The GL@ZINE News

Deceuninck Acquires Winsa to Become Number One PVC-U Window Profiler in Turkey

Deceuninck has announced the signing of a US $8m sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of Winsa, the PVC window profiie division of the Turkish Pilsa Plastik Sanayi A.S., from the Sabanci Holding. The acquisition makes Ege Profil A.S. the number one in the rapidly growing Turkish market for PVC window systems.

The deal is expected to be closed by the end of this year. Following approval by the anti-trust authorities, integration can begin.

In recent years, Turkey has grown into the third largest PVC windows market in Europe, after the United Kingdom and Germany. It is therefore not surprising that Turkey was named as one of the future strategic regions in the business plan of the Deceuninck group announced in 2003.

To meet the enormous increase in sales of its Turkish Ege Profil A.S. division in Izmir, Deceuninck will invest this year and the next in additional extrusion lines. Moreover, Deceuninck is also interested in the window profile range sold wnder the Winsa brand name.

Deceuninck attributes the exceptional increase in sales to rapidly increasing construction activities as a result of a strong local business climate. This positive climate is partly fed by growing consumer confidence because of the increasing likelihood of Turkey joining the European Union in due time.

'In contrast to our own ageing population pyramid, the Turkish population is largely made up of young families, and they all want their own homes as soon as possible,' says Clement De Meersman, Deceuninck's CEO.

'We have been monitoring Winsa's activities for quite some time. Winsa is the highly renowned brand name of Pilsa Plastik's PVC window profiles and has rapidly gained a leading position in the Turkish market for PVC window systems. Deceuninck's interest in Winsa is mainly caused by the strong Winsa brand name, its modern-looking and uniformly styled network of showrooms throughout Turkey and its quality-focused and financially sound customer base, features that perfectiy meet the philosophy of the Deceuninck group. In addition, Winsa is very active in the export areas around Turkey', De Meersman adds.

Pilsa Plastik Sanayi A.S., a subsidiary of the renowned Turkish HACI Ömer Sabanci Holding with a production facility in Adapazari, near Istanbul, began under the name of Winsa extruding PVC window systems in 1998 and now has a capacity of 10,000 tons, so the combined extrusion capacity for both companies, Ege Profil and Winsa, will be more than 50,000 tons by the end of 2005.

The acquisition is limited to an asset deal excluding buildings and land, for which Deceuninck negotiated a price of 8 million US dollars, stocks excluded.

Both parties are able to benefit from operational synergies. Winsa has a state-of-the-art compounding unit with excess capacity. On the other hand, Winsa buys its extrusion tools from outside suppliers, which creates synergy opportunities for Ege Profil.

By taking over Winsa, which achieved sales of 21.5 million US dollars in 2003, Deceuninck will be the uncontested number one in the Turkish market and strengthens therewith its leading position worldwide.

Ultraframe announced last week that it was undertaking an operational review of its business processes and structure. This review is now complete and the company has streamlined its management structure, which will improve both communication and the speed of decision making within the company.

In total, 14 positions were made redundant. Two individuals were redeployed. 9 of the 12 individuals concerned were in management roles and 2 were in supervisory roles. Every effort has been made to support the individuals concerned and to assist them with finding alternative positions.

Ultraframe’s UK Managing Director, Vanda Murray OBE, commented 'We are gearing ourselves up for new challenges ahead and it is vital that our processes and resources are aligned to deliver our customers total quality, service and innovation if we are to remain market leader. It is important that we continue to develop our products and services in direct response to market changes to ensure the company has a strong future.'

Planet Group Ltd, the UK installer of conservatories, is investing £2 million in a new 35,000 sq ft factory in Lancashire as part of a growth strategy that will create 50 new jobs. Planet will open the factory, which will be known as Polar Glass, this month near junction 7 of the M65 near Accrington.

Using leading-edge technology, the factory will make internally glazed units and specialist roof products. Production will increase steadily, fulfilling all Planet's manufacturing requirements by February next year.

The factory will produce the equivalent of £4 million worth of glazing and roofing products per annum on start up, rising to £7 million when it reaches full capacity.

With a projected turnover of £70 million for the year 2004/05, Planet is headquartered in Bamber Bridge, near Preston and employs more than 500 staff. This investment is Planet’s second within the last six months. In March this year it opened a £500,000 new roofing factory in Bamber Bridge, which created 25 new jobs.

The business has 19 outlets on a company-owned and franchise basis in Banbury, Birmingham, Bolton, Cheshire (Holmes Chapel), Cambridge, Chiltern (Hemel Hempstead), Coastline (Eastbourne), Cotswolds (Gloucester), Hampshire (Romsey), Haydock, Herts (Hatfield), Isle of Man, Leamington Spa, Leeds, Leyland, Neston, Norfolk (Norwich), South Lakes (Kendal) and Wakefield.

Geoff Kleu, previously a director with Darby Glass, will manage the new factory (pictured here with Chris Dale).

‘Planet decided to go down this route to enhance our profit stream,’ says Chris Dale, chief executive of Planet Group Ltd. ‘The factory will also allow us to standardise our product offering across the country and develop Planet-specific products.

‘We chose this site because East Lancashire is a good employment area and the premises are perfect in terms of size and cost. In addition, communications are highly efficient with easy access to the M65 and broader UK motorway network.’

Planet was established in 1995 by chairman Dean St John. Nationally, the business is aiming to install 135 conservatories a week this year, growing to 200 installations by 2005, which the company says will firmly establish it as the largest conservatory installer in the UK.

Tel: 01772 452225
Web: http://www.planetpvc.co.uk

Not just one, but two hurricanes made Nic Rossano’s recent family holiday to Florida a memorable event. For having arrived just after Hurricane Charley had hit, their subsequent departure was delayed four days by the slow-moving Frances.

‘It was quite an experience,’ said Nic, Profile 22’s Product Manager, on his safe return home with wife Celena and children Luca, seven and Fern, 11. ‘When we arrived, fast and furious Hurricane Charley had already caused some damage and torn the roof off our original hotel at Daytona Beach, so we had to stay at another one. A row of bungalows behind us were also without their roofs.

‘From there we headed south to Fort Lauderdale, then on to a villa in Kissimmee and the hurricane followed us from Fort Lauderdale. A state of emergency was declared on the Thursday afternoon – the day before we were due to fly home – and lasted until the following Tuesday when we were able to leave,’ said Nic.

‘Just before Hurricane Frances hit us, we had gone to Universal Studios and had the place to ourselves. It started getting breezy on the Saturday when we got back to our villa and then it got dark all of a sudden. Then the hurricane just kept going, like a lumbering giant…for 36 long hours,’ he continued.

‘Trees and signs were down everywhere, but we didn’t lose any power. Fortunately we could keep the villa and the hire car on and we weren’t charged any extra due to our enforced delay.’

Nic added: ‘The hurricane delay meant my daughter was also late going to her new school. They were all wondering what had happened to her and thought she wasn’t going to turn up.’

Although warned about the weather risk when he made his booking, Nic claims he’s now learnt his lesson: ‘I won’t go there in Hurricane Season again!’

Independent hardware distributor, Wagner, has added a further site to its distribution network with the opening of a new depot in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.

Gordon Mercer, (pictured) Technical Sales Representative for the area, will be well known to customers as he has 10 years’ industry experience.

Gordon says: ‘I am delighted to be joining Wagner and see investment in the new site as affirmation of the company’s desire to provide the best hardware available, delivered from a local base.’

Customers will now benefit from faster delivery times and those in the Belfast area have the option to collect hardware directly from the depot’s trade counter.

Newtownabbey is the sixth point in Wagner’s nationwide network of distribution centres, which includes Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, LG Fasteners in Swansea and the head office in Gillingham, Kent.

As at all sites, the choice of stock will be tailored according to local demands, with a base of quality brands such as Roto, Siegenia, Maco, Duco, Haps and many more.

Tel: 02890 364611

Just four years after first opening for business, Newton Abbot based Veka fabricator and installer Sapphire Window Systems has moved to larger premises and made a number of strategic investments in response to ever increasing demand for its products and services. The company also recently made good use of Veka’s new Big Rig unit during a busy open weekend at the company’s new factory.

Founded by Managing Director Dave Darby (pictured) in 2000, the company has since developed a reputation in Devon and beyond for its products and service.

Sapphire Window Systems has been a Veka fabricator from the outset and currently manufactures around 60 windows per week with plans to double this within the next year. Having recently moved to a new 4,500 sq ft factory with a 12,500 sq ft yard - tripling its manufacturing space overnight - Sapphire then followed the next logical step for further growth, investing around £40,000 in new machinery and transport.

In addition to these investments, the company has also built a new conservatory showroom, will shortly introduce a new vertical sliding window and has opened a new all-purpose store on the side of its new headquarters. This will provide local traders with products like Veka Trim, silicones and other ancillary products associated with window installation. Says Dave Darby:

‘I can’t believe sometimes that we started life in a tiny 300 sq ft unit just four years ago. I think the secret of our success is that we put quality over quantity, not the other way around. I believe that we have now taken the right steps forward to boost our production and expand still further. The new trim shop is a big part of this – in Devon, a lot of local tradesmen want to go to one place and get everything they need, then go straight to site. Having an all-inclusive store can only benefit everyone.’

Having recently moved into its new premises, the company decided to hold a grand opening weekend in early October to celebrate, making good use of Veka’s resource the Big Rig mobile exhibition unit. Recently given a design overhaul, the new Big Rig proved a popular destination for customers seeking relaxation and refreshment during the two day event. The opening weekend gained the company a great deal of local attention and was a resounding success, says Dave Darby:

‘The Friday we reserved purely for trade customers, and on the Saturday we welcomed over 100 members of the public onto our site. We even held a competition, setting off 20 balloons, six of which had winning tickets for a bottle of champagne inside. One has already turned up in Kent, which pleased our customer and surprised a few people too! It’s been a very good experience all round, and sales leads gathered from the event look extremely promising.’

e-mail salesenquiry@veka.com or telephone 01282 716611

Roof-maker, the UK conservatory roofing company, has just recorded sales of £2.5 million over an 11 month accounting period.

These record sales figures have been bolstered by a busy start to the year with sales up 100% since switching to the Global system.

'When we reached kit roof sales of 160 plus a month we knew we were on to a winner' said Scott Nicholas Managing Director.

'Recent publication reports mention Global having now taken over as second market leader and with many large conservatory firms now switching to Global we are happy to be pioneers of this profitable product. It's a refreshing change to deal with a roof systems company which listens to your needs and constantly looks for ways to improve the product and make things easier,' commented Scott.

'Feedback from installers and fitting firms who previously dual sourced is that they now only use Global due to its rapid fitting and amazing value for money and that must be hurting the competition.' added Scott.

Email: mailto:roofmaker@btconnect.com

Swansea based PBM-DQS, independent fabricator of conservatories, has signed an exclusive 3-year supply deal with the designer and manufacturer of conservatory roofs, Ultraframe.

The decision to commit to Ultraframe follows six months of extensive research, which has proved to PBM that Ultraframe offers the best all round package of product, service and support in the market.

PBM-DQS says that it is the UK's largest distributor of PVC products with 27 outlets across the UK and a turnover of over £40 million. Adrian Williams, Managing Director of Roofing at PBM-DQS said: 'We have built up a great business and reputation at PBM-DQS by offering the highest quality products and so we need to have complete confidence that the products we offer meet our impressive track record. This is why we conducted a thorough six month review of all the major conservatory roofing systems available. It became clear that Ultraframe could offer us the best all round solution in terms of total quality, innovative products and unmatched service. We are delighted to go into partnership with Ultraframe.'

Ultraframe provides a complete range of high quality products from small domestic conservatories to large-scale portal roofs. Adrian continued: 'The company has an outstanding reputation within the industry for design and innovation, which guarantees that PBM-DQS can keep ahead of competitors by fabricating the most technologically advanced roofing systems around.'

Having recently been presented with Ultraframe's latest addition to the lean-to market - Uzone Elevation and Uzone Elevation Plus, Anthony Jones, Group Managing Director of PBM-DQS commented: 'Uzone Elevation is a great product. Installers find it fast and easy to fit and we are certain our customers will love the contemporary styling. I am convinced the hipped-wing feature on Uzone Elevation Plus will really appeal to the demands of today's younger consumer. In offering Ultraframe conservatory roofs such as Uzone, we can provide for every sector of the market including Builders Merchants through our 27 outlets.'

Vanda Murray OBE, Managing Director of Ultraframe is delighted with this renewed partnership. She said: 'It's fantastic to be recognised by PBM-DQS as the top supplier in the industry and to have this recognition supported by a new and exclusive supply deal. At Ultraframe our aim is to drive the market through product quality and innovation and by delivering excellent service. We are focused on building long-term relationships with key customers as our partners and we are now winning new accounts by asking customers to evaluate the overall package we offer.'

Adrian Williams continued: 'We have dealt with Ultraframe over the past 12 years and know through this experience that Ultraframe prides itself on providing excellent customer service. We cannot fault the technical back up we receive from Ultraframe. When requirements exceed the product parameters of 30 square feet we simply call the Ultraframe Technical Support team, who then check with their in-house structural engineers, and provide us with the correct product specification. On other occasions Ultraframe has been happy to send one of the company's structural engineers to attend a customer site with us, to clarify the product system specification. This also gives our customers complete confidence in the Ultraframe product.'

PBM DQS customers are also benefiting from attending training at Ultraframe's School of Excellence. The training gives installers increased knowledge of the Ultraframe range, useful tips for installation and support to grow their business.

Adrian Williams said: 'We find that when our customers have attended Ultraframe training sessions they have a better understanding of the Ultraframe product range. The training covers all the basic elements such as sales, surveying, fabrication and installation. This makes our job of dealing with customers simpler and easier. It's a win-win situation.'

Peter Allen, UK Sales Director at Ultraframe said: 'We have always known that Ultraframe offers the best products and services, so it's great when it is confirmed by a customer's detailed and lengthy review of all our competitors. Customers who do similar evaluations of the market should select Ultraframe every time, since other manufacturers lag behind our technology and will fall further behind over time because of Ultraframe's continual drive to improve and innovate. We simply can not be beaten on product quality, innovation or our customer service.'

Astra Windows, based in Farnworth near Bolton, has changed its conservatory roof system to Newera™ from Newdawn & Sun Ltd.

Astra is a well respected, established company that has been supplying windows, doors and conservatories to customers throughout the North West and Staffordshire for over 16 years. 90% of the company`s business is as a trade fabricator but it also has a strong commercial installation division and a particular expertise in school refurbishment.

The continued success of Astra is firmly based on consistent product quality allied to a first class service and technical support rather than on price. ‘We will only take on new trade customers or commercial contracts if we are happy that we can correctly service the business to the high standards that we believe to be essential for all of our customers.’ Commented Astra founder and managing director Dave Jackson (pictured). ‘Which is probably why the company has such a loyal customer base.’

A good example of school refurbishment is the 1,500 pupil Harper Green School & Arts College in Farnworth. Over an 8 year period and still on-going, Astra has replaced over 400 classroom windows and has erected many metres of canopied walkways around the school buildings.

Conservatories account for some 30% of both the trade and commercial fabrication and the need for a first class roof system was critical to this business. Although Astra was very happy with the quality of the existing roof system the main stumbling block were the cost of the system. Earlier this year it was decided to look for an alternative that was as least as good but more price-competitive and fitter-friendly. ‘While we were happy with the quality of the roof system we found that it was expensive and felt that this was increasingly restricting our conservatory business.’ Commented Dave Jackson. ‘We looked at a number of other well known systems and had no difficulty in selecting the S150 and S200 Newera roofs from Newdawn. Newera has the highly engineered quality that we needed, is very fitter-friendly and much more cost-effective. Our fabricators spent time at the Newdawn training centre getting thorough hands-on experience and in the 6 months that we have been using Newera we have been delighted with the level of service and technical support that we have received from Newdawn.’

Tel: 01789 764444
Email: mailto:sales@newdawn-sun.co.uk

Following the delayed re-start of its VCM plant at Rafnes in Norway on 10th October as a consequence of its major maintenance shutdown, Hydro Polymers has announced that further technical problems required the plant to stop production for a further four days commencing pm Monday 18th October.

Until now Hydro has managed to minimise the negative effects of these unforeseeable supply problems with the much appreciated cooperation and flexibility of its customers. However, the most recent developments have resulted in its polymer plants being served with a force majeure notification from its VCM operations.

As indicated in announcements made earlier, this adverse development has forced Hydro Polymers, in turn, to declare a force majeure situation for its PVC production operations in Porsgrunn, Norway and Stenungsund, Sweden. This will inevitably affect the reduced supply arrangements already agreed with customers. The supply role for the UK based operation in Newton Aycliffe is similarly affected with customers placed on allocation.

Orders for last week (43) were covered as arranged. Reductions will be discussed and agreed based on a pro-rata basis for weeks 44 & 45, unless alternative lower level arrangements are agreed with individual customers. Due to current, and envisaged, low stock levels, the restricted supply position for S-PVC is likely to continue through until mid November.

Hydro expressed its sincere apologies for this unfortunate further setback to its supply situation, and promised to maintain its best efforts to minimise the effects on customers, and to keep them informed with the progress at its plants and the availability of product.

• Operating income for Polymers was NOK 117 million in the third quarter of 2004, an increase of NOK 190 million compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

The improvement was mainly due to higher S-PVC prices and volumes, partly offset by higher raw material costs. The results in the third quarter were negatively impacted by a planned maintenance shutdown at the company’s Rafnes site in Norway. Operating income in the quarter also included an insurance refund of NOK 42 million relating to an explosion at the Stenungsund site in Sweden in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was NOK 244 million, an increase of NOK 216 million. Results from non-consolidated investees were approximately NOK 14 million higher compared to the same period of 2003, mainly due to improved results from the Qatar Vinyl Company.

As the last Window Benchmarks Report from Reputations Plus shows, Synseal Extrusions’ customers are a loyal bunch. Seventy seven per cent of the Synseal fabricators interviewed described themselves as ‘very loyal’. ‘Although on the whole our customers stay with us, sometimes things go wrong,’ explains Nick Dutton, Sales and Marketing Director of Synseal. ‘The last customer we lost was in June 2003 when unfortunately our customer care procedure fell short of its usual high standards. But we are delighted that less than a year later, Wharfe Valley Windows came back to Synseal.’

‘We were with Synseal for three years before we switched to another top of the range window profile company,’ comment Dave and Fiona Carter, owners of Wharfe Valley Windows. ‘But our customers weren’t happy with the new profile and we weren’t happy with the deliveries we were getting from our new supplier. We soon realised we shouldn’t have switched from Synseal. The Shield 70mm system is excellent – it’s what people want, which we found not to be the case with the other supplier’s system we chose.’

Tel: 01623 443 200

GBW and Paddock have entered into partnership on the design of the next generation of composite doors within GBW’s Discovery range.

‘The brief was to design a door that distances itself from other doors within the composite market by incorporating more added value features as standard,’ explains Paul Brough, GBW’s Technical Manager. ‘The result is a product that extends beyond current market standards and includes design elements that meet planned future regulations, thereby offering a door that’s truly ahead of its time,’ he continues. With the technical teams of both companies working in tandem the finished design has PAS 23 / PAS 24 accreditation and is ‘Secure By Design’ compliant as standard and not as an optional extra.

GBW brought a number of key features to the development, including a purpose-designed rebated frame that offers a flush fit appearance alongside a triple weather seal; steel mesh reinforcement to increase security; through-colour polycarbonate skins and Stormguard weather-rated thresholds, which provide concealed drainage as well as meeting Document M requirements.

Paddock contributed bespoke hardware solutions, such as its slimline
hinge, which has built in ‘dog bolt’ security features with adjustment, while also offering an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition to its enhanced security cylinder guards the Paddock Lockmaster three hook lock, all of which engage, comes as standard with the new door and is in a new silver Chromium 6 Free finish that complies with European Environmental standards.

This combination offered in a doorset format makes installation quicker and reduces fitting time without jeopardising quality. As well as offering on site back-up, GBW and Paddock are also establishing a training school for installers to ensure they are fully aware of the benefits of the GBW Discovery Door design. Furthermore, the commitment to problem solving and prevention enables a 10-year warranty to be offered with the new Discovery Door.

‘Paddock’s vast range of Lockmaster options and the company’s willingness to partner us in the development process made meeting the design brief much simpler. We believe the GBW Discovery Door is now in a class apart from its competition,’ says Paul Brough.

Paddock’s Sales Director, Nigel Hutchinson comments ‘GBW’s desire to work with us means the Discovery Door is fitted with the best hardware options available. The concept has become reality thanks to both our technical teams working closely together and pushing the ‘can do’ philosophy to its limits.’

Tel: 08705 388377

Alcoa has announced a reorganisation of its management structure to better align itself with global markets. It also announced an investment of some 64m euros in three smelters in Spain.

Alcoa will create a new global primary business, serving the aluminium and alumina markets, and a new global extruded products business. It will also create an integrated North American and European business serving the mill products markets. The rigid packaging business, with major operations in the United States and Australia, will be organised into a new global business group, and combined with Alcoa's Asia operations, and the global industrial foil business.

These four new businesses, along with two existing global businesses serving the packaging and transportation markets, will give Alcoa a more simplified structure better suited to serve its customers. The leaders of these six businesses will report to Alain Belda, Alcoa Chairman and CEO.

To continue its growth strategy, the company will rely on regional presidents, who have primary responsibility for negotiating expansions in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. A new post, Executive Vice President for People, ABS, and Culture, will drive corporate initiatives, such as deployment of the Alcoa Business System and quality.

'Globalisation continues to transform the way our business operates,' said Alcoa Chairman and CEO Alain Belda. 'Today's changes will help us be more agile in swift-moving markets and allow us to better leverage our global manufacturing capability. The new management team and structure give us an opportunity to further reduce costs, improve productivity, and grow our business.'

Bernt Reitan will run the new Global Primary Products business, encompassing the company's aluminium smelters, alumina refineries, energy assets, and mines. The European primary business, headed by Luis Fossati, and the Latin American primary operations, directed by Josmar Verillo, will now report to Reitan. This business, with approximately $5.7 billion in annual third-party revenues, will be based in New York City.

Helmut Wieser will lead the new North American and European Mill Products group with approximately $3.3 billion in annual revenues. Philippe Royer will become the new President of European Mill Products, reporting to Wieser, along with Bob Wetherbee, who is the President of North American Mill Products. Wieser's group will bebased in New York City.

Mario Longhi will head up a new Global Extruded and End Products group, serving the extrusion and building and construction markets. Dave Dobson, the President of North American Extruded Products, and Dave Schlendorf, the President of Alcoa Building and Construction Systems, will report to Longhi, along with the European Extruded Products business. Longhi's group has approximately $3.1 billion in revenues and will be based in Geneva, Switzerland.

To help expand the company's global footprint, Alcoa will rely on the leadership of key executives with proven expertise in driving growth: Ric Belda in Europe; Wayne Osborn in Australia; Lloyd Jones in the Asia Pacific region; and Josmar Verillo in Latin America. In addition to their other responsibilities, these executives will coordinate expansions in their regions, negotiations on long-term energy contracts, and public strategy. Ric Belda will also oversee the integration of the pending acquisition of manufacturing assets in Russia.

Alcoa also announced that it will invest 64 million euros in technology and environmental improvements for three of its smelters in northern Spain.
At its smelter in Aviles, Alcoa will invest 46 million euros in innovation and technology improvements that will allow the plant to achieve environmental standards set by the European Union to begin in 2007. The directives are to lower the total fluoride emissions, dust and benzoalfapyrene and must be completed by the end of 2006. The Aviles project is a result of Alcoa R&D efforts to introduce newly developed improvements to Soderberg pot technology.

Earlier this month, Alcoa signed a voluntary agreement with the regional government of Galicia impacting two of Alcoa's smelting facilities, one in San Ciprian, the other in La Coruna. The agreement includes specific actions and projects addressing emissions proposed by Alcoa to improve the local environment, which will include an 18 million euros investment by the company over the next five years. Alcoa's Alumina refinery in San Ciprian is also included in this agreement.

Web: http://www.alcoa.com

In a recent government funded project, jointly commissioned by the GGF and the DTI, a range of typical UK window systems were measured to establish the improvement in thermal performance derived from different spacer bar systems in insulated glazing units. The hot box measurements were carried out at the National Physical Laboratory, while the simulations were done at the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology at Bath University. Tests were carried out on three and five chambered PVCu windows, soft wood windows, 5mm thermally broken aluminium and 23mm thermally broken aluminium windows. Windows were tested with hard and with soft coat low E glass, and with and without argon gas filling.

Edgetech says that Super Spacer® didn’t just do a little better than the rest, it did a lot better – it was approximately 23% better than the next best. It was up against four other warm edge spacer bars and standard aluminium bar, with a typical overall window u-value saving with Super Spacer of approximately 0.2w/m2k.

But the GGF report didn’t just stop at measuring thermal efficiency in U-values. It also tested windows according to the new BFRC rating. This system rates windows from A-G and once launched will be a recognised certification for specifiers and consumers to use to compare different suppliers’ windows. Edgetech’s Super Spacer bar in both 3 and 5 chamber PVC frames, timber frames incorporating filled argon gas and Low E achieved an A rating, while windows fitted with sealed units manufactured with conventional aluminium spacer air filled with Low E achieved only a C rating.

Andy Jones, Edgetech’s UK Sales and Marketing Manager comments: ‘The objective of these independent tests was to investigate the capability of a full range of spacer bars, both warm edge and aluminium to see how they perform in different types of sealed units. As the results show, Super Spacer outperformed all other spacer bars across the board. While we and our Super Spacer customers are obviously delighted with these results, the failure of those windows with hard coat low E glass and aluminium spacer bars to achieve even the legal U-value requirement should be of great concern for the rest of the industry. It begs the question – is it possible to reach even the current required U-value without Super Spacer never mind the proposed further improvements?'

A copy of the full GGF report can be obtained from Edgetech IG Inc, Unit 3C 68, Swallow Gate Business Park, Holbrook Lane, Coventry CV6 4BL.
Tel: 02476 705570

A household name for more than 150 years, Yale Door & Window Solutions has increased its range of residential security products available to social housing specifiers.

This new range has been developed to meet tenants needs for safe, secure hardware that is easy to use, exceeds all British Standards and provides long term performance and includes the G2000 multi-point locking system for PVCu, timber and composite doors.

Yale designs, manufactures and supplies a wide range of products from its new multipoint door locking solution to specialist ranges for disabled usage and increased security. A leading brand in the consumer and commercial markets, Yale has extended its expertise to meet the requirements of the social housing sector and demonstrate Best Value.

Nick Haskins, Yale's newly appointed specification and business development manager, says: ‘Specifiers in the social housing sector are looking for products that meet specific requirements such as resident safety, security, long term performance, compliance with British Standards and all the latest legislation as well as provide Best Value. This is exactly what Yale has been providing with its extensive product range for the past century. It is a completely natural step for us to develop a range of products with social housing specifiers and tenant groups.
Our aim is to offer them the greatest product range for their needs with great service. These are features that our worldwide customer base is already enjoying from Yale.

‘As social housing providers strive to meet the demands of the Decent Homes standard, they would be wise to work with experienced suppliers of high quality product ranges, such as Yale.’

With its long experience of partnering with major builders merchants and DIY multiples coupled with a state-of-the-art distribution warehouse Yale says that it can offer unique solutions to meet clients' requirements.

Tel: 01207 581485

Metroglaze, Wakefield’s successful council-owned window factory, has completed summertime orders totalling over £1 million to improve school buildings across the UK.

The Normanton-based business specialises in making Sheerframe PVC windows for council homes in Wakefield and for other local authorities and housing associations. But it has also established itself as one of the leaders in curtain-walling installation for school buildings.

‘Each year, as the school summer holidays approach, Metroglaze receives a number of orders to provide replacement curtain walling for schools. This year has been no exception. For safety reasons, and so as not to disrupt lessons, the work has to be carried out in the school holidays, so it is a particularly busy time for us,’ says Metroglaze manager Alan Williams.

The Sheerframe curtain walling system manufactured by Metroglaze replaces timber and aluminium systems commonly used in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s school buildings. It uses an aluminium grid which houses high performance PVC frames which provide excellent thermal performance and need only minimal maintenance.

Metroglaze has already fitted the system at a number of schools in the area, and carried out additional work over the summer.

The firm, which employs 37 people and makes over 450 windows per week, received another major boost recently. It expects to see production increase to meet extra demand for windows following the vote by council tenants in Wakefield to transfer their home to a new not-for-profit organisation, releasing millions of pounds for home improvements, including replacement windows.

Tel: 01773 852311

Lister Trade Frames of Stoke says that it has increased the quality of its frames again by fitting the latest range of high impact PVD handles to the company's door ranges.

The PVD production process gives the handles a longer lasting resistance to the wear and tear of everyday use and at the same time delivers an attractive more durable finish than alternative processes. These coatings are ultra hard and resist cracking and chipping, thus maintaining their beauty under the stress of everyday wear and tear.

Phil Warren, Listers Sales Director says that 'PVD coatings definitely prolong the lifetime of the product so it was only natural for us to upgrade our range to this specification. And the added advantage for our customers is that we haven't increased our price'.

PVD hard wearing, long lasting handles are now being fitted on both Listers Linear and Sculptor door ranges as part of the company's drive to give customers increased quality without increased prices.

Tel: 01782 205605
Email: mailto:mark.warren@listertf.co.uk

RegaLead has been granted permission to use the Pilkington Activ™ Compatible logo on its products. The supplier of creative options for glazing, RegaLead is to feature the logo on its lead, glass cleaner and two of its adhesives.

Last year, two self-adhesive lead profiles – RegaLead Antique and RegaLead Natural – were assessed by Pilkington and its European Test Centre at Lathom, Lancashire. Extensive weather testing of the RegaLead products proved their compatibility with Pilkington Activ™ in retaining the important functional hydrophilic properties of the self-cleaning glass. At present, RegaLead is the only adhesive lead manufacturer to have successfully passed the tests.

Pilkington Activ™ is a dual action self-cleaning glass and in a major step forward for RegaLead, its products have been declared compatible for use with the glass. Activ has a special coating which reacts with UV rays from natural daylight to break down organic dirt and to enable rainwater to wash away the loosened grime.

As decorative glass components are in constant contact with an increasingly sophisticated range of coated glass products, research in this key area continues to be a priority for RegaLead, and increased resources have been committed to R&D.

Guy Hubble, RegaLead’s Sales and Marketing Director, says, ‘It is very important for RegaLead to continue to develop products that work with the sophisticated coated glasses now available on the market. To be able to carry the Pilkington Activ™ Compatible logo demonstrates our commitment to working closely with key suppliers in all areas of the glass industry to give our customers products that meet the increasingly complex technical requirements’.

Tel: 0161 946 1164
Web: http://www.regalead.com