CGII
Moves to new Factory, but Cancels Christmas!
Given a full order book and demands from customers in some 20 different countries, the management team and workforce of fire-glass manufacturer, CGI International, had to face the dilemma of how to move the whole production facility from Warrington to its new purpose-built factory complex at Haydock, Merseyside, UK, without breaking stride and without any significant downtime to its manufacturing process.
Says CGI’s MD, Tom Ritchie, 'We always find that the Autumn is our
busiest time of year and 2002 was no exception, with record order levels
being shipped and our finished glass stocks at modest levels.
'Not the time to make a major premises move you may say, but we were faced
with a one-off opportunity because of a lease-break clause, for the potential
re-development of our old Warrington factory location.
'The obvious answer was for us to cancel Christmas! So the management
team drew lots to see who would break it to the workforce.
'Seriously, though, it meant cancelling not only Christmas but the New
Year holiday as well.'
From close of business on 18th December, apart from continuing to despatch
orders, the whole work force went into 'removal' mode, alongside the professional
removal companies and machinery specialists. The Warrington factory and
offices were stripped clear, removed and re-installed, together with £0.8million
of new equipment, with the intent to commence running on the trade’s
first day back, on Monday, 6th January 2003.
Continues Tom, 'In fact our production team actually ran one of the production
lines on Sunday, 5th January and after some training on the new equipment,
including a new 'hovercraft' on which we move the glass racks around,
we started making fire glass at 10 o’clock on 6th January –
right on schedule.'
Mission Impossible? 'Not if you are lucky enough to have a workforce like
ours,' concludes Tom, 'but please don’t let us do it again for a
long time.'
New factory address:
CGI International Ltd
International House, Millfield Lane, Haydock, Merseyside, WA11 9GA
Tel: 01942 710 720
Email: mailto:info@cgii.co.uk
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk
Shepley Shows Flexibility by Going Modular!
With
market saturation a concern for the window industry, fabricators and installers
may need to diversify to sustain their business when the replacement market
begins to shrink. The conservatory sector has been the obvious answer,
but with conservatories can come high overheads and more complicated operations.
Shepley is doing its bit for customers with a new modular conservatory
range, providing customers with the opportunity to diversify whilst simplifying
ordering and pricing with a fixed price conservatory option.
From a starting point of zero roofs in spring 2001, when Shepley started
fabricating conservatories, the company now manufactures around 40 roofs
a week. Aiming for a 50% increase in the number of conservatories sold
each week by June 2004, two new sales managers have been recruited to
concentrate on helping to develop this business.
Shepley
became a one-stop-shop in response to customer demand. 'Customers knew
we'd choose the best quality roof at the best price,' comments Steve Hacking,
general manager of Shepley's conservatory division, 'and they haven't
been disappointed. Installers buy from us because all our roofs are pre-assembled
before they go out so we sort out any problems, rather than passing them
onto the customer.
'Tel: 0161 339 2433 Fax: 0161 343 3684
Website: www.shepley.com
Highly
Respected Speaker for the GPD 2003 Automotive Sessions
The global glass industry conference, Glass Processing Days (GPD), will
take place on 15-18 June 2003 in Tampere, Finland. More than 900 of the
glass industry's decision-makers from more than 60 countries are expected
to participate. The automotive session of the conference will have highly
respected and interesting speakers and will attract automotive glazing
specialists. One of the plenary speakers at GPD 2003 is Mr Guy Lozach,
Director of Vehicle Materials and Engineering from PSA Peugeot Citroen.
On the opening day, Mr Lozach will speak on the use of mineral glass glazing
in the automotive industry.
The GPD 2003 conference is honoured to have Mr Jacques Aschenbroich, Senior
Vice President of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain
Vitrage and Managing Director of the Flat Glass Division of La Compagnie
de Saint-Gobain as Opening Speaker. Mr Jacques Aschenbroich's presentation
will consist of Saint-Gobain's views on the industry's latest trends and
on the future challenges of glass compared to other competing materials.
The GPD conference provides automotive glazing specialists with an excellent
opportunity to update their knowledge about the latest developments and
trends in architectural and automotive glazing.
The topics of the automotive sessions will be: Body Design; Nanotechnology
and Glazing Materials; Laminated Windscreens, Sidelites and Lightweight
Glazing; Pre-Processing and Heat Treatment; and Quality and Production
Control. An invited speaker of the Body Design session is Mr Michael Robinson,
Design Director, Fiat Auto S.p.A. His speech is entitled 'The Glass Revolution'.
The other invited speaker address will be given by Mrs Estelle Even from
PSA Peugeot Citroen.
She will talk about the new glazing options. Also presenting a paper is
Mr Donald W. Ableson, Director of Special Vehicle Activity of General
Motors Corporation. He will present views on 'Innovative Glass Applications
in Specialty Vehicles'.
To develop the glass industry further and expand discussion, GPD has included
a new session in the conference programme. The chairmen of the new session,
Nanotechnology and Glazing Materials, are Mr Vincent Henry of Henry Technology
Solutions L.L.C. and Mr Stephen Selkowitz of Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory.
'The Glass Processing Days conference has the ambitious goal of helping
the glass industry to innovate new technologies and ways to use glass
by providing the right forum. The Nanotechnology and Glazing Materials
session is a good example of this technological approach. The automotive
glazing of the 21st century will see a new generation of smart materials,
created from an explicit assembly of atoms and molecular structures. These
nanostructural materials will provide revolutionary new performance,'
says Mr Jorma Vitkala, Chairman of the Organising Committee.
Proof of Glass Processing Days' role as a means of commercialising new
products, especially in the automotive glass industry, was obtained at
the last GPD. In 1997 the consultant and inventor Mr Giovanni Manfre presented
a solution which he had developed called Thermally Expandable MicroSphere,
which enables fast and trouble-free removal of automotive glass panels.
Mr Peter Bain heard his presentation at that time. At GPD 2001, Manfre
and Bain introduced a finished debonding product for the automotive glass
industry.
Glass Processing Days has been organised seven times. The first conference
in 1992 attracted 30 participants. In 1994 the number of the participants
exceeded 100, and in 1997 the conference attracted over 600 participants.
GPD is organised by Tamglass, which is part of Kyro Technologies. Tamglass
designs and manufactures safety glass lines and machines for the architectural,
automotive, furniture and domestic appliance glass industries.
Contact: Mr Jorma Vitkala
Tel: +358 (0) 40 553 2042
Web: http://www.glassfiles.com
or http://www.glassprocessingdays.com
IMI
sells Witton site to end an era
IMI plc - parent company of Polypipe/Premier - has sold its 95 acre industrial
site at Witton, Birmingham to The Prudential for £27m. Completion
took place on 20 December 2002. A joint venture between The Prudential,
Frontier Estates and Opus Land will be developing the site and work is
expected to start in July 2003.
As part of the changes arising from the sale, IMI’s corporate headquarters
will move to new leased premises located on the Birmingham Business Park,
and Eley, the .22 sporting cartridge manufacturer, will relocate to nearby
Minworth, Birmingham. In addition, our UK Severe Service business will
consolidate its current manufacturing operations at Witton from three
existing buildings to a new leased production facility of around 90,000
square feet to be built as part of the redevelopment.
The sale of the 95 acre site is the final piece of IMI’s original
Witton site which once comprised over 200 acres. Previously 55 acres were
developed by IMI as the award winning Holford Estate which was sold in
1995. Smaller parcels of land have also been sold for development over
the years.
It is expected that the new Headquarters building at the Birmingham Business
Park will be available for occupation in April 2003.
Trevor Slack, Finance Director of IMI, commented, 'Although there is some
sadness at ending our long association with Witton, we are delighted that
the site will be regenerated and provide opportunities for new jobs in
the area. We are looking forward to moving our corporate headquarters.
The Birmingham Business Park will give us modern office accommodation
in an established environment offering excellent transport and business
connections. Although IMI is now a significant international engineering
company, our roots remain in the Birmingham area.'
Making
a Sound Investment with Pilkington Acoustic Glass
Due
to changes in UK Building Regulations, developers are now demanding double
glazing as the preferred choice in construction practice, including within
fixed point glazing systems such as Pilkington Planar.
Single glazed glass gives comparable acoustic performance levels when
glazed in either a conventional frame or a point fixed system, but what
happens to the acoustic performance when double or triple glazing is used
within these systems? Interestingly, point fixed glazing systems show
a marked acoustic improvement over more conventional frames and the more
complex the glazing, the more significant the improvement.
It has been found that improvements in acoustic attenuation become unexpectedly
greater as the number of panes within the point fixed glazing system increases.
This effect is due to the damping produced by the bridging elements that
separate the panes at the fixing points. In all multiple pane construction
resonances, which impair acoustic performance, naturally occur when similar
thicknesses of glass are used. In point fixed systems these resonances
are significantly reduced resulting in an improvement in sound insulation.
The effect is particularly noticeable at the lower end of the acoustic
spectrum, which is representative of transportation noise.
The effect is demonstrated by the following example - the acoustic index
for a point fixed double glazing system offers a 2dB performance improvement
over a typical fully framed four edged support system using comparable
glazing. This increases to a 5dB enhancement with a triple glazed application
such as Pilkington Planarē Triple, and so on. Additional acoustic performance
can be achieved by using laminated glass, where the glass is supplied
with at least one glass heat strengthened for greater panel integrity
in the event of a breakage.
A common misapprehension is that the use of a silicone sealant as a weather
seal in point fixed systems can compromise acoustic performance. The seal
represents a very small area compared to that of the façade and
has no significant effect on the overall acoustic performance. In double
glazed point fixed system with 12mm silicone weather seals, even with
five per cent jointing, the aggregate potential sound insulation would
be impaired by no more than 1dB, a reading that the human ear cannot even
register.
As a frameless system, Pilkington Planar enables the use of large expanses
of glass on any building structure through the use of countersunk stainless
steel bolts in the glass facade. The system offers significant acoustic
and thermal benefits over conventionally framed designs and the ability
to customise the Pilkington Planar system, provides a design approach
that results in significant benefits in many other areas.
Technal Supplies Windows to Tallest Building in NW
The
£1.5m glazing contract for the tallest new residential building
in the North West has been awarded to glazing subcontractor, Airedale
Glass and Glazing, in partnership with architectural aluminium systems
specialist, Technal.
The £55m flagship Beetham Tower development on the site of the former St Paul's Eye Hospital, is the largest building project currently underway in Liverpool and is set to transform the city centre. The scheme includes a health club and spa, and a luxury penthouse apartment on the top two floors, which will be sold for in excess of £1m - a new record for the Liverpool residential market.
Designed by Aedas AHR, developed by the Beetham Organization and built by Carillion, the 30 storey tower will provide 126 apartments and 9 exclusive penthouses and will be linked to a new 200-bedroom Radisson SAS hotel - the first 5 star hotel to open in Liverpool.
Airedale will fabricate 1,800 sqm of Technal's MC facetted curtain walling and 330 FXi46 casement windows for the project. The windows are being inserted into pre-cast concrete panels off-site and craned into position to significantly reduce the programme time.
For further information on Technal's recently expanded portfolio of curtain walling, door, window and ground floor framing systems, visit - www.technal.co.uk.
Alcoa
Approves Building New Aluminum Smelter in Eastern Iceland
Alcoa
announced on 10th January that its Board of Directors has approved plans
for the construction of a 322,000-metric ton Fjaroaal aluminum facility
in Eastern Iceland. Alcoa's Fjaroaal aluminum facility is part of the
most extensive single investment in the history of Iceland, and is scheduled
to begin production in 2007. The facility is being designed to be the
most environmentally friendly aluminum production facility in the world.
The cost of the Fjaroaal aluminum facility will be approximately $1.1
billion over the next four years.
Alcoa's Fjaroaal aluminum operations - Fjaroaal means 'Aluminum of the
Fjords' in Icelandic and derives from the local municipality, Fjaroabyggo,
or 'Municipality of the Fjords' - will provide approximately 450 jobs
and generate approximately 300 additional full-time equivalent positions
in service-related industries, for a total of 750 new jobs. Construction
of the aluminum plant in East Iceland is part of an overall economic plan
by the government of Iceland to improve living standards from health care
to infrastructure to communications - not just for the region, but also
for all of Iceland. Those new jobs will help strengthen and diversify
the economy of East Iceland, which has seen declining employment and out-migration
as traditional jobs in fisheries and farming have declined. The project
will create hundreds of construction jobs in the region, helping fuel
economic growth. Smelter construction is scheduled to begin in early 2005.
'The Fjaroaal plant is an important element of Alcoa's growth strategy
in primary metals,' said Alain Belda, Alcoa Chairman and CEO. 'Across
our entire primary metals portfolio, we are taking action to move our
production assets down the cost curve while maintaining return on capital
targets. As we explore new projects around the world, we will continue
to reassess our existing smelting portfolio, particularly in the United
States, where escalating energy and labour costs have made many smelters
less globally competitive.
'There are unique environmental challenges presented by Iceland's nature,
and we promise to exercise best discretion in our interaction with it,'
said Belda. 'We expect that our unrivalled experience along with new technologies
that we have developed will be well utilised to ensure that the project
has minimal impact on the environment and the eco-systems supporting it.
We look forward to working with the people of Iceland and their elected
representatives to secure governmental approvals for this project. We
are also pleased that Landsvirkjun has decided to move forward with their
power project.'
The new Alcoa Fjaroaal aluminum plant is estimated to have less significant
environmental impacts than a design previously proposed for the same location:
*Annual production level of the Alcoa Fjaroaal plant will be approximately
25% below that planned under the previous proposal.
*Alcoa will not have on-site disposal of spent pot lining (SPL), a by-product
of the aluminum production process.
*Alcoa is investigating designs to meet its goal for zero process water
discharge.
*Carbon anodes, required continuously by the plant, will not be manufactured
in Iceland, thereby eliminating a major source of sulfur dioxide (SO2),
nitrogen oxide (NOX) and hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions from the site.
The project will comply with all air and water quality standards of Iceland
and the European Union directives scheduled to take effect in 2005 and
2010. In some areas, designed performance of the Alcoa plant goes beyond
compliance. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be 25% below the earlier
plan, and PFC emissions (another greenhouse gas) will be 40% less. Emissions
of nitrogen oxide (NOX) will also be 80% less. Alcoa is committed to working
closely with East Iceland communities to minimise disturbance during the
construction and operating phases.
Domino
Cuts it with Oakland Glass
Oakland
Glass, independent glass processor, has chosen Domino, the global coding
solutions provider, to install the latest ink jet technology for its production
line.
Oakland
Glass, based in Dewsbury, has been using Domino for more than 12 years,
so when it required a new ink jet printer Domino was the obvious choice
to provide a coding solution that could be integrated into its production
line.
The company wanted to upgrade its existing Domino ink jet printer to increase
productivity. In order to meet their requirements Domino provided the
A200 ink jet printer. Oakland's Operation Director, David Scholefield
was instrumental in the decision to install the machine. 'We have been
using Domino printers across the site for many years and when we needed
a new application designed we wanted to stay with Domino's reliability,
training and service. We chose the A200 due to its functionality, which
has resulted in increased product identification.'
Oakland Glass uses the A200 to mark information tailored to customer requirements
on spacer bars. Size, date of manufacture, glass and spacer thickness,
as well as the customer's name or logo can be printed on the bars to save
time and to speed up Oakland's response times for replacement units.
'The Domino A200 coding machine is designed with advanced inkjet technology
and is capable of outstanding performance. The end result is a flexible,
integrated packaging and coding solution that saves time, lowers operating
costs and optimises output.' David commented.
This latest installation follows the purchase of two Domino DGM laser
printers on Oakland's automatic arissing machines for printing the British
standard Kite Mark logo onto toughened glass. David Scholefield says,
'The laser printers give us a far superior result to any other method
of printing onto glass and they are also 100% accurate, putting the Kite
Mark in the same position every time. The lasers have increased productivity
and reduced production costs.'
Contact: Avril Kirwan
Tel: 01954 782551
Email: mailto:avril.kirwan@domino-uk.com
Combilift
is Fantastic for GAP's Plastic
General
Allpurpose Plastics, better known as GAP, has expanded its operations
substantially since it opened its first outlet in Accrington nearly ten
years ago. Looking for an innovative handling solution for the vastly
increased range of stock stored at its HQ in Blackburn, the company has
now replaced most of its previous fleet of sideloaders and counterbalance
forklifts with a Combilift multi-directional forklift.
GAP
specialises in low maintenance plastics, and supplies the double glazing
and building industries, local authorities and housing associations with
roofing, cladding and related products from six depots across central-north
England. Due to celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2003, the company attributes
its success and year-on-year growth to keeping up with current trends
and investing in the best possible machinery and specialist equipment,
such as the Combilift. This forklift has enabled Mick Skinner, Operations
Manager at Blackburn, to make optimum use of the storage space available.
'We keep our customers satisfied by offering an unbeatable range, service
and delivery', comments Mick, 'and the Combilift offers us the versatility
we need in the field of materials handling to fulfil our pledge of next
day delivery of anything, anywhere.'
The versatility of the Irish built Combilift lies in its unique design
- it is an all-wheel drive, 4-way forklift which is equally at home on
semi-rough terrain outside in all weathers as it is in aisles as narrow
as 2 metres within warehouses. With deliveries to Blackburn coming from
various suppliers in a wide variety of packaging, sizes and weights, the
Combilift is invaluable as it can offload each one, even the largest stillages,
with 'maximum efficiency and minimum effort' as Mick puts it. The previously
empty uppermost storage areas are now in use, housing extra stock to a
height of 5.5 metres thanks to the reach of the Combilift mast, and the
4-tonne capacity of the forklift enables warehouse staff to handle multiple
packs of long length products in one go for faster operations.
Warehouse Manager Neil Coward is equally enthusiastic as to the benefits
of using the diesel powered Combilift: 'For the space we operate in we
ideally need a machine that can turn on a sixpence, which is more or less
what the Combilift does. It is a fantastic machine, easy to use, economical,
and far smaller and less cumbersome than a sideloader. Its compact dimensions
also allow us to access all areas with less risk of damage to the product.'
Starting with just one van and five staff in 1993, GAP's current fleet
of 24 trucks and workforce of over 200 are set to expand even further
due to an ever-increasing customer base. To keep pace with this, a second
Combilift is due in the Liverpool outlet early this year.
As well as diesel models, LPG powered Combilifts are also available, with
lift capacities ranging from 2.5 - 9 tonnes. Exacting quality control
procedures at the manufacturing facilities in County Monaghan, Ireland,
ensure that the forklifts are robust and extremely low maintenance. The
Combilift engineers also provide an all encompassing service for customers,
whether by adding tailor made attachments or assisting users with the
design of warehousing layouts to provide the best possible solution to
individual materials handling needs.
Combilift Customer UK Tel: 07968 490051
Email: mailto:info@combilift.com
Web: http://www.combilift.com
C3S
Securiglass Welcomes Malaysian Guests
C3S
Securiglass is continuing to strengthen its relationship with organisations
throughout South East Asia, particularly Malaysia. The company supplies
specialist fire, safety and security glass to a wide number of industries
throughout the world.
Last
year, C3S Securiglass used various channels to establish a permanent presence
in the region, including developing a partnership with Pyrofire Sdn Bhd.
in Malaysia. The partnership has proved to be successful in having Pyrocet,
a high performance fire resistant glass, pass the 60 minute fire stability
test by BOMBA, the fire standard accreditation body in Malaysia. This
endorsement has resulted in both companies recently exhibiting together
at Malbex 2002, an architectural exhibition in Malaysia, to launch Pyrocet
onto the Malaysian market. During the event, the opportunity was seized
for both companies to sign a joint agreement.
The visit to Malaysia was reciprocated when Mr Lew Kam Sam, Managing Director
of Pyrofire and Mr Kwong Kee Chye, Senior Marketing Manager visited C3S
Securiglass at its Headquarters in Elland, West Yorkshire. During the
visit, Mr Lew and Mr Kwong toured the factory to learn more about Pyrocet
as well as the wide range of other products C3S Securiglass produces,
for example, physical and ballistic attack resistant glass.
Pyrofire Sdn Bhd. manufactures and installs steel framing systems in Malaysia,
whilst C3S Securiglass manufactures and supplies Pyrocet to Pyrofire for
incorporation into the steel frames. The result is a robust glazed system.
Another product, Smokestream, is also offered by the two companies. Smokestream
is a fixed, glazed smokecurtain that channels smoke to extractor fans
in the event of a fire.
A fitting end to the visit was accomplished when C3S Securiglass presented
gifts to Mr Lew and Mr Kwong as a friendly token of the newly formed partnership.
Tel: 01422 376181
Passive
Energy: Slimline Thermal Insulation for All Generations of Housing
Munich
is sporting two new passive-energy houses. Both houses employ not only
state-of-the-art energy-related technology, but also a new category of
slimline thermal insulation that substantially exceeds the stringent requirements
of Germany's Energy Savings Ordinance. The thermal insulation derives
its outstanding performance from Wacker's newly developed vacuum insulation
panels (VIPs), which are only two centimeters thick. The VIPs are concealed
behind the facade cladding. The thin profile of a VIP combines the benefits
of highly effective thermal insulation with minimised space requirements
- especially advantageous when renovating older structures.
One of the passive-energy dwellings is a new detached house, the other
a renovated mid-row house built in the 1950s. Both projects were undertaken
as part of the 'Bavarian High-Tech Offensive', with planning supplied
by Munich architect Florian Lichtblau.
The German Energy Savings Ordinance (EnEV), enacted into law this February,
has refocused attention on thermal insulation for buildings. The regulations
make new low-energy structures the norm, but owners of older buildings
are also affected. To use classic insulation materials in accordance with
EnEV, insulation would have to be applied in layers 20 to 35 centimeters
thick - which would make the interiors of older buildings too space-cramped.
Wacker's VIP-based slimline thermal insulation opens up new opportunities.
VIPs easily fulfill the requirements of the Energy Savings Ordinance,
even under severe space constraints.
Web: http://www.wacker.com
House
Builders Require Versatility
A
decision to offer consumers the option of a conservatory on their new
homes seemed like a marvellous opportunity for a major, national house
builder, until it faced the problems of supply and installation.
Stringent standards required a complete conservatory installation that
would provide the same structural integrity as their houses. In addition,
site management and co-ordination was an absolute must. The ideal solution
lay in sourcing a supplier that could not only provide excellence in installation,
but supply and manufacture the windows, doors and conservatory roof.
The company decided that the answer lay with the Newport based Burles
Group of companies.
As chief executive of the Group, David Burles has always ensured that
his various companies work closely together, sharing their experience
and expertise, a practice that he claims has certainly contributed to
their success.
One member company is Modplan Wales Limited, which claims an impeccable
reputation, attributed to a combination of supplying excellence in customer
service with quality of product. For over two decades the company has
been fulfilling installation contracts in both domestic and commercial
markets, providing the understanding and experience of site management
that a major house builder requires.
In fact, the design of the Versatile Roof System, is in no small part,
due to the input of Modplan Wales experiences.
With only eight major parts the roof claims time saving assembly. Both
the ridge and beam are manufactured from pultruded GRP, to provide greater
dimensional stability for the overall structure and allowing the roof
to take wind loading pressures. Roof bars are steel reinforced with connections
through to the ridge and ring beam, whilst the beam itself is connected
to the wall through the use of an H connector. The design is a concerted
move towards making the conservatory into one, completely stable structure,
a definite plus in the sourcing process.
As Modplan Wales use only components manufactured within the Burles Group,
they use not only the Versatile roof, but windows and doors fabricated
by Modplan Limited.
'As with any consumer purchase, trends fluctuate' says David, 'so it is
essential to have a wide range of product to offer and to be flexible
enough in your production facilities to carry it through. The input we
receive from Modplan Wales allows us to identify trends and provide products
that are not only structurally sound, but aesthetically pleasing. That
keeps our trade customers ahead of the competition too! For example, conservatories
are no longer seen as simply an extension to a house, they need to be
designed to blend in and complement the original building - a factor which
is especially important in the new build sector.'
With the introduction of the Versatile GRP roof, the Burles Group has
opened its own dedicated colour bonding application unit, allowing the
company to offer an even wider choice to its whole customer base.
A pilot scheme has now commenced with a new site in Pencoed, Bridgend,
where the Burles Group has completed the first conservatory on the show
home.
'We are very pleased to be working with such a prestigious house builder'
concludes David, 'and we feel sure that consumers will be more than keen
to take up the option of a conservatory on their new homes.'
Tel: 01495 247233
GTL
e-briefing highlights training and safety
Highlights of this month's Glass Training bulletin include evidence that the CoVE Programmes are working, counting the cost to business of Christmas excess, and the latest stats on workplace death and injury - and if that wasn't enough to look forward to - GTL now has a 90 minute course in preventing back problems through safe lifting.
Research
Shows CoVEs Are Working
Independent research into the Learning and Skills Council's Centres of
Vocational Excellence (CoVE) programme shows that it is good for learners,
good for staff and good for local and regional employers. For more information
visit: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/news_detail.cfm?ID=790
Christmas Drinkers Lose Bosses Millions
Overindulgence by UK Christmas partygoers caused £66 million to
be stripped from the UK economy last year, new research has revealed.
More information here
Workplace Deaths Fall Back
Fewer people died in workplace accidents in the UK in 2002 compared to
the previous twelve months, according to official figures. More information
here
HSE Publishes Health and Safety Statistics for 2001/02
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the latest statistics
on workplace safety, work-related ill-health and enforcement action in
Great Britain. Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2001/02 presents
the top level statistics, while more detailed data and commentary are
available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics; the
Highlights document itself is at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overpic.htm.
A pain in the back...
You probably know that back problems are the cause of much time away from
the workplace. Training people how to lift and carry safely can save your
business a lot of time and money! We have developed a 90 minute course
which can be delivered at your premises. There is a certificate issued
for attendance. For more information contact: mailto:denis@glass-training.co.uk
and ask about our manual lifting course.
Understanding Glass
Do you want your employees to have a better understanding of glass? Our
Glass Manufacture Open Learning Course is perfect for busy people who
need to study at their own pace. Contact: mailto:elaine@glass-training.co.uk
for more details.
CSCS Cards for Experienced Workers
Experienced glaziers, installers and fenestration surveyors who work on
construction sites need access to a CSCS Card! However, some people don't
have an NVQ/SVQ or have not completed an approved apprenticeship. Glass
Training Limited is gearing up to offer a profiling service to help workers
access an experienced worker CSCS Card. More information from: mailto:julia@glass-training.co.uk
Marvin
Enters Replacement Business with Fiberglass Line
A
50,000-square-foot facility manufacturing a new line of Infinity all-fiberglass
windows for the replacement market has been opened by Marvin Windows &
Doors in Fargo, North Dakota. During initial production, the plant, a
temporary facility employing about 65 people, will manufacture a double
hung product line.
In the first stage of release, Infinity windows will be available exclusively
in the Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan markets. As Marvin
expands the Infinity product line and enters new markets, the company
plans to build a permanent manufacturing facility in the Fargo community.
Unlike the Integrity line, which combines a wood interior with a fiberglass
composite exterior called Ultrex, the Infinity line features both a fiberglass
interior and exterior. The new plant is one of four facilities in North
Dakota that are owned and operated by Marvin. The other facilities include
the Integrity Windows plant in Fargo, a Marvin plant s in Grafton, and
Tecton Products, a joint venture company based in Fargo that produces
the fiberglass pultrusions.
'We made a very conscious decision to site our new facility in the Fargo
area. We’ve had a very successful partnership with the state of North
Dakota and this community’s leaders,'says Dan Marvin, business manager
of Infinity Replacement Windows. 'Through their continued support, we’ll
be able to lead the way in manufacturing the world’s premier fiberglass
replacement windows with Infinity.'