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Ultraframe Stock Rising Again after Patent Ruling

On June 24th the Court of Appeal ruled that Eurocell has infringed Ultraframe’s patent rights and breached the design rights in its Ultralite 500 roofing technology and the Ultralite 500 system. Ultraframe now expects that Eurocell will be ordered to pay Ultraframe costs and multi million pound damages and to withdraw its product from the market.

Ultraframe plc Group Technical Director, Chris Richardson said: 'This is fantastic news for Ultraframe. We are strongly committed to investing in long-term product development and design innovation, along with patent protection and continuously raising quality standards. We believe that it is in the best interests of our employees, customers, shareholders and the industry as a whole that we protect these investments. This judgment reinforces the fact that companies cannot win in this market with copycat products and we hope it will deter other organisations from attempting to do so'.

Quinn Plastics Acquires Polyex Ltd

Quinn Plastics has announced that it has acquired 100% of Polyex Ltd, the Alfreton based multi-wall polycarbonate extruder from the 1st of June 2005. Also included in the sale is 100% of Hull based Victoria Plastics Ltd, which trades as Stereon.

Polyex Ltd was formed in 2002, by Roger Hartshorn and Mike Bosworth (Founders of the Fairbrook Group which includes Eurocell) and started production in early 2004. Since launch the company has made great strides within the market and supplies two of the largest roof system manufacturers with multi-walled polycarbonate extruded profiles. Polyex has developed an extensive product range and can offer thicknesses ranging from 10mm to 35mm in various sizes. A new addition to the range is a Silver\Opal colour which is proving very popular.

The current directors of Polyex will leave as a result of the transaction and Bryan Ford, acting Quinn Plastics Country Manager Great Britain & Ireland has assumed full responsibility for the Polyex Group. Adrian Titmus will remain to manage Stereon in Hull.

Quinn Plastics is Europe's foremost supplier of transparent plastic sheet, and has its headquarters in Derrylin, Northern Ireland. Quinn Plastics has operating facilities in Germany, Spain, France, Slovakia and the Czech Republic as well as sales and support operations in all major European countries.

Quinn Plastics is a member of the privately owned Quinn Group of companies. The Group is one of Ireland's most successful companies and has diverse interests in cement and concrete products, container glass, general insurance, radiators, plastics, hospitality and real estate. The Quinn strategy is ‘Strength through Diversity’.

Head of Quinn Plastics Tom Nulty said:
‘We are proud to welcome Polyex to the Quinn Group and see this as a major step towards building a significant presence in the Great Britain & Ireland market for multi-wall polycarbonate. We believe that the combination of quality products, competitive prices and individual customer support established at Polyex will continue and improve under the new ownership. We now have more flexible capacity across our product range and the ability to justify even greater investment to fulfil our goal of being leaders in the market.’

Tel: + 44 1773 838400

K2 Signs up New Customers

K2 has signed up new customers all over the country from Lincolnshire to Poole and Leeds to Lancashire.

The customers include Riviera, Pro Group, Leodis Windows, Novaseal Plastics, Window Elegance, Ribble Valley Conservatories, Carman Plastics and Classic Guide Windows & Conservatories.

'The recent business gains are testament to K2's ability to offer both high quality products and unrivalled customer support.' says the company. 'The new customers are already benefiting from the excellent variety and quality of K2's products; such as Celsius thermal performance glass, which is able to reflect 72% of solar energy, more than three times the amount reflected by standard glass, as well as retaining 50% more heat than standard glass, as well as the Aspire 35mm System, a fully sculptured, next generation system, making it both robust and stylish for those people seeking a value added product. The customers were also impressed by K2's full range of optional extras available for customising a conservatory to the consumer's individual needs, such as the Options range of room trims, which are both easy to install and attractively priced.'

K2's new customers were also attracted by K2's recently launched K2 Plus service, which offers marketing, sales and technical support, with free expert consultancy and advice from K2's senior team on developing bespoke marketing and sales programmes for customers on an individual basis.

K2 Plus offers a variety of marketing support materials that can be customised to suit individual dealers or installers, including product information on CD-Rom, bespoke sales literature, point of sale displays and support material for Open Days. In addition, K2 Plus also offers sales support and new business lead generation, with its in-house sales team actively generating leads via direct mail and tele-canvassing, while K2 Business Development Executives will accompany dealers to meetings with prospective clients to answer any technical questions about the K2 system and product range.

Finally, K2 Plus also includes a range of technical support including on-site fabricator and surveyor training, site systems and factory set up support, as well as provision of a bespoke software system, including full training and support.

Riviera is one of K2's new customers. The company has only been trading since the beginning of April but has been with K2 since it was established. From K2's product portfolio, Riviera stock L2 in a Pack, the 25mm roof system and Celsius thermal performance glass.

Carl Hewson, Proprietor at Riviera comments: 'I had already used K2 products in the past, so knew the high quality and wide variety of its products, which in my experience far surpass those of the company's competitors. I was also incredibly impressed by K2's dedication to customer support, which ranges from provision of bespoke sales literature to actual visits from the K2 senior team offering advice on marketing strategies or design and set up of manufacturing facilities. So, K2 seemed like an obvious choice for us.'

Leodis Windows is another customer who, as of April this year, has benefited from K2's extensive product range. The company was set up 13 years ago, originally only dealing with windows. As the company grew, it expanded into commercial work and more recently, roofs as well. This is when K2 was approached and the company now stocks the full K2 roofing system and Celsius Glass.

Malcolm Ambler, Director at Leodis Windows comments: 'We haven't been using K2 products for long, but already we are impressed with the company's attention to detail and the quality of its products, such as Celsius thermal performance glass. The company has demonstrated to us that it is very forward-thinking and always has its customers' best interests at heart.'

Sally Fielding, Managing Director of K2 comments: 'At K2, we are currently expanding our dealer network by an average of four new customers a week. We are delighted to welcome these new customers and are looking forward to supporting them in achieving their commercial goals. K2 constantly offers unrivalled levels of customer support and these recent customer wins serve only to emphasise this fact. In a rapidly changing, and hugely competitive, market, we have once again proved that we offer greater support and assistance to customers than any other roofs systems manufacturer.'

Alcan to Target Global Solution to Climate Change at July 2005 G8 Summit

Alcan Inc. joined 23 international businesses on 9th June in calling for urgent global action to combat climate change, with its President and Chief Executive Officer, Travis Engen, endorsing a package of recommendations presented to Tony Blair, who also holds the G8 Presidency for 2005. Mr. Blair will be presenting his recommendations regarding climate change at the G8 Summit in July.

"It is an honour to develop recommendations on an issue the Prime Minister regards as a personal priority for his Presidency of the G8. Climate change affects businesses, governments, and consumers alike and these are the issues we have addressed through the G8 Climate Change Roundtable,' said Mr Engen. 'Alcan has a proud track-record in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, achieved through significant investment in the management of our process emissions and energy efficiency improvements at our global operations, and my aim was to bring that knowledge and experience to the table,' he added.

In January, Mr. Blair recruited a group of international business leaders to form the G8 Climate Change Roundtable at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Prime Minister asked the group to share with him their perspectives and expertise ahead of July’s G8 Summit.

Following a series of expert working group meetings, the participating business leaders reconvened today to present their recommendations to the Prime Minister.

The group has identified a Framework for Action that will allow G8 governments and the private sector to collectively force a change in the pace and scale of climate change mitigation. The main recommendations presented to the Prime Minister on June 9th are:

* Establish a market-based framework extending to 2030, which is flexible, global in scope and sets clearly defined limits on greenhouse gas emissions and which also addresses climate change as part of an overall sustainable development agenda
* Promote low carbon technologies
* Provide support for low carbon economic development in emerging markets
* Improve performance metrics within and across national borders
* Create a practical ‘toolkit’ and common framework for the implementation of effective procurement and supply chain strategies

The G8 Summit will run from July 6-8 at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland.

Mcllhatton Achieves 'First C Rated Casement'

Edgetech customer Mcllhatton and Co Ltd says it is the first company in the UK to achieve a British Fenestration Rating Council 'C' rating under the Window Energy Rating Scheme on a casement window.

Achieving the 'C' rating means Mcllhattons can carry the 'Energy Efficiency Recommended' swing tag logo, as already seen on fridges and other white goods.

The 'C' rating was awarded for Mcllhattons standard casement window consisting of KBE externally glazed three chambered window system, Pilkington K glass, argon gas filled cavity and Edgetech's Super Spacer(r) warm edge technology.

‘We want to be the best at what we do,’ says Paddy Mcllhatton, Owner of Mcllhatton and Co Ltd. ‘We want to offer our customers the best product and this 'C' rating will certainly give them an additional edge.

‘Offering windows with Super Spacer has already boosted sales with our production of sealed units increasing from 2500 to 4000 units a week. That's why 100% of our units are now made with Super Spacer. And we're confident our 'C' rating will help customers sell even more windows.’

Andy Jones, Sales Director and General Manager of Edgetech UK and Ireland, explains why he thinks Mcllhattons achievement is good news for the industry:

‘I'd like to congratulate Mcllhattons for being the first of many forward thinking companies that have approached Edgetech to find out how they can achieve a 'C' - and potentially higher - rating.

The industry needs ambitious companies like Mcllhattons to drive it forward, and I'm thrilled Edgetech can help more companies do the same, and at no extra cost.

We believe the Window Energy Rating Scheme is the future of the industry so we're pleased to see more companies take on the scheme to further differentiate themselves.’

Tel: 02476 705570

Gateshead School Largest UK Pilkington Activ™ Application

A major renovation project at a Gateshead primary school has made the most extensive use of Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass of any UK application since the launch of the product. Over 250m2 of the world’s first self-cleaning glass has been used in replacement windows for Bill Quay Primary School in Gateshead, with the windows manufactured and fitted by EWL Ltd of Washington, Tyne & Wear. Bill Quay is also the first school in the UK to be fitted with Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass.

Bill Quay Primary School was built 130 years ago and retains many of its original Victorian features. The school is one of the largest in the East Gateshead area and has around 200 four – 11 year-old pupils. As part of a major refurbishment programme to improve the structure, appearance and energy efficiency of the school, Gateshead Council thought the replacement of the school’s windows – many of them in a dilapidated state - to be one of the most important considerations. The Council and EWL Ltd work together to develop the most appropriate solution for the building.

Part of the reason for EWL’s appointment was the fact that the company promotes ecologically sound solutions and offers PVC-u products that are lead free, environmentally friendly and fully recyclable. However, an additional concern about the school was thermal efficiency, with energy savings on heating bills and maintenance a prime target. EWL suggested the use of double-glazed Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass sealed units to eliminate the high cost of regular cleaning and gain better thermal insulation, solving both these problems. The new windows are also Georgian design to fit in with the traditional appearance of the school.

Lance Jobling, Head of Construction Services for Gateshead Council, believes that Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass is going to become an increasingly important product for this type of application:
‘As part of all our refurbishment plans we carry out a thorough risk assessment before deciding what is the best solution for each project. We feel that Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass is going to be a significant help to us in the future in this respect – it was certainly the best option for Bill Quay School.’

Ken Welsby recently retired as Headmaster of Bill Quay Primary School, but presided over the installation of the new glass shortly before he left. He was delighted with the results:
‘Pilkington Activ™ really is a wonder glass – the difference the new windows have made to the appearance of the school is remarkable, and the self-cleaning glass really does work. This is going to save the school a lot of money, and make it a more comfortable place for the children to learn.’

New Headmaster Toni Hilton is also said to be extremely happy with the difference the glass has made to the school.

Launched following years of extensive field and laboratory testing, Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass literally keeps itself clean by harnessing the two natural elements of ultra violet light and rain. The technology uses UV light to break down organic dirt deposits on the glass, then uses the rain to wash the dirt away.

Web: http://www.pilkington.com

Charity to Benefit from Go-Glass Sculpture

Sandblasted glass specialist Go-Glass has produced a spectacular full size engraved glass representation of a famous racing motorbike. The bike will be auctioned online for a children’s cancer charity, the full details of which will be revealed on both companies’ websites.

Motorcycle legend Carl Fogarty’s 1999 World Superbike title winning Ducati 996 was the inspiration for the model, which was made from 10mm float glass. Clive Sparkes, Design and Development Director at Go-Glass, the motorbike fan behind the project, says, ‘The work took 80 hours to complete and it was all done by hand. There was no CNC Water Jet cutting used and it was all hand-carved and surface blasted.’

Guests attending the G 05 awards at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole at the NEC on Friday June 10th will be able to get a good look at the Go-Glass bike where it will be on display before it goes up for auction, with bidding expected to take place between 1st and 15th July.

Truly an original glass masterpiece, it is anticipated that the bike will generate considerable interest amongst enthusiasts and to this end it will be auctioned to raise money for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity. There will be details on Ritec’s website – http://www.ritec.co.uk – and on the Go-Glass site at http://www.goglass.co.uk. Ritec has a tradition of supporting charities, having raised £5,000 for Changing Faces, which supports and represents people who have disfigurements of the face or body.

Clive describes Go-Glass as ‘a small, family-run business offering high quality and exceptional service’. Based in Cambridge, it was established 26 years ago and operates within a 60 miles radius of its surrounding area, taking in London. The company targets homeowners, architects and builders and supplies colour leaded door panels, custom-made shower enclosures and coloured glass splashbacks, as well as glass partitioning and glass interior doors, with sandblasting as a speciality.

Because sandblasted glass can quickly lose its clean, pristine appearance when exposed to surface contamination such as finger marks, Go Glass uses Ritec’s ClearShield Sandblast Protect which gives an attractive satin finish that resists staining. The company’s trained technicians use manual spraying equipment to apply the treatment (automated options are also available). Once this has cured, any residue is simply cleaned off, leaving the surface protected and easier to clean without the need for harsh chemicals.

Newstead Delivers 98% on Time, First Time

So many companies invest all their efforts into winning new customers, ignoring their existing clients in the process. But Newstead Trade Frames says that it makes customer satisfaction a priority. With a new tracking system in place the company can confirm that 98% of its deliveries are on time and complete.

‘Newstead’s customers get a level of service that matches the high quality products,’ Paul Baker, Newstead’s Operations Manager, explains. ‘Professional installers should expect great service from their suppliers as a matter of course.

Our customers rely on us to deliver the right products promptly and consistently. We aim to get all of our deliveries on time, every time, and at 98% we’re nearly there, thanks to our recently expanded delivery fleet and new navigation tracking system. Installers can concentrate on the job in hand, knowing that their order is on its way.’

Tel: 01782 641 642

Permaframe's Customers ‘Have to Have’ Masterframe’s Windows

‘Many people are only just starting to realise they can have PVC-U sliding sash windows that look as good and work as well – if not better – than the originals,’ explains Ian Holloway, Sales Manager for Permaframe. ‘With our reputation for quality we tried two other PVC-U sliding sash window manufacturers before switching to Masterframe Windows Ltd. We’ve been installing Masterframe’s window’s for the last 12 years.’

‘At the Royal Bath and West show last year one lead was absolutely amazed by the Bygone windows. He said he had to have them. The customer lived in an old farm house in Wiltshire and wanted the windows replaced in the front elevation. He wanted sashes with a single vertical Georgian bar, in keeping with the property. He thought he’d have to live with the old windows, as he didn’t believe you could get authentic-looking PVC-U sliding sashes - until he saw the Bygone collection!

‘We got the lead at the end of June and the windows were fitted by the second week of August. The customer and his wife are over the moon with the work, which had to be finished in time for their holiday to leave the house secure. As always, Masterframe came up with the goods.’

Ian continues: ‘Masterframe is continually upgrading and modifying its windows. The decorative horns, now moulded into the frame and the luxurious branded brass furniture are just a couple of examples. We also get great literature and brochures for our customers.

‘Masterframe provides specialist windows, and specialist care for its customers, including our own point of contact at Masterframe, which is rare in companies these days. Masterframe’s lead times are spot on and so are deliveries. They never let us down.’

Tel: 01376 510410
Web: http:// www.masterframe.co.uk

Picture: The staff bead trim is one of the features that make Masterframe’s Bygone Collection window the most authentic looking sash on the market

Single Handed Investment

GAP, roofline stockist and door panel manufacturer, now has a total of seven Combilifts, having recently invested in the latest bit of kit for the Nottingham warehouse. Each machine costs £40,000 taking the total investment to £280,000.

Mick Skinner, Depot Co-ordinator explains how the Combilift saves time and money: ‘We carry large stock levels to give our customers what they want, when they want. When a delivery comes in from our suppliers, the Combilift simply picks up the stillage from the wagon and stacks it directly in the warehouse. We don’t have to unload the stillages until the products are ready to be loaded for delivery. So some stock never goes onto the racks and this saves us time loading and unloading. This reduces the time taken to accept deliveries – and associated costs – giving us more time to invest in making the GAP difference to our customers.’

Tel: 01254 682888

Have a Nice Day! Iron Man gets American Service

Every year Aluminium Roofline Products Ltd opens its doors to customers for free maintenance and a check-up of their Iron Man® machines. This year was no exception and March saw customers from all over the country arrive at ARP headquarters in Leicester where specially flown in American technicians were waiting to service their machines. This year 42 customers came from as far as Kilmarnock and Portsmouth.

‘ARP sponsors the event and our customers are welcome to attend any time in the lifetime of their gutter machines – usually in excess of 30 years – free of charge,’ says Greg Coetzer, ARP’s National Sales Manager. ‘The Americans work hard to make sure our customers’ machines are in top condition. In between the annual servicing days, our customers can rely on ARP’s in house team of fully trained Iron Man® gutter machine service engineers.’

Tel: 0116 2894400
Web: http://www.arp-ltd.com

High Tech Celebrates an Ultra Successful Month

Cheltenham-based High Tech Windows Limited has had double reasons for celebration this month. The company generated a significant number of sales leads by exhibiting at the Malvern Spring Garden Show and became the first Guild Approved Ultra Installer to pass BBA inspection, doing so with flying colours.

John Green, Sales Director at High Tech Windows, said: 'It's been an Ultra good month for us! The Malvern Spring Garden Show was attended by over 100,000 visitors and it proved to be a perfect sales platform. The marketing support we received from Ultraframe made a huge difference to our presence, in particular, the use of its roadshow display vehicle which proved to be a real attention grabber! We were delighted with the results and have already converted seven sales to the value of £71,000. We are now eagerly awaiting the Cheltenham Ideal Home Exhibition where we will be exhibiting with the Ultraframe vehicle again.'

To complete its month of success High Tech Windows‚ team of 80 staff, including 11 specialist installation teams also achieved an impressive 89 points out of 100 in a BBA assessment as part of its membership of Ultraframe's Ultra Installer Scheme. The company was appraised on six key stages of its business including enquiry handling, sales processing, surveying, buying, installation and after sales service.

Linda Doughty, Marketing Director at Ultraframe, commented: 'Ultraframe is delighted with High Tech Windows' assessment results. It was the first company to pass the vetting process for our Guild Approved Ultra Installer Scheme when it started last year, now it is the first installer to pass the new BBA inspection.
Quality workmanship is extremely important to homeowners and this outstanding result goes a long way to promote the value of High Tech's standards. It is just the type of company our scheme was established to promote and we are very happy to recommend High Tech Windows to homeowners and generate more business leads for the company.'

John Green explained why High Tech Windows was so keen to become a member of the scheme. 'Over the last ten years we have concentrated on specialising in conservatories and this has become core to our business. Currently it is very difficult for homeowners to differentiate between one product and another, and even more so, between one conservatory company and another, ensuring they avoid cowboy builders. We believe that the Ultraframe scheme is a positive industry initiative that not only prepares installers for expected Building Regulations, but also actively promotes good practice. The introduction of BBA inspections takes this scheme to another level making choosing a reputable installer even easier for homeowners.'

It is common knowledge that the introduction of a system of self assessment, similar to the FENSA scheme for replacement windows, is likely to form part of the impending Building Regulations for conservatories and John Green is particularly impressed by Ultraframe's preparation for the new guidelines. He continued;
'Ultraframe is leading the industry and taking many steps, both in its innovative products and service initiatives to prepare its customers. We believe membership of its Ultra Installer Scheme will place us in a strong competitive position as regulations come into force.'

High Tech Windows has been a sole supplier of Ultraframe roofing systems for fifteen years and prides itself on providing a complete quality service package, which is reflected in its high BBA inspection score.

High Tech Windows Ltd was founded in 1984. Based in Cheltenham it covers a large surrounding area from Weston-Super-Mare to the South and Worcester to the North. Over the last ten years High Tech Windows Ltd has specialised in conservatories, although window and door installations continue to make up approximately 40% of the company's turnover. High Tech Windows installs an average of 350 conservatories each year and has almost 30,000 customers and an annual turnover of six million pounds.

High Tech Windows Ltd has two large show sites, including an indoor showroom in Cheltenham and a garden centre conservatory show site in Bristol.

For more information on High Tech Windows Ltd call 01452 530540.

The Day Warehouse Staff Ran the Company

It was business as usual with a slight twist at window and door hardware manufacturer, Siegenia-Aubi Ltd, on a day that saw office staff on the road with sales people and warehouse staff running the company.

The Coventry based firm, which has just been awarded Investors In People status, ran a job swap as part of its work towards IIP accreditation.

The job swap was just one of several initiatives Siegenia implemented that were singled out for particular praise in the auditor's report.

Says general manager, Léann Hearne, ‘The idea was to help everyone in the company understand the pressures and difficulties of other roles. It started with job shadowing and then, as peoples confidence grew, we all did other people's jobs for a day.’

Warehouse operatives, Paula Sidwell and Jeanette McKetterick, took over the roles of general manager, Léann, and her PA, Kat Affeldt. Other office-based staff spent a day on the road with members of the company's technical sales team, and the sales team spent time in the warehouse to improve their understanding of the supply side of the business.

Léann says, ‘While the job swap may seem light hearted, it was an extremely valuable learning experience for all of us. As a result of their experiences, people came up with suggestions for changing existing processes or introducing new ones to make life easier. We have implemented several new procedures that have streamlined internal systems and improved the business as a whole.’

Siegenia-Aubi Ltd is the UK arm of German hardware and ventilation systems manufacturer, Siegenia-Aubi KG. The firm employs 18 staff in the UK based at headquarters in Coventry, from which Siegenia supplies a wide range of high performance window and door hardware and ventilation systems for commercial and domestic applications.

Léann took over as general manager four years ago, following the tragic death of the previous manager. She feels that working towards the IIP accreditation has helped everyone to refocus on the business and has brought them even closer together as a team:

‘It's been a tough few years for everyone, but thankfully we've got such a strong team here who have all pulled together to move forward. The IIP recognition is a reflection of everyone's hard work and dedication over recent years.’

Ultraframe Puts its Customers First

Ultraframe’s internal sales team has undergone a major restructure. The new Customer First team specifically aligns the skills of its staff with the needs of its customers to ensure premium and efficient customer service.

To ensure customer enquiries are dealt with in a more focused and effective manner, the department has been divided into three teams, a Fabricator First Team, an Installer First Team and a Specification and Batching Team.

Nick Brown, Sales Director at Ultraframe, said: 'Ultraframe knows that there is no room for complacency in today’s market and to deliver the standard of service that we aspire to we decided we needed to reinvigorate our sales team. We have a wealth of experience and resources amongst the team which were not being fully utilised. The new structure means our customers can really benefit from each individual’s skills and get the best service to meet their needs.'

With its specialist teams Ultraframe is confident its Customer First office will be more flexible and responsive to its customers’ needs.

Nick Brown continued: 'The Fabricator First team provides a one-stop shop for all fabricator enquiries with dedicated staff who are experts in Ultraframe components. The Installer First Team is made up of staff specialising in the pre-fabricated aspects of the business, many of whom have a great deal of hands on experience. Our third team, the Specification and Batching division, comprises technically adept people who configure and process all Classic system roofs and fabricated items. It is also a dedicated resource for Classic system quotations. Between them the team has almost 100 years of conservatory systems experience.'

The new structure is already proving popular with Ultraframe customers who are benefiting from the specialist service.

One such customer, Brian Perry, Managing Director of Pennine said: 'Ultraframe service is excellent. The company responds promptly and delivers exactly what it promises. The new structure means we can easily access up to date product news from a dedicated team who really understand our business.'

Tel: 0870 414 1007
Web: http://www.ultraframe.com

WFM Wins through Experience and Technical Knowledge

Window Fitters Mate (WFM) in Hoddesdon, a year-old, fledgling branch of the rapidly-expanding chain of Window Fitters Mate trade counters, has just supplied 81 individual high quality, vertical sliding sash windows for a timber-framed new-build development of 12 apartments in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. The builder and architect chose WFM Hoddesdon because the company was able to offer technical knowledge and experience cost-effectively.

Branch Manager Phil Davies (pictured) said: ‘The builder asked my advice and I was able to supply products that were architecturally sympathetic to the requirements of the project. As we offer a consultancy, or bespoke, service as standard it was a pleasure to put this into practice and a superb boost to the business in our first year of trading in Hoddesdon’.

WFM operates a large branch network in the UK, offering a professional local service with the back-up and purchasing power of a national operation. It provides a 'one-stop shop for all window, door and conservatory products and roofing systems from leading manufacturers, together with all the necessary ancillaries to complete an installation.

The concept has been a success and Window Fitters Mate now has a chain of 23 distribution depots in the Midlands and the South.

Radway Awarded Contractor of the Year 2005 at Housing Excellence Awards

Radway has been awarded Contractor of the Year 2005 at the Housing Excellence Awards, recently held at Mere Golf and Country Club, near Manchester.

Litchfield Group Partner, Radway was nominated for the award by Poole Housing Partnership, where the company is undertaking a Door Replacement Partnership programme, under the LHC Partnering arrangement, involving the removal of existing timber doors with the installation of Masterdor composite door-sets.

Radway has taken responsibility for survey, installation, resident liaison and waste management throughout the programme, working in close consultation with the Core Team, utilising Benchmarking and Value Engineering to ensure continuous improvement.

Beating off competition from three other short-listed contractors, Radway was thrilled to receive the well-recognised industry accolade.

John Park-Davies, Sales and Marketing Director, Radway comments:
'The award of Contractor of the Year 2005 is evidence that Radway is committed to providing the best service for its customers. The whole team is united in putting clients and residents first and Radway will continue to exceed its customers’ expectations. I am thankful to the Poole Housing Partnership Team for its contribution to the success of the programme and long may the relationship continue.'

Radway, an important member of the Litchfield Group key customers programme, is celebrating 40 successful years in the Construction Industry, undertaking fenestration refurbishment programmes throughout the Public Sector nationwide, bringing homes to the Government’s ‘Decent Homes’ Standard. The Litchfield Group includes L.B. Plastics Ltd, supplier of Sheerframe window profile and Hometrim roofline products, and Manse Masterdor ltd manufacturer of Masterdor composite door-sets as used by Radway

Domestic Replacement Doors and Windows Market - UK 2005

AMA Research has published a new edition of its comprehensive review of the Replacement Doors and Windows Market - UK 2005. The report has been extensively reworked and looks in detail at recent industry trends, as well as future opportunities and threats, and represents an invaluable aid to sales and marketing professionals in, or interested in the industry.

In addition the report analyses market sizes and trends, market structures, key company shares and distribution issues for windows, patio doors and entrance doors.

Emphasis is given to both qualitative and quantitative assessments of market developments, with interpretation of relevant data to give alternative viewpoints on future prospects. This 100 page report including 37 tables and charts is packed with relevant and useful information and analysis, and is available now, giving value for money at £595.

Up to the mid- 1990s, the performance of the replacement window market has generally been closely linked with the UK economy, with low inflation and interest rates, rising real incomes, a buoyant housing market and high levels of consumer confidence combining to provide a strong framework for the replacement window market. However, as the market has matured, this link has been broken with sales relatively flat since 1997.

Volume demand for replacement windows and doors continued to increase until 2004, although value growth has been constrained, with 2000 turning out to be a particularly difficult year despite the underlying strength of the economy. Market growth in 2001 and 2002, while marginal, was primarily supported by patio door sales and a growing entrance door market, while the window market was less encouraging.

It is estimated that, in value terms, the market reached a peak in 2002, as a rise in interest rates and a cooling housing market, combined with a slowdown in demand for replacement windows, led to a fall in market value in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, the replacement market for windows and doors was estimated to be worth just over £2bn, having declined hy 3% since 2002.

Replacement windows are clearly the dominant sector, accounting for just over 70% of the replacement market, although its share has declined since 1998 as a result ofincreasing price pressures and the market reaching saturation level. The residential door sector continues to grow and is estimated to account for around 19% ofthe market, while the patio door market is very mature, its share having remained stable since the 1990's. The entrance door sector has been supported: by continued gowth in the local authority sector combined with increased requirements for security, which has boosted sales of composite doors in particular.

PVC-u has gained share across all sectors ofthe replacement windows and doors market, at the expense of timber and aluminium, since the mid 1980's and is now the dominant material. However, in most ofthe major applications areas the opportunities for further share gain are more limited, with current shares in some cases exceeding 80-85%. Timber has a share of approximately 18% by value, with the majority of sales in the entrance door sector, while aluminium's share has declined across all sectors in the domestic market, to an estimated 4% in 2004. Other materials, such as composites and steel, account for around 2% ofthe total replacement market but this share is growing strongly, particularly in the door sector, with the increasing popularity of composite doors.

The private 'direct sell' market is the dominant sector accounting for over 60% of the market in value terms, although competitive pressures have constrained value growth in recent years, while volume demand has also begun to fall as a result of the high levels of ownership in the private sector. Longer term growth in this sector will become increasingly dependent on demand for second time replacement windoivs. The social housing sector accounts for a relatively small share of market, at around 15%, while the indirect private sector has declined over the last decade and now account for a share of around 24%. However, the public sector refurbishment market has seen significant changes during the last six years, and is likely to grow in value terms as a result of the growing influence of Housing Associations. Environmental issues have more influence in the public sector than in the private sector, and as a result of the negative perceptions of PVC-u in this respect, both timber and aluminium windows have recently enjoyed a boost in this sector.

Raw material and manufacturing costs have been rising steadily during the last two years, while long-term intense price competition has resulted in depressed prices for replacement windows, providing little scope for increasing prices. As a result, suppliers have absorbed cost increases, leading to eroded margins across the industry and resulting in some restructuring in the supply sector.

However, the key issue in the door and windows market remains market saturation, with a high percentage of homes in the private sector now fitted with replacement windows. In addition, the extended life span of window and door products in general is likely to have a negative irnpact on all sectors of the replacement market in the medium term. Enhanced product performance in terms of security and thermal efficiency is also providing some incentive for replacement, but so far, the emergence of a 'second time replacement' market has not been able to offset the natural decline in the market, and it is unlikely to do so unless the image of windows changes so that other issues than product failure, such as 'lifestyle' issues or fashion changes start to drive demand.

During the last decade, the industry structure has continued to evolve in all aspects of the distribution chain, reflecting a very mature market. Product design, quality and manufacturing standards have all improved significantly, with a more recent trend towards the separation of the manufacturing and installation operations. In addition, many companies now offer a wider range ofproducts with conservatories and roofline products in particular offering replacement window companies an opportunity to offset a flat window market.

HW Plastics, part of the Heywood Williams Group, is the market leader in the PVC-u systems market, followed by Rehau and Epwin Group, with other major players including LB Plastics, Synseal, Eurocell and Bowater. The timber products market is dominated by Jen-Weld, Premdor and Magnet, with many large, regional based companies supplying through builders merchants, joinery centres and DIY outlets. SAPA is the main supplier of aluminium doors and windows to the replacement market, while the market leaders in the composite door market are Epwin Group, Laird Group and Therma-tru, all of which incorporate more than one brand.

Anglian and Bowater are the two major national retail companies, with Everest, Safestyle and Weatherseal also leading players. Coldseal recently disappeared from this market, and further rationalisation of the industry is likely to occur as price pressures are unlikely to ease in the medium term.

lndications for 2005 are of a weak market for windows with static or declining volume demand, with many predicting a difficult year for the industry. However, the entrance door market is likely to continue to develop steadily, while patio door sales are likely to suffer as a result of the recent decline in the conservatory market.

Over the forecast period, composites are estimated to grow strongly to increase its share of entrance doors, particularly in the public sector but also in the private sector. Timber is expected to increase its share overall, with timber windows seeing some growth though timber doors continue to lose share to composites. Aluminium's share is expected to decline in all sectors. Forecasts suggest that PVC-u will lose share slightly in the replacement window market, while continuing to gain share in the patio and entrance door sectors.

Further details on the report or on AMA Research are available from:
Mark Waddy
Tel: +44 (0)1242 235724
Email: mailto:marketing@amaresearch.com
Web: http://www.amaresearch.co.uk

UK Still Challenging says Laird at AGM

Nigel Keen, Chairman, said at The Laird Group's Annual General Meeting:-
'We have maintained our momentum in 2005 with positive organic turnover growth, at constant exchange rates, again being achieved and with further development of our Asian businesses.

'At Laird Technologies, demand for antenna and shielding products for the cellular handset market has been strong. The integration of Centurion Wireless Technologies, acquired in October 2004, has continued to proceed according to plan, and the integration of Cateron Corporation, acquired in January this year, is also progressing well.

'As previously announced, trading at Laird Technologies' plant in Pennsylvania, USA, was affected by flooding at the beginning of April. Production has now resumed and production at other Laird Technologies' plants has been increased. The guidance regarding the financial effects of the flood, which we gave on 11th April 2005, is maintained.

'At Laird Security Systems, our North American businesses have maintained the growth seen in recent years. In the UK, sales of composite doors are at higher levels than in 2004 and growth in that business is expected to continue, particularly following the acquisition of Securidor announced earlier this week.

'The UK window and conservatory markets have, as expected, continued to be challenging and the downturn so far this year has been more pronounced than anticipated. The effect of this, together with the effects of higher commodity prices, has been to reduce profits at our businesses serving these markets, compared with last year. However we expect to see progressively the benefits of the cost reductions which we have implemented.

'With the strength of our businesses and the diversity of our products and markets, we look forward to continuing to make progress in the remainder of 2005.'

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