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Anchors Away as Deceuninck Fabricator Goes for Growth

Deceuninck fabricator, Anchor Windows has expanded its manufacturing capability with the development of an impressive extension at its site in Ebbw Vale, Gwent. Earlier this year the company took occupancy of a 10,000 sqft unit which they have extensively developed into a modern fabrication centre with a total floor area of 25,000 sqft.

The company’s development program co-incided with a decision to fabricate Deceuninck’s innovative new 3000 Series. The new window and door suite represents state of the art window design embracing soft, contemporary aesthetics with modern day consumer trends. The design of the suite allows for extensive personalisation of the window style giving increased choice to suit specific customer needs.

During the switch over period, Deceuninck’s technical team worked alongside Anchor Windows ensuring minimum disruption whilst the extensive building work continued.

Managing Director, Gus Bond and Operations Director, Steve Thomas are clearly delighted with all the changes and said, 'Anchor Windows has enjoyed a long relationship with Deceuninck, enabling us to offer our customers quality products and a service that they can rely on. We needed to expand our manufacturing site to ensure we continually develop our business in line with our customer’s expectations.

Additionally, we needed to offer both our trade and domestic customers something different, but with the same exceptional quality that we have come to expect from Deceuninck. The new 3000 Series is simply the most innovative product on the market today: The products look stunning and the profiles have been designed with many fabricator friendly innovations, allowing fast and efficient manufacture.'

To complete the new look, Anchor Windows are building five striking conservatories in a mixture of designs, to demonstrate the product flexibility and fabrication excellence. With a growing base of satisfied customers and their friendly and efficient service Anchor Windows look set to continue to go from strength to strength.

RJM Windows Plans to Double Turnover with Synseal

Robbie McKane, Partner of RJM Windows has been in the window industry for twenty-eight years. Along with his wife, this seasoned fabricator has built his company up to a £1.8 million turnover. Recently RJM consolidated its position, by opening a new showroom worth £50,000.

The new showroom is the largest in Cornwall at 20x15 metres and contains four conservatories, sliding sash windows and doors. The showroom attracted 500 people on its first day. 'At this rate, the new showroom will double our turnover by the end of next year,' enthuses Robbie. 'We are confident our sales will grow so much because of the new showroom but also because we have a strong partnership with Synseal.

‘RJM has worked with several well-known manufacturers in the industry including Rehau and Network Veka. We have watched Synseal develop from a small fabricator into the leading systems company it is today. Watching its growth, we believed it stood out from its competitors and on closer inspection we were right. It offers a good strong profile at a competitive price with excellent delivery times and service.’

A new trade price book has been issued by Ultraframe, as a clear and simple price guide to all its products. Ultraframe has unbundled its product pricing, making it straightforward for trade customers to price compare and to demonstrate Ultraframe's value.

The new price matrix is the ultimate guide to Ultraframe conservatory roofing systems and ancillaries. It demonstrates the versatility and the wide range of product available, from Uzone roofing systems, Victorian bespoke roofs to portal conservatories. The book is designed to show the choice options available to Ultraframe customers.

The new price book is just one part of Ultraframe's review of the conservatory market. The new pricing matrix is a reflection of its ongoing customer service, which has lead to the development of configurable products to appeal to installers, traditional homeowners and the new generation of conservatory buyers.

Wayne Bradley of WB Fabrications said: 'Quality and innovation are the by-words of Ultraframe for all styles, sizes and applications, backed by all the expertise and support needed to succeed in the market today. The prices are highly competitive, making Ultraframe products the best value around.'

Highlights of the new price matrix include:
•25mm polycarbonate provided at no extra charge for all colours, including solar control.

•Ultraselect, Conservaflash and Eavesflow have been unbundled and are now listed separately.

•No extra cost on woodgrain foils on the bespoke Victorian roofing system.

•Uzone - the fitter friendly conservatory roof system which features click lock technology for the fastest installation is now available up to 4m x 4m. Ultraframe now offers a 3m x3m Victorian roof with 25mm Polycarbonate for just £550 + VAT.

'Uzone is quite simply the best product on the market. The new price book clearly shows it can be bought for less than any other roof on the market,' said Mark Dyson, Managing Director, Redditch Doors and Windows.

•Litespace - a new product designed as an alternative to patio/French doors, for those locations where a conservatory is not suitable or where homes already have a main conservatory.

'Litespace is a great and refreshing option to offer our customers. It is the ideal product where homeowners are considering refurbishment. It's quick to install, I think it will prove to a very popular addition' Dave Gardener, Crystal Mansions.

•Ultralite 500 - 2.5 degree pitch roof system with BBA approval that is a quick, efficient and flexible, for 'roof in a box' convenience.

•Ultraframe Portal conservatories - offering large-span capabilities, giving installers the confidence to grow their business in new areas, with the flexibility to carry out any size work supported by Ultraframe‚s technical, engineering and surveying expertise.

'Portal conservatories is an area which we are keen to expand within Lister Trade Frames,' commented Mark Warren, Managing Director of Lister Trade Frames, 'Ultraframe offers unrivalled expertise, innovative solutions and excellent support making it our choice business partner.'

Ultraframe's core system remains the premium system, leading the market in quality and bespoke design demanded by the more traditional conservatory purchaser - a trusted, quality brand.

Peter Allen, Sales Director, commented: 'Ultraframe's extensive manufacturing capabilities means greater choice for consumers, and for our customers it means competitive prices and an opportunity to build their business through advanced technological innovation allowing them to differentiate themselves against their competitors.

Ultraframe offer a roof to suit every budget, every application, every style and every consumer. It is this outstanding insight and industry experience which allows Ultraframe to lead the industry in quality, compete on price and continue to introduce new and innovative products to meet and respond to market needs. The new price book clearly shows the advantage of choosing Ultraframe.'

To get your copy call the Ultraframe Marketing Department on 01200 452 367 or Fax your request to 01200 414646.

Raising the Standard in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

SGS United Kingdom Ltd, part of the world's largest verification, testing and certification company, has successfully obtained the UKAS accreditation to cover greenhouse gas (GHG) baseline verification in the forthcoming EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The decision was announced last week by the United Kingdom Accreditation Services, following a thorough assessment of SGS verification procedures, on possibly one of the largest and most complex sites in the UK.

The accreditation for the EU ETS is an extension of scope based on the existing UK ETS verification activities in accordance with the Accreditation Standard ISO/IEC Guide 65 (EN45011). SGS' new accreditation for the EU scheme covers CO2 emission verification for both combustion and process emissions under all three categories (Group A, B and C installations) and group verification of combustion emissions.

SGS is, to date, one of only three verification companies in the UK to be accredited to full scopes for UK ETS Direct Participants and Climate Change Agreement Participants and the European scheme. This is especially good news for those UK operators that have committed to the UK ETS targets and who are also captured by the upcoming EU scheme.

Gareth Phillips, SGS Global Product Manager of Climate Change Programme, was delighted with the full accreditation. 'This is a green light for baseline verification and one more important step on the way to implementation of EU ETS.' said Gareth. SGS UK Product Manager of ETS, Steve Ross, further commented, 'SGS' previous experience in ETS verification and CDM project validation, together with extensive measurement engineering expertise, undoubtedly adds value to our EU ETS verification services, as recognised by our full scope accreditation.'

EU ETS is the world's first mandatory scheme to tackle climate change. It is said to capture more than 12000 facilities across the EU 25 and over 1000 UK sites are affected by this new legislation. The UK National Allocation Plan (NAP) 2005-2007, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for the first phase of the EU scheme, is ensuring that the UK remains on track to deliver a domestic goal of 20% emissions reduction below 1990 levels, by 2010.

Tel: 01276 697810
Web: http://www.climatechange.sgs.com

Insulating Glass manufacturer P & M Dabner of Northfleet, Kent has invested in Ashton Industrial's PICOLLO Georgian Bar milling and drilling equipment, allowing the company to expand its range of superior grille designs. Customers now enjoy perfectly colour-matched joints in any colour or woodgrain combination, creating visual effects with no unsightly plastic cruciforms.

The machine is designed to be so simple to operate, Ashton Industrial claims anybody can be trained to use it within 15 minutes. A cut length of Georgian profile is simply pushed into a guide slot as far as it will go - when it is pulled out again, the corners have been removed. It is then pushed into a second guide up against an end stop, pneumatically clamped, and the whole head swings past a milling tool that bevels the internal surfaces of the profile for a perfect fit in the finished grille.

Vertical bars run in a single piece, from top to bottom of the window, affording maximum rigidity to grilles. Ashton's machine punches a hole through these verticals wherever a crossover joint is planned, through which a steel pin is passed. The horizontal bars with their milled ends simply push on to each side of the pin and are locked in place by moulded nylon plugs which completely disappear inside the profiles.

Apart from all the benefits of rigidity, the fish-mouth joints are as authentic as original timber ones, there is no unsightly plastic on view, no gaps for daylight to penetrate. And of course all the old problems of colour-matching painted grilles to plastic fittings can be forgotten, even when working with customised colours, woodgrain effects, and two-tone Georgian bars.

The same centre plugs and pins are used regardless of profile colours, whereas plastic cruciforms need to be stocked in every permutation.

Web: http://www.ashton-industrial.com

In a successful new glass floor panel fire test by CGI International, a specially laminated panel managed 37 minutes’ integrity and 28 minutes’ insulation. The test by specialist fire glass manufacturer CGI, which makes Pyroguard fire resistant glass, was in partnership with glass floor specialist Firman Glass of Harold Wood, Essex.

The laminated panel was made containing a layer of 11mm Pyroguard together with load bearing top and bottom glasses making a single-skin glass floor panel. Measuring 850mm x 850mm, in a steel angle frame, the panel was tested at Warrington Fire Research Centre in a horizontal small scale furnace.

Tom Ritchie, CGI International’s chief executive, says, ‘Although this was a small-scale test, the size is typical of a full-scale floor glass panel, and can be directly used up to the tested size as the full test evidence. We believe we can reach 30/30 performance if needed, with a small change in the glass/interlayer make-up.’

This latest achievement is just one of CGI’s significant fire glass tests in the past few months. Fire resistant Pyroguard 7mm Clear Glass passed rigorous testing to meet the new and exacting standards required by the recently-implemented Building Regulation Approved Document M on vision panels in doors. And CGI achieved a first when Pyroguard, which at only 7mm can be used in standard profiles for partitioning, was tested successfully in very large sizes to stringent new European standards.

A complete range of fire products to fulfil a wide variety of performances and appearances are available from CGI International. This enables specifiers to obtain all their requirements for fire and speciality glass from a single source. CGI has a new purpose-built factory at Haydock, Merseyside, and has just won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade, 2004.

Tel: 020 7960 6060
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk

Who Guarantees the Sarnafil Roof Assured Guarantee?

Many guarantees are literally not worth the paper that they are written on. They have so many exclusions that it makes it very difficult for a homeowner to claim. Often there is a chain of responsibility – in window companies this can start with the local installer, then the fabricator, then the systems company. It’s only years later that the homeowner finds out his guarantee was reliant on the installer who has since sold up, moved or gone bust.

Sarnafil Roof Assured, specialist in PVC flat roofing, guarantees are different. In contrast to each link in the chain denying responsibility or passing the buck, each link in the SRA chain provides extra back up.

The guarantees are issued by Sarnafil – not the installer. If something goes wrong the first point of call for the homeowner is the local installation company.

But just in case… Sarnafil will step in. Sarnafil may contact the original installation company but they can also oversee the problem with their dedicated team of field technicians.

But just in case… The homeowner could have an additional guarantee through Shermin Finance. Any roofing products financed through Shermin have a 15 year extended guarantee.

Contact Bob Newall on 01603 748985 or email: robert.newall@sarnafil.co.uk for further information.

RegaLead, supplier of decorative glass products, recently played host to a group of delegates from Albania’s Ministry of Environment. The visit was arranged on behalf of the UK’s Department for International Development to help develop Albanian skills in the inspection and permitting of industrial processes.

RegaLead’s high-tech production facility in Manchester provided an ideal reference site for the Albanian delegation. The company has installed state-of-the-art controls on its furnace and adhesive coating lines, as well as introduced a programme of continuing improvement in all environmental matters including energy efficiency and waste reduction. It became the UK’s first IPPC-approved company for emissions and waste in its category last year.

During the visit the twelve Albanian Government Inspectors, accompanied by representatives of the Regulator from Manchester City Council, were given a briefing on RegaLead’s history and its current processes. This was followed by a tour around the factory by Director Stephen Clough and a question and answer session. ‘I believe we have contributed to a significant increase in the Albanian Ministry’s knowledge. They were clearly impressed by our degree of control and monitoring, and were particularly interested in the amicable and co-operative relationship between ourselves and the regulator, which enables an ongoing improvement in emissions control,’ Stephen comments.

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

Radius Plastics, the UK PVCu profile bending company and specialist shaped frame manufacturer, has again slashed production lead times by offering computer generated glass sizes and manufacturing instructions within two days, allowing Radius customers to knock a further week or more off installation schedules. Radius special curved and shaped frames can now be reliably expected in just two weeks or less from order to delivery.

This latest advance by Radius comes as the result of investment in a specially commissioned computer software programme that quickly and accurately calculates glass sizes for arch tops, circular and angle frames, with data emailed or faxed back to the customer usually within 48 hours of receipt of order. These may then be passed to the customer’s glass supplier for units to be manufactured whilst the frames are being produced, thus reducing lead times by up to a week or more.

Radius has progressively reduced lead times from an industry average of six weeks or more, and often appalling product quality, to two weeks or even less for simpler frames. Product quality is now better than 95% right first time, the result of intensive investment in factory space, production techniques and equipment, staff training and the introduction of new systems. A major focus has been on customer service and communications, ensuring that accurate and reliable information is given to customers to allow reliable installation scheduling to be arranged with homeowners.

Radius Plastics’ Mike Crewdson says the impact of this latest innovation has huge benefits for their customers: ‘Installers will no longer have to wait for special frames, which have traditionally held up installations for weeks. Order books will be turned into cash quicker, cash flow will be improved, sales will grow as installers can offer lead times weeks better than competitors. This is a very real and tangible improvement. Don’t accept less when ordering special frames!’

Modplan Wales has recently been appointed as conservatory supplier to Westbury Homes in South Wales, bringing relief to agonised Westbury customers following the collapse of Cambrian Conservatories.

Modplan Wales is keen to provide reassurance to both the prestigious house builder and its customers. ‘We are delighted with the appointment,’ says director Heidi Sachs, ‘and trust that our agreement with Westbury, together with our commitment, will help to restore confidence in the industry.’

A good will gesture from Modplan, means that those householders hardest hit, having pre-paid in full prior to construction, will see their conservatories constructed without any further costs, while for those who had paid deposits Modplan has pledged to carry out the work for the balance of the purchase price.

‘We will make the transition as smooth as possible and are eager to ensure that householders do not experience any further delay or disruption’ continues Heidi. ‘We are working with Westbury and the householders concerned, to complete conservatories left in mid-construction as soon as possible.’

With the unexpected closure of Cambrian, Westbury Homes were seeking a supplier who could offer security as well as high standards. As part of the Burles Group of companies, Modplan Wales has been fulfilling installation contracts in both domestic and commercial markets for over two decades.

Using only windows and doors fabricated by sister company Modplan Limited, together with the Group’s own Versatile roof system, the company offered a stable and enduring reputation, together with the understanding and experience of site management that a major house builder requires.

Sharon Veck, sales director for Westbury Homes commented, ‘Westbury sets extremely high standards in the choice of all suppliers. We have considered the appointment of Modplan very carefully and are confident that the company will uphold the high specification and standard that we deliver and expect from all our contractors.’

Tel: 01495 247233

Portal Products says that its customers are benefiting from improved service and delivery initiatives introduced by the door panel and composite door manufacturer, which claims more than 99% of its deliveries arrive on time.

The arrival of a new management team, headed by General Manager Peter Cole, has given the Cheltenham firm a further impetus amid greater investment in extra customer service staff, production planning, staff and new machinery.

The company is planning to introduce individual product bar-codes giving each panel its own unique works number to allow it to be tracked at every stage of its manufacture. Right from initial receipt of the order through to final despatch, products can be individually identified and customers notified of their progress. This will boost efficiency and shorten lead times for greater customer satisfaction.

In turn, this will create a more streamlined approach to quality control and final despatch with turnaround and delivery guaranteed within five working days. A new decorative glass facility at the rear of the building is also contributing to greater efficiency through effectively doubling production capacity.

National Sales Manager, Haydon Statham, who has returned to his original role with the company, enthuses: ‘These new measures are giving real buzz to the place and things are really happening - there's a renewed vibrancy about Portal now.

‘We're not only doing it differently, we're doing it better with a dynamic fresh outlook. Portal is acknowledged throughout the industry as having a great product, the best designs, the best quality and the best accreditations. And now we're shouting about it,’ continues Haydon.

He adds: ‘Our customer service systems and deliveries have been totally overhauled to the extent that we are now consistently hitting in excess of 99% success rates - complete and on-time deliveries. As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and we're inviting new customers to give us a try!’

It is said that some of a company's best ambassadors are its drivers and flying the flag for Portal's delivery fleet is Vinnie Roberts. His dedication to duty is such that he loads his 12.5 tonne truck himself to ensure the safety and security of his cargo, of up to 260 panels, in reaching its final destination fully intact.

Says Vinnie: ‘Ultimately, I am responsible if anything should work loose, so I make sure the trolleys are properly secured and the panels suitably protected while in transit. Ensuring the customer gets the product in perfect order without any damage is what good customer service is all about.’

Contact: Haydon Statham
Tel: 01242 267000

As measures of success go, there is nothing more conclusive than a full order book. However, when the company in question achieves this just four months after its opening date, the level of proven success goes up several more notches. This has been accomplished by Classic Trade Frames, the North of England's largest Cash & Carry superstore for windows, doors and related products, with the company already having to make significant staffing and capital investments to cope with high demand for its services.

Classic Trade Frames opened its doors on 1st March 2004 with a view to target the smaller local installers and builders that increasingly need decent, fairly priced quality products at short notice. The concept is clearly working, with the company now selling up to 900 windows per week and around 200 doors. A new business venture for established fabricator Absolute Doors & Windows of Bolton, Classic has been a runaway success, with advance orders resulting in production schedules for the store being fully booked for at least the next 4 - 6 weeks.

One of the company's most important decisions was to introduce credit card telephone and email orders. According to Managing Director Jim Dance, 80% of business transactions are now paid for by credit card, something that has been an influential factor in Classic Trade Frames' fast-growing success:

‘Installers and builders quite often have to order parts at short notice - they know what they want and they don't want to waste time setting up new accounts. This way, everyone gets what they need quickly and efficiently - it makes good business sense. We're really hitting this market now and we're getting a lot of repeat orders and regular customers both in this area and further afield.’

The speed with which the business is developing has led to several key investments to enable Classic to cope with demand. Absolute Windows, the fabrication arm of the business, recently purchased new GTI-Kombimatec machinery including two DGS350/400 saws, a WSF76 Water Slot Router and a CRD1200 copy router with triple drill to boost production, whilst new racking has also been purchased for secure storage. Staffing at Classic has been doubled, with a total of 20 employees now based at the Manchester store. Ten new computers and software have also been purchased to allow for a more streamlined ordering and despatch service. Says Jim Dance:

‘We've already smashed our original target of around 500 frames per week within our first 12 months, and we are already looking at increasing manufacturing capacity still further in anticipation more growth. The response has been unbelievable, far better than even we had expected.’

Classic Trade Frames acts as a one-stop shop, stocking PVCu panels, trims, architraves and other building products for the convenience of the installer or builder. Windows and doors are manufactured from the Synseal Shield system and incorporate high quality Maco hardware. Absolute Windows is also working hard to achieve full BSI Kitemark approval for all Classic Trade Frames windows in the near future.

Tel: 01204 394006
Email: mailto:jim@absolute-windows.co.uk

K2 dealer, Premier Conservatory Roofs Ltd, is more than tripling the size of its premises, allowing it to double its output of conservatory roof systems to 150 per month.

Established just four years ago, Bristol-based Premier says that it has rapidly become a market leading fabricator in the South West. The company's move to a 8,500 sq ft fabrication facility will enable it to increase throughput of K2 roofing systems from current levels of around 75 roofs a month to up to 150, in line with demand from Premier's wide installer customer base.

Comments Darren Adcock, Director of Premier Conservatory Roofs: 'When we first started in 2000, our premises were just 900 sq ft. To now occupy a building that is over eight times bigger shows just how far we have come in such a short space of time.'

'Our success has been based on a focus on quality and customer care and K2 has helped us deliver this commitment with sustained sales, technical and marketing support,' adds David Collier, Managing Director of Premier Conservatory Roofs
To help Premier maintain customer service levels following the company's expansion, it is also investing in a new delivery vehicle.

Paul Carter, Sales Manager of K2 comments: 'Premier's success in just four years has been phenomenal and the company's expansion plans are both ambitious and market driven. This is another demonstration of how a close working relationship between K2 and a fabricator is good business for both companies. By providing a quality, BBA accredited product, and using our proven experience in the marketing and technical aspects of the business, we are able to help fabricators expand their commercial activities in their respective areas.'

To contact Premier Conservatory Roofs Ltd telephone 0117 956 5000.

Following on from the company’s win at the 2004 Shropshire Business Awards for Best Customer Service, Heritage Glass has further shown its commitment to this area by expanding its customer service division.

The purchase of two new vans for the division will mean an increase in the number of customer service representatives on the road, whose roles are to oversee current installations and provide the after sales care that all Heritage Glass customers can benefit from.

In addition, the customer service team is also responsible for troubleshooting any problems, fulfilling warranty requirements and providing maintenance for the products available from the company, which range from garage doors and PVCu windows to conservatories and roofing systems.

‘As a company, we have always placed our emphasis on customer service, and realise that we have to continually work on this area so our standards are maintained for each and every customer,’ says Tony Randall, director of Heritage Glass Group. ‘As such, detail is very important, and this new acquisition for the division will have a direct affect on the service we provide, as it means that more representatives will be able to oversee projects and respond to issues promptly and professionally.’

Heritage Glass Group’s commitment to service is echoed in its customer care and after sales charters, which were designed to make the buying process as easy and stress-free as possible. The company’s achievements further highlight this dedication, and include being accredited with the DTI Quality Mark, finishing in one of the top places in the ‘2004 Installer of the Year’ competition, and of course winning the Best Customer Service award at the 2004 Shropshire Business Awards.

KAT UK has announced that the sales of its patio doors and vertical sliding windows are up by 16 per cent on last year.

KAT director David Richards puts this down to the consistent reliability of the KAT brand, offering short lead times and a quick turnaround without compromising on the innate quality of the product.

‘The KAT brand is a strong one that we have built up over a number of years. The reason for its continued success is that the attributes of the brand are built on genuine principles rather than just marketing waffle,’ said David Richards. ‘Over the years we have invested steadily in the product, in our won infrastructure, in our people, and in our customers, to ensure that what we offer is consistently at the forefront of what the market place determines.’

Production of its KAT patio door products currently stands at 75 doors a day. The company also makes about 150 vertical sliding windows a week, destined primarily for small to medium house builders.

‘By concentrating on supplying niche products to specialised market sectors, we have managed to maintain a loyal and long lasting customer base,’ added David Richards. ‘At our Macclesfield site we run two dedicated manufacturing units that strive to be centres of excellence in their own products. There is even a bit of friendly competition between the two, which helps to keep standards consistently high.’

Titon Provides Extract and Background Ventilation for House Builders

Titon's new extract PAX 200 Series Fan, and Trimvent Select trickle ventilators have been fitted into bathrooms and utility rooms in a new housing development of 51 family homes in Colchester, Essex.

Titon has recently broadened its ventilation capabilities and now offers house builders background and extract ventilation products. House builder, Mersea Homes, is very impressed with Titon's new product portfolio and has been praised by homeowners for specifying the new range of ultra-silent bathroom extract vents from Titon .

'Our homeowners are delighted with the new extract fan. The fans are all fitted with a humidistat so they switch on automatically when required, and are extremely quiet, which is excellent for ensuite bathrooms. The vents are also very safe and can easily be unclipped from the wall for cleaning. We have already specified the new vent for another housing development,' said James Harrison, Project Surveyor, Mersea Homes.

Tyson Anderson, Marketing Director of Titon, adds: 'The combination of Trimvent Select trickle ventilators and PAX 200 Series fans gave Mersea Homes a complete solution to 'extract' and 'background' ventilation to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.

'This is the perfect example of how we feel the expansion of our product range will give our customers the convenience of utilising a single supplier for their ventilation requirements. It will also benefit those who need advice on selecting the correct type of ventilation system, as we are taking an increasing role in providing advice to enable specifiers to make an informed choice.

Web: http://www.titon.co.uk

Mila Maintenance Division, the specialist window and door maintenance contractor for the social housing sector, is using the latest technology to literally maintain windows with Windows.

Director of Mila Maintenance, Dave Cooke explains: ‘The first stage prior to any maintenance programme is to complete a comprehensive on-site survey. Via a hand-held PC and a mobile phone, our engineers are able to complete surveys on-site and e-mail them direct to our headquarters. In turn we can quickly pass this information to our clients and work with them to identify the most urgent repairs. This is particularly important in those instances where there may be a Health & Safety hazard.’

The software, which has been specially written for Mila Maintenance, allows the engineer to survey the site by entering job specifications using a series of codes in the database of the unit eg 003 = ‘Supply & Fix Espagnolette Handle’.
Once the survey has been completed the report is emailed to the head office of Mila Maintenance where the information is downloaded directly onto the relevant projects database. Staff may then produce a Schedule of Works; Quotation; and Bill Of Materials, dependent upon client requirements.

The head office system allows clients to track progress of works being carried out on their behalf through online access to the relevant database. Speed and efficiency have been dramatically improved by allowing the engineer to transmit information to head office for immediate processing, within minutes of completing the site inspection. Single entry also significantly reduces the opportunity for errors, and therefore expensive and time-consuming callbacks.

The irony of using Windows to help maintain windows is not lost on Dave, who continues: ‘While many Local Authorities will insist that their PC’s are regularly screened for viruses, the same cannot be said for the windows installed in their housing stock. A simple service such as on-site lubrication and adjustment can prevent most major problems resulting in savings of many thousands of pounds per year in repair and replacement costs.’

In a sector of the industry that is not known for embracing the latest technology, Mila Maintenance has no qualms about using it to their own and their clients’ advantage. ‘We’ve already got one of the most qualified workforces in the industry - all our Engineers hold (or are working towards NVQ Level III in Glazing Installation and Maintenance. Therefore adopting new technology and new tools is common nature to us. In fact you could say that it’s easy PC!’ concludes Dave.

Tel: 01327 872511

Shepley’s New Slam Shut Facility

In response to customer demand, Shepley Window Systems has spent time developing the slam shut facility on its PVCu doors. ‘We have improved the aesthetics of the door by eliminating the need to use a pad handle,’ explains Tony Fry, production director.

'Customers can now benefit from a stylish door handle with a split spindle to activate the slam shut facility. The advantages to the installer are that it allows all handles on single and double doors to be matching, with and without the slam shut facility. It offers the option to revert between lever/lever and slam shut facility by simply replacing the single spindle with the split spindle and removes the need to fit an unsightly pad handle.’

Tel: 0161 339 2433
Email: mailto:james.brisbane@shepley.com
Web: http://www.shepley.com

tdsl Goes Through Fire for Service Life Guarantee

BM TRADA Q-Mark specialist fire door manufacturer tdsl has put its Viscount Plus doorset through what is believed to be currently the most rigorous and relevant performance test programme in the UK.

The door achieved a ‘severe duty’ classification based on testing against Chiltern Dynamics’ Classification for Service Life test programme (CDTM01); and the same door successfully completed a 30-minute fire resistance test under BS 476: Part 22 with Chiltern International Fire.

Vincent Kerrigan, Deputy Test Manager for Chiltern Dynamics, said: ‘This is a remarkable achievement. Our life cycle performance programme replicates the ‘severe duty’ which doors would undergo in busy schools and hospitals, for example. The tdsl doorset continued to function fully throughout the rigorous tests and that same door was still able to do its job in fire. Specifiers could ask for no better guarantee of service life than that.’

Chiltern Dynamics developed the Classification for Service Life test programme two years ago, to fill a gap in the market for a reliable fit-for-purpose test. The programme incorporates elements from a number of British and European Standards (DD171: 1987, PAS 23:1999, EN 1191, EN 1192 and prEN 12400:2002). Testing includes a wide range of performance characteristics, including:

• Vertical load
• Static Torsion
• Soft and heavy impact
• Hard body impact
• Slamming shut
• Slamming open
• Closure against obstruction
• Resistance to jarring and vibration
• Abusive force on handles
• Operating forces
• Cycling (500,000 opening and closing cycles)

Performance against these characteristics allows the door to be classified in terms of its duty. ‘Severe’ is the most demanding classification and relates to the sort of wear and tear typical of cross-corridor locations in hospitals, schools or large offices.

Doors in these locations will also have to demonstrate fire resistance because, in the event of fire, they would play a vital role in controlling fire spread and protecting evacuation and access routes. ‘The classification for service life test programme goes a long way to demonstrating that doors will continue to perform their day-to-day function and maintain their integrity throughout their service life, but the only way to be absolutely sure is to carry out a fire test,’ said Vincent Kerrigan.

Frank Gallagher, tdsl Managing Director, had every confidence that the Viscount Plus doorset – with fully compliant and compatible hardware - would perform. ‘We have replicated a true ‘birth to death’" scenario that gives clients not only a guarantee of performance but full scale test evidence on which they can calculate with greater certainty the life cycle cost of the doorset.’

For further information about
• fire and performance testing for doors and windows with Chiltern International Fire/Chiltern Dynamics contact Vincent Kerrigan on 01494 569836 or email mailto:vkerrigan@chilternfire.co.uk.

• tdsl contact Simon Burgoyne on 0161 886 0770 or email
mailto:simon.burgoyne@tds-l.com

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