house she was calling, and eventually rang
off, laughing.
John said: "It was very funny, but we get at least one call like
this every month. I’ve told Tony about the calls, and he’s had
a laugh and chuckle about it.
"Not even the Prime Minister can escape from double glazing sellers,
but we have no plans to get our windows replaced just yet."
English
Heritage in race against time to save rare 500 year old glass
English Heritage, with a group of local archaeologists, is investigating
a secret site on which Warwickshire rabbits have been busy over the summer.
The rabbits' burrowing into a grass hump which was the platform on which
a house stood, has dug up a large quantity of rare medieval glass thought
to have been the remains of a very grand, highly decorated window of a
substantial 14th century manor house.
Such
is the quality and rarity of this type of hand painted glass that there
is now a race against time to investigate the site before the exposed
glass begins to deteriorate. The location of the site must remain secret
until work is complete so that the archaeological evidence remains undisturbed.
Dr Paul Stamper (pictured), English Heritage Ancient Monuments Inspector
in the West Midlands said: 'The Warwickshire Archaeology Research Team
initially let us know that the rabbits were digging up more than just
roots and soil and asked us to investigate. We did know that a powerful
Warwickshire family had lived in that area during the middle ages but
all that is visible to the naked eye now is a series of house platforms
and a moat.
'The site was once a 14th century moated manor house which was flattened
in the 15th century and the moat was made into a pond when the family
built a bigger home nearby and found that the original house spoiled their
view!
'Normally
windows would have been removed and used elsewhere but in this case it
looks as though the window was simply left on the site and became incorporated
into the rabbits' warren. Over the years, as the rabbits have done their
own home improvement work the glass, shards of pottery and fragments of
animal bone have been kicked out of their burrow.
'Pieces of glass were discovered six months ago by a team of dedicated
local archaeologists who were undertaking an archaeological project for
English Heritage in the area. The group has been collecting the glass
and preserving it ever since and have done a marvellous job.
'Further tests on the glass will reveal the manufacturing process and
once we have enough pieces of glass we may be able to get an idea of the
pictures painted on the window - so far we can only make out scriptwork
and different patterns. We have to act fast because once the glass is
exposed to the air it soon begins to deteriorate so it is a race against
time to preserve it before the beautiful designs are lost forever'.
Further research will need to be done before Engiish Heritage can make
a decision about how
to improve the management of the site and to minimise future rabbit damage.
The conservation and preservation of nationally important scheduled ancient
monument sites is a key element of English Heritage's work.
Elvis
Spotted In Hull
Hurst Plastics and East Yorkshire Glazing have pulled out all the stops
to make a Hull woman's wedding anniversary present a big success.
Marion
Smurthwaite is an avid Elvis fan, so her husband Peter asked EYG if they
could supply a door carrying an eye-catching image of 'The King'.
Hurst Sales Director Mark Atkinson said: 'EYG briefed us and brought in
a photograph of Elvis which Mrs Smurthwaite particularly liked. We enlarged
it to about three feet in height and used that as a template to produce
an image made out of leading and highly reflective coloured film.
'This is certainly the most unusual door design that we've ever been asked
to produce, and we are delighted that it's been so well received by Mrs
Smurthwaite,' he added.
Marion has named her home in Hull 'Graceland' and her daughter is called
Lisa Marie. She is now looking to complete the Elvis makeover by installing
a doorbell which will chime to the tune of her favourite hit, 'The Wonder
Of You'.
Marion said: 'The Elvis design looks absolutely stunning. He's wearing
his trademark stage suit emblazoned with the Phoenix bird on his chest.
The glass really catches the light so that Elvis's outfit changes colour
depending on the time of day. The design has attracted a lot of attention,
with people often driving by several times to catch a glimpse.
'Peter wanted to get me something memorable and he's certainly done that.
Next year he's helping me to realise a lifetime's dream by paying for
me to go with my sister to Elvis's Graceland mansion in Memphis. We'll
be staying at the Heartbreak Hotel,' she added.
Tel: 01482 789000
Email: mailto:info@hurst-plastics.co.uk
Web: http://www.hurst-plastics.co.uk
Senator
Aims to Clean up with Pilkington Activ
Senator Windows, Ireland's largest replacement window company and the
first in the world to install Pilkington ActivTM self cleaning glass,
is about to launch an EUR80,000 advertising and sales incentive campaign
to raise sales of the product in its home market.
The move comes as Pilkington ActivTM becomes more widely available in
Ireland following the successful yearlong trial of the product by Pilkington
and Senator. During the period Senator installed more than 400 homes with
Pilkington ActivTM, which uses a special coating activated by ultra violet
rays from the sun to break down organic deposits of dirt, with water caused
to 'sheet' on the glass to wash its surface.
Now, faced with the prospect of increased competition, Senator has announced
an ambitious advertising and incentive campaign that the company's founder
and Managing Director Noel McSweeney hopes will raise sales of the unique
dual-action glass to around 20% of its business.
'We have a tremendous head start with Pilkington ActivTM and are closely
identified with the brand,' says Noel.'we also understand the product
better than anyone. Now we will capitalise on this with an advertising
and incentive campaign that will confirm our belief in Pilkington Activm,
just as we have done in the past with high security locking, Pilkington
K Glass and other initiatives.'
The advertising will largely use local radio with a 3-month autumn series
of Senator's typically hard-hitting commercials. An incentive programme,
announced to staff during a seminar at Ireland's exclusive Mount Juliet
hotel and golf complex, will back the advertising with lavish holidays
and cash bonuses for sales consultants operating from the company's 30
branches in Northern and Southern Ireland. Top prizes, awarded for highest
square metre sales of Pilkington ActivTM will be water themed holidays
that include trips to the Victoria Falls, Niagara Falls and the Nile.
Rosaleen Murphy, Senator's Marketing Manager believes, from previous experience,
that the campaign will yield very positive results: 'Our earlier campaigns
drove sales of windows fitted with Pilkington Activm to peaks of around
12% of our business. Now that the product is very much more established,
we are hoping for a higher return.'
http://www.activglass.com/Index2.htm
Record-Breaking
Roofs from Wendland
With sales approaching £1 million from new business and a steady
rise in orders from existing customers, Wendland has achieved record sales
figures during the first half of 2002. The Gloucestershire-based conservatory
roof manufacturer is attributing much of its success to the efforts of
the company's restructured sales team headed by recently appointed Director
of Sales, Alan
Fielder.
Among the latest additions to Wendland's growing user base are window
fabricators now looking to offer a complete conservatory package, together
with a number of companies who have decided to change roof supplier. Wendland
is targeting both fabricators and installers alike. A typical fabricator
profile is one with the drive to achieve an initial output of 10 to 20
roofs per week and the ambition to grow to 50 roofs plus. A typical Installer
profile is one looking to develop their business beyond 5 roofs per week
with Wendland's comprehensive technical and marketing support. New business
wins have been a mix of bar length and roof kit customers depending on
individual requirements and in-house capability.
Alongside a major reorganisation of the company's sales strategy Wendland
has also invested considerably in skilled personnel across key areas such
as warehouse and distribution, production, quality and finance. In addition,
the organisation now operates its own vehicle fleet and is in the process
of updating and improving both its trade and consumer communication. All
this activity will culminate in the imminent launch of a new branded conservatory
roof system.
'Our continuing investment in people and products is really paying off.
Wendland can now demonstrate first hand to customers its ability to offer
a total roof solution backed by friendly, responsive support that meets
the demands of the fast-moving conservatory market both today and in the
future,' comments Alan Fielder, Wendland's Director of Sales.
Tel: 01452 722266
Email: mailto:wendland@cdw.co.uk
Web: http://www.wendland.uk.com
Glasshouse:
Regional Winners Announced
The nine regional winners have been announced for the European Glasshouse
competition, created by Pilkington in association with professional journal
Architecture Today, with the event also now confirmed as one of the most
successful architectural competitions ever staged.
Glasshouse was conceived to stimulate future interest and growth in glass
by encouraging student and young architects to use more glass in buildings.
Entrants were asked to examine and exploit the enormous potential of glass
as a structural and decorative building medium in order to develop houses
suited to the ways that we want to live in the 21st century, one of the
great challenges for the architectural community.
Promoted through a series of European architectural journals and posters
placed in colleges, Glasshouse was otherwise entirely Internet based.
The result is one of the biggest architectural competitions ever held,
with over 2000 young architects and architectural students registering
through the web site, from every country in Europe. What was more remarkable
however, is that over 750 of these actually submitted entries. Statistically
by any competition standards this is regarded as impressive, representing
an almost unheard of conversion of interest into action. In terms of the
architectural world it is believed to be unprecedented.
A prize fund of EUR35,000 will be shared amongst the finalists and overall
winner. However, it is believed that the opportunity to have one's work
reviewed by a judging panel comprising some of the most respected architects
in Europe was a major stimulus to enter. These included Pekka Helin (Helsinki),
Sergey Kisselev (Moscow), Ian Ritchie (London), Matthias Sauerbruch (Berlin),
and Elias Torres (Barcelona).
Glasshouse has also proved significant by transcending geographical divides.
To encourage such a response the competition was divided into nine European
regions, with entries received from countries as diverse as Bulgaria and
Sweden, Portugal and Slovenia.
The
regional winners will be invited to attend a presentation dinner held
in October during Glasstec in Dusseldorf, where throughout the exhibition
the nine winning regional entries will be displayed on the Pilkington
stand. The overall winner will be announced during the evening and will
remain a closely guarded secret until then. He or she will have their
accolade confirmed and reviewed in the network of architectural journals
that have promoted Glasshouse.
Sara Sanders, Project Manager of Glasshouse for Pilkington says the event
has surpassed any aspirations the organisers had for the event: 'From
a relatively low-key exercise that was intended, in the longer term, to
stimulate interest in glass as a building component, Glasshouse has become
a major European event. The numbers far exceeded our highest aspirations
but now the judges have had the opportunity to review the entries, we
find that the quality is also very high.'
The winners from the nine regions are:
North - Megan Baynes from Sweden;
Central/Western - Jorn Loffhagen & Ingo Beelte from Germany;
Central/Eastern - Mateusz Urbanski & Lukasz Sterzvnksi from Poland;
West - Ronals Schleurholts & Frank Bouwman from The Netherlands;
South West - Tom·s Garcia Piriz & Javier Moreno Del Oio from
Spain;
South East - Vladimir Mitov from Bulgaria;
South - Massimiliano Settimelli & Reali Fabio from Italy;
North West - Mason White & Lola E Sheppard from the United Kingdom
(pictured);
North East - Julie Houlberg Michaelsen from Finland.
The full list of winners and runners up may be viewed on the Glasshouse
web site at: www.pilkington.com/glasshouse
Hallmark
Extends its Manufacturing Facilities
Hull-based door panel and GRP products manufacturer Hallmark Group has
increased its manufacturing facility by 25,000sq ft to allow for further
expansion and growth and to improve storage, handling and logistics.
Hallmark Group, has experienced a 25% growth in sales per annum for the
past few years. The new facility - which is located immediately opposite
the company's principal factory in Hedon Road, Hull - will house the company's
Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP) Division and will also be used to boost
manufacturing of the company's range of composite doors.
The move forms part of a significant investment programme undertaken by
Hallmark last year, with over £250,000 already invested in additions
to the company's production line and a new vacuum former, as well as new
Mercedes delivery vehicles to add to its own delivery fleet.
Hallmark Group's Sales Director John Rolland believes that the expansion
will not only boost quantity but also quality of service:
'The new factory will allow us both to increase production to answer demand
and to produce more quickly, meaning even faster turn-round for our customers.
Our investments will continue to benefit our customers long-term, allowing
all of us to take advantage of the surge in demand for superior quality
panels.'
Tel: 01482 703222
Email: mailto:info@hallmark-panels.com
Web: http://www.hallmark-panels.com
Thermoseal
invests in Transport Fleet and Trains Drivers
The Thermoseal Group, the fastest growing UK manufacturer and supplier
of double glazing consumables, has expanded its 14 strong vehicle fleet
by taking delivery of its first HGV lorry - a Mercedes Atego with a 12
tonne capacity, which is part of a further multi-vehicle order. This has
also meant training several members of staff to drive to HGV standard
- notably driver Mark Pearce, who has been with Thermoseal for 18 years
(pictured).
As
the company increases its stockholding and expands its product ranges
of machinery and consumables for the insulating glass manufacturer, it
has become increasingly necessary to invest in larger capacity trucks,
particularly to move goods between the new 27,000ft2 factory in Birmingham
and the Southern Depot in Strood, Kent.
It may come as a surprise that Thermoseal buys its own transport and trains
its own drivers, as most companies operating in the same market rely on
carriers. However, Mark Hickox, sales director of Thermoseal, is adamant
that customers get a better service as a result.
'Since expanding our Birmingham depot we have been able to start supplying
spacer bar in 6m stillages and not many carriers can handle 4m let alone
these, or handle them in such a way that the product arrives at the customer
in the same condition in which it left us', he says.
'Our drivers are all highly trained, not just to drive lorries, but to
represent our company. Drivers such as Mark Pearce, with 18 years on the
firm, are naturally a lot more knowledgable about what they are carrying
than an agency driver or a carrier. He is a great ambassador for Thermoseal',
he adds.
Since the launch of Perma-Led Coated Lead, Thermoseal has realised that
sales of lead from the Strood factory will increase dramatically, adding
even more pressure to the transport requirement. Lead is a very high weight
to cost ratio item and therefore not something you would be wanting to
pay a carrier to deliver. It also requires specialist handling, another
reason why it's better to keep the transport fleet in house.
All Thermoseal delivery vehicles are equipped with Minorplanet, a market-leading
Vehicle Management Information (VMI) System. Pioneered by Minorplanet,
VMI uses minute-by-minute satellite positioning to record, amongst others,
the location, direction, speed and engine idling times of a vehicle.
Thermoseal uses Minorplanet to plan all its delivery routes. This ensures
the most efficient routes and saves the drivers having to spend time route
planning. If a delivery is queried, Thermoseal is able to log on to any
vehicle via the computer and can locate its whereabouts to within 50 feet
anywhere in the UK.
'Minorplanet enables us to answer delivery queries quickly and efficiently
as every customer is plotted as well as every vehicle,' says Mark, 'all
our drivers are also equipped with mobile phones as back-up.'
For more information, please contact Mark Hickox at Thermoseal 0121-331
3950 or view the website at www.thermosealgroup.com
Duraflex
Future Assured by Investment
Following 4 months of negotiations, Masco Corporation of Taylor Michigan
acquired Duraflex from Latium Group on 26th April 2002.
Masco, a world leader within the building products sector, has a sales
turnover of $8.5Bn and has an impressive portfolio of brands in the US,
UK and Europe
During the past 18 months, Duraflex has invested over £3.8m in plant,
premises and new tooling. There is a significant capital expenditure budget
agreed over the next 3 years to ensure the company remains at the forefront
of the industry. With the acquisition of Duraflex comes a commitment to
the management team and staff and recognition of the potential of its
unique blend of skills and experience.
Duraflex's strategy of growth in the trade, retail, public sector and
new build markets through developing its independent customer base has
underpinned rapid growth over the last 3 years. These same principles
are fully approved by Masco and the company will continue to run as an
autonomous business. A new legal entity, Duraflex Limited, has been formed
to facilitate the separation from CDW Products Ltd. The other companies
in this group are unaffected by the Masco deal.
Chris Phillips, Managing Director of Duraflex commented 'Over the last
3 years, we have expanded the Diamond Suite to include Featured and 70mm
variants, launched a new slimline patio door system and introduced a new
corporate image. Behind the scenes we have invested almost £4m in
new tooling, opened a new warehouse and distribution facility and overhauled
our logistics function with the aim of meeting customer's requirements
for fast, reliable service.
We are committed to growing our market presence through our fabricating
customers and our strategy is to develop our business relationships independently
from centralised control with the goal of long term, mutual profitability.
I am delighted at the opportunities presented by this move, which will
secure the long term future of the Duraflex business as a major force
in the industry'
Tel: 08705 351351
Web: http://www.duraflex.co.uk
Aztec
Improves Customer Service
Conservatory fabricators will receive an enhanced delivery of components
with investment by Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems in its vehicle fleet.
The
company has increased its mainstream transport capability, with the delivery
of an 18-tonne wagon, with another on order and due within the next quarter.
All will be branded with Aztec corporate livery, in corporate colours
of red, yellow and black.
Comments Aztec managing director, Colin Bennett, 'Our growth is due to
two things: the excellence of our product, and the excellence of our service.
In order to maintain the latter in light of such rapid growth, we felt
it necessary to increase our ability to deliver what our fabricators need,
when they need it, so our customers are never left in a position where
a job cannot be started or completed because they are out of stock of
some or all components. Our expansion of our delivery fleet will go some
way to preventing that situation.'
Since its foundation two years ago, Aztec has grown to achieve turnover
in excess of £4million. Its roof system is claimed to cut build
time by up to 30%, only 10 core components produce all main formats and
sizes of conservatory.
Its gasket enables those same components to accommodate glazing from 16mm-35mm,
without the need to stock separate sections for each glazing size.
Tel: 01942 720044
Email: mailto:enquiries@aztecsystems.co.uk
Web: http://www.aztecsystems.co.uk
Greens
Windows Shine for Social Housing
Housing Association and Local Authority decision-makers flocked to Kömmerling's
stand at Europe's biggest social housing event to get first-hand information
about the new environmentally-friendly PVCu 'GreenLine' windows.
The GreenLine symbol shows that both Kömmerling and the manufacturer
have met strict 'green' guidelines, starting with the extrusion process.
Green issues are very much at the forefront for social housing specifiers.
The fact that all Kommerling windows in the UK are extruded using Calcium-Zinc
stabilisers instead of Lead, was a dominant factor in a high proportion
of enquiries at the company's stand at the Chartered Institute of Housing's
annual exhibition.
Kömmerling's
stand at the CIH exhibition. Specification Manager Mitchell Dennis (right),
is discussing green issues with Radway Door & Window Ltd.'s General
Manager Howard Gibbs, and Radway's Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator Nicky
Kerridge. Radway is one of Kommerling's leading commercial fabricators.
'Many of the 5,000 visitors and delegates were key decision-makers in
the social housing sector, principally Chief Executives of Housing Associations
and Directors of Housing from Local Authorities, as well as Board Members
and Councillors,' says Kömmerling's Commercial Manager Alan Davis.
'Many of them were keen to see the steps Kömmerling has taken in
the UK when it comes to environmental issues involving PVCu windows -
not only with the use of Calcium-Zinc instead of Lead in the manufacturing
process, but how we're also leading the way in recycling manufacturing
waste.'
Tel: 01784 464000
Email: mailto:enquiries@kommerling.com
Web: http://www.kommerling.com
New
Owner, New Deal for Fersina North
When Gary Stewart took over sole ownwership of Aberdeen based Fersina
North in June 2002 he also entered into a new agreement with Spectus Systems
to fabricate the Sightline 70 range.
The Sightline 70 range will be used for Fersina's growing domestic installation
business and was chosen because of the high specification of the product.
In the words of Gary Stewart 'the customer is much moreaware of the quality
of the products they choose and they increasingly ask for the accreditations
and thirdparty quality marks that the Spectus system provides.' The product
was only one part of the decision process, of course, and the back up
and technical support offered to Fersina was also important.
With
its main showroom and sales office in Aberdeen, Fersina North's fabrication
facility is in Forres on the Murray Coast. The company is proud to employ
local people and the personal service provided by the 25 members of staff
has been an important ingredient in the steady success of the enterprise.
Gary has been in the industry for 13 years and a partner in the company
for three years, so he brings a wealth of experience and understanding
to his position as sole owner.
For the immediate future, his plans for the business are 'for gradual
growth - growth that is stable and can be sustained for the future.!'
The picture shows Gary Stewart (right) pictured
with Laura Bruce, Business Development Manager
for Fersina and Neil Selby, New Business Manager, Spectus Systems.
New
Warehouse, New Fleet, New Design for HW Plastics
As
part of its multi million pound investment in the huge warehouse &
distribution centre, HW Plastics has invested in a new fleet of Vehicles,
Drawbars, Trailers & Demountable bodies whose livery reflects the
new co-operation between the company's brands.
Customers of HW Systems, Spectus Systems, and BCE are now or soon will
be receiving deliveries from lorries clearly badged HW Plastics. Predominantly
using the HW Plastics corporate red colour, the logo clearly indicates
the relationships between the brands - separate, yet working in co-operation
where appropriate.
Investment in the new fleet is considerable, but dwarfed by the company's
overall investment in its constituent brands over the last year. The Centralisation
of the warehousing and distribution services is only one stage in the
programme that is seeing a substantial development of the main manufacturing
base in Macclesfield and an aggresive programme of new product development.
Web: http://www.hwwindows.co.uk
TimbaPlus
Launches 'PolyTimba'
A new building material, produced from a combination of wood and thermoplastics,
has all the positive benefits of both wood and plastic without any of
the problems traditionally associated with each.
PolyTimba can be produced in up to an 80/20 wood/polymer mixture which
'requires zero maintenance', the manufacturer claims.
'It overcomes the negative aspects of wood moisture absorption leading
to movement and rot, and termite attack - while also eliminating the thermal
and UV instabiiity associated with plastic', the firm adds.
The product, which is being produced in the UK by TimbaPlus of Coleshill
in Birmingham, can be produced using waste wood and fully recycled plastic,
making it environmentally friendly.
'Used outside, untreated, PolyTimba will weather in much the same way
as oak, developing the typical grey patina in a relatively short time,'
says David Mattia, managing director of TimbaPlus. 'Our extruded profiles
produce minimal waste but any that may occur can be returned for recycling'.
Price comparisons reveal that PolyTimba is competitive with soft wood
and plastic but substantially less expensive than the hard woods it emulates.
The product can be worked in the same way as wood and has very similar
properties.
TimbaPlus is making a £2 million investment in the production of
PolyTimba with new plant and machinery which is expected to be in production
by September this year.
'lnitial responses in the product from the UK doors, windows and building
industries have been extremely favourable and we have even received interest
in its unique qualities from housebuilders in Australia and South Africa
where wood suffers from constant termite attack,' adds David.
Tel: 01675 467320
Web: http://www.timbaplus.com