Exhibition News @ THE GL@ZINE

GlassBuild America Anticipates Strong Turnout

The Glass, Window & Door Expo anticipates a strong turnout for its 2004 event to be held March 10th-12th in San Diego, CA. Registration numbers are up by 18% over the same time period last year and represent attendees from across the United States and abroad. Show organisers have confirmed nearly 400 exhibiting companies will occupy over 1,200 booths. Educational seminars and demonstrations round out the three-day event.

GlassBuild America's debut in 2003 was a clear success; drawing over 7,000 visitors to Atlanta for the unprecedented event and the momentum keeps building. GlassBuild America's founding sponsors, the National Glass Association (NGA), the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the Glass Association of North America (GANA), are now joined by two new co-sponsors - the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) and the Bath Enclosure Manufacturers Association (BEMA) - making GlassBuild America a truly all-encompassing event for the entire glass, window, and door industries.

Some of the UK/Irish exhibitors include: C.G.I. International Ltd, Combilift, Ltd., EFCO Furnaces Ltd, Glass & Glazing Federation, Glassex / Glass Processing & Technology Exhibition, Regalead, Securistyle Ltd, Unilam International Ltd.

Click here for the Exhibitor List
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Click here for exhibitor information based on product offering

Focus on Glass for Internal Finishing at Glasstec04

glass technology live is to be presented from 9th to 13th November 2004 at the 18th International glasstec trade fair in Hall 11, Düsseldorf. This ‘glass pavilion’ will be organised by Professor Stefan Behling, Director of the Building Technology Construction Institute of Stuttgart University and a partner of Sir Norman Foster’s London-based architect’s office.

This year the Special Show will be dedicated to all possible applications of glass in architecture – in addition to façades the focus will, for the first time, also be on interior finishes involving glass.

High-tech features can be found both inside and outside buildings: special types of glass are also what helped rapid developments in communication technology – technology that is now commonplace. Display glass on flat screens is just one example. Displays in the form of panels also play a crucial role in industrial applications. glass technology live illustrates the evolution of such displays, starting from upstream materials right down to the finished product. The use of innovative laser technology for cutting, engraving or melting glass is already motivating interior designers to develop entirely new glass-based home design ideas today. For outdoor applications lasers are used for the industrial-scale production of solar cells.

On show will be ‘glass tests’, geared primarily to structural glass engineering but also to the newly discovered potential of glass for solar construction components. High-performance materials with dynamic g and U values developed by the glass industry - in response to needs made by the building trade - make it possible to construct façades producing an effect of total transparency and openness. glass technology live will demonstrate how these innovative technologies can be employed.

New technologies and manufacturing methods already provide users with more freedom for planning today – form and function can be selected freely. Bionics research, for example, has given consumers self-cleaning glass for use in glass showers, glass fronts or skylights. Further developments in this area are expected.

The latest solar and PV technologies will be presented in structural glass designs, building fronts and roofing applications. Architectural theory and cutting-edge design will be given a forum at glass technology live in the experimental design area. Here pioneering models and prototypes will be exhibited.

The glass technology live Special Show is open from 9am to 6pm from 9th to 13th November.

UK Representative, Messe Düsseldorf
ITSL Ltd
Tel: 01442 230033
Email: mailto:info@itsluk.com

CAB Receives Health Treatment

The Council for Aluminium in Building is expecting a healthy turnout for the first Members’ Meeting of 2004. Pride Park Stadium, home of Derby County Football Club, is the venue for the meeting which is due to be held on 26th February. Guest speaker for the event will be NHS Estates’ Construction Manager, Paul Fenlon, who will be talking to CAB members about the importance of manufacturers delivering solutions not just products. The continued growth of the commercial aluminium sector means that this event will be of particular importance to CAB members that operate in this important market, or who are looking to expand into it. The meeting is open to all CAB members and guests.

Full details of venues and speakers for the Members’ Meetings for the rest of the year will be announced to members at Pride Park, including a presentation and tour scheduled for Murrayfield Stadium in November.

For more information contact the CAB on 01453 828851

Symposium on PVCu Window Profile Laminating

A specially convened one-day symposium – Laminating PVCu Window Profiles - will take place on March 15th at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, NEC Birmingham, the second day of the Glassex exhibition.

The symposium is hosted by Homag U.K. and Friz, German profile laminating and wrapping specialists. Friz is a specialist in profile laminating techniques. The symposium will also feature presentations and inter-active sessions from a number of the industry’s leading international manufacturers in associated fields.

Topics will include new application technologies, the latest in bonding and adhesive techniques, cutting edge developments in new equipment and the most up to date advancements in materials and surfaces.

The timetable is designed for guests to attend all or particular sections of the symposium.

Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Contact:
Sylvia Albe at Homag U.K. on Fax: 01332 856400 or email on
mailto:sylvia.albe@homag-uk.co.uk

Web: http://www.homag-uk.co.uk

glasstec to Host Global Player in Façade Con-struction

The exterior of the world’s highest skyscraper in Taipeh was completed on 12th November 2003. The façade was planned, built and fitted by the Bavarian firm Josef Gartner GmbH, based in Gundelfingen. All in all, Gartner produced 120,000 square metres of façade elements from aluminium, glass and steel – a surface equivalent to 20 football pitches. In order to safely survive typhoons prevalent in the area, this outer casing is able to withstand forces as high as one ton per square metre. As a comparison, the German standard requires glass façades to boast a maximum load bearing capacity of just 120 kilograms per square metre.

Demanding installation projects such as the one in Taipeh make the highest requirements on the glazing trade. Unlike any other building components, glazed façades are able to show the per-formance and potential of glass as a construction material. During glasstec 2004 similarly sophisticated façade structures will be on display and explained in the special glass tech-nology live show. The exhibits at glass technology live are cho-sen on the basis of their innovation because this visionary show points the way into a future ‘full of glass’.

Josef Gartner GmbH participated in the special glass technology live show in 2002 organised in cooperation with the University of Stuttgart. This year Gartner is set to feature here again - in addition to its own stand at the fair. ‘glasstec has developed into an international fair attended by many high-calibre decision-makers. To an international market leader in façade construction like Gartner, this fair is therefore an ex-cellent forum to present innovations. This is where we can meet not just architects but also investors and developers from around the world,’ says Andreas Fauland, General Manager at Josef Gartner GmbH.

Messe Düsseldorf’s co-ordinating team, along with Prof. Behling of the Stuttgart University are confident that support by exhibitors like Gartner and many others will allow them to pre-sent a hitherto unseen mix of aesthetic architecture and ex-citing technology at the forthcoming ‘glass technology live’.

The multi-disciplinary dialogue between industry, architecture and art -now of increasing importance - will be the focus of the accompanying symposium. Many renowned experts from re-search, technology, architecture and the skilled trades will ad-dress the audience and answer questions. The special ‘glass technology live show’ is open from 9am to 6pm from 9th to 13th November.

UK Fasteners’ Better Bi-met is Back at Windowfab

UK Fasteners Ltd launched a high performing bi-metallic screw in October last year. Just a few months later and the company reports that the new addition is proving a huge success with specifiers. The unprecedented interest is behind the company’s decision to attend Windowfab again this year.

‘The feedback we’ve received for our bi-met has been outstanding,’ says David Ballinger, Managing Director of UK Fasteners. ‘Specifiers want a quality bi-met that won’t let them down, and they want to buy them from a company with the same reliability. Until now, there has only been one supplier of a bi-met perceived to be of a high quality. We researched all the bi-mets available and using and sharing this knowledge with our manufacturer we created a specification for the optimum bi-met screw. We are taking samples of the new bi-met to Windowfab for specifiers who haven’t already seen it for themselves. We will also have our expert team on hand to answer any questions you may have, technical or commercial. Not all fastener suppliers are so open.’

Tel: 01242 577077

Heritage Glass Holds Annual Golf Day

Shrewsbury glazing firm Heritage Glass Group recently held its annual golf day for customers and suppliers at Arscott Golf Club. The event was attended by 22 invited guests, all of whom were looking forward to a good day of golf, despite the chilly temperatures.

After a warming coffee to start the day, the teams teed off, and began the tournament. The competition was well-fought, but there always has to be a winner, and this year the congratulations go out to local plumber Peter Jones who was the overall winner, with the prize for the longest drive going to Protech Windows’ Mike Barber, and Positive Advertising’s Les Whitaker took the prize for nearest the pin.

A delicious evening meal rounded off the day perfectly, with the final event of the evening being an awards presentation. The day’s winners were presented their trophies by David Randall, managing director of Heritage Glass, and Pilkington Glass donated the trophies.

‘The golf day has become a very popular annual event; it’s a lot of fun and is also a great way for us to thank some of our customers and suppliers for their support during 2003,’ says Tony Randall, director of Heritage Glass. ‘It’s always worth braving the cold for and this time was no exception, as it was another very enjoyable day.’

The success of the golf day adds to the year of success the company has enjoyed, as in 2003 Heritage Glass Group was awarded the DTI Quality Mark, Age Positive Champion status and has also reached the finals of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce customer service awards.

Sash UK-Hosted Partnering Seminars ‘A Resounding Success’

The Partnering 4:04 seminars that took place in October, November and December 2003 at the Sash UK headquarters in Barnsley, and hosted by construction industry chief and Partnering pioneer Sir Michael Latham, have been voted ‘a resounding success’ by delegates. The 240 available places were oversubscribed by 50%, with Sash now considering an extension of the programme for early in 2004.

Social housing professionals from all over the country made the journey to Yorkshire in the quest for guidance on establishing a Partnering Programme within their own organisations, taking advice from speakers with very real ‘front-end’ experience of the concept. These included an opening address by Sir Michael Latham, who discussed ‘Partnering in Practice’, followed by Judith Harrison, a senior executive within the Housing Forum, whose Housing Forum Demonstration Projects have constantly out-performed the industry average.

Julie Horner, of Chester & District Housing Trust gave her real-life views on the issues, and great successes, experienced in her organisation since the introduction of Partnering, in an extraordinarily candid presentation. Nigel Barr of Knowles Management then delivered the practical realities that must be faced by the management of social landlords in the implementation of Partnering, with the conclusion that it is, nonetheless, the way forward.

Keith Hilton, formerly Assistant Executive Director of Barnsley Metropolitan Council guided delegates through his Council’s decision to adopt partnering, the obstacles encountered and practical solutions to them.

One delegate who made the journey from South Eastern England commented: ‘We have been considering Partnering for some time. It is very clear that there are some tremendous advantages to be gained from the implementation of such arrangements, but it can be difficult to know just where to start, not least as we see that the cultural changes that must be made in an organisation can be the most difficult. What I have learned at this seminar will enable us to take the next step forward.’

David Ruzicka, joint Managing Director of Sash UK explained why his company supported the event: ‘As a company we have benefited from the very real advantages to be gained from working with a client as a partner, and through our positive experiences of working this way we want to promote the concept of Partnering to ensure its widespread adoption.

‘It is quite extraordinary just how both client and supplier can both benefit from a Partnering arrangement, but a number of hurdles – many of them cultural – must be overcome. The effort, and determination to succeed in establishing a Partnering arrangement may be difficult to begin with, but our experience is that the rewards to both parties are very worthwhile, in financial but also the more pragmatic day-to-day working practices and relationships.’

Tel 01226 719969
Email: mailto:nick.hibberd@sashuk.com
Web: http://www.sashuk.com

Rehau Hosts Successful Partnering Seminar

Rehau recently hosted a successful Partnering seminar which was attended by around 30 of its customers.

The event, held at the Manor Hotel in Meriden, was designed to explain the potential benefits of Partnering and to give useful advice as to how to make it work.

Mike Moseley, Rehau's Major Projects Manager, outlined the range of support services which Rehau offers to customers in securing and operating Partnering agreements. The other speakers were Peter Kahn of Ethical Consultancy Services who discussed some of the critical issues involved from a client's perspective and Katie Saunders from specialist law firm Trowers & Hamlins who set out the benefits of PPC2000 forms of contract.

A significant number of Rehau's large fabricators already have successful partnering agreements in place and there are now an increasing number of medium sized customers also securing agreements.

Mike Moseley believes that the excellent attendance and enthusiasm shown at the seminar will translate into agreements for even more customers in the future.

Tel: 01989 762600

Successful Debut for PatioMaster at Batimat

PatioMaster, the UK patio door manufacturer, made a successful debut at the international building show, Batimat, in Paris as part of its drive to expand into European markets.

With two potential fabricators lined up in France, PatioMaster has appointed a French agent to expand its network of sliding PVCu patio door fabricators in that country and beyond. And judging from the leads generated by the show, the company looks set to achieve its goals.

PatioMaster Product Manager, Richard Parker comments: ‘We are now following up a number of interesting leads from across Europe to as far away as Mauritius. The show's success for us confirms our belief that the growing market for patio doors in Europe offers plenty of opportunities to promote our quality sliding PVCu patio door into new areas.’

He adds: ‘There is great potential given that PVCu is gaining ground over there, particularly with the increasing popularity of second homes.’

In the UK, PatioMaster says that it simplifies the specialist job of installing patio doors by offering efficient production of high quality, ready-made patio doors through an exclusive network of approved regional fabricators. The company plans to develop this concept in Europe.

Contact: Richard Parker
Tel: 01952 210850

Discover the 'Off-Site' Solution at Interbuild

Interbuild 2004 has a key role to play in fulfilling the 'truly massive' potential of off-site construction by offering a ready-made opportunity to discover more about fast track methods and products.

That's the view of Alan Crane from Constructing Excellence, which is teaming up with Mtech Group and Interbuild to create a major display of manufactured solutions.

He said: 'Increasingly the industry is turning its attention to the substantial benefits that off-site manufacture of assemblies, components and indeed complete buildings can offer.

'The UK market is rapidly expanding and for some sections the use of off-site solutions has become commonplace. However, the potential market remains truly massive and Interbuild will certainly help to highlight this.'

The UK's largest building and construction exhibition takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from April 25-29 and the Manufactured Solutions section is one of many new features within the Show.

Said Event Director Steve Webb: 'Although Interbuild has a proven record as the place to do business, a key part of its function is also to educate people on the very latest techniques, products and developments.

'Manufactured Solutions is clearly of major interest to most sections of the industry and it is only right that we should devote a special area of the show to that topic.'

The NBS Group, Robertson Timberkit and Ward Building Components are among the companies that will have a major presence in Manufactured Solutions - and they are already convinced that off-site construction works for them.

NBS Group traditionally supplies masonry cladding and bricks for the specification market, sourcing products from the UK and Europe, but over the past five years has become increasingly involved with fast-track construction.

It sources many products and systems from Europe, including external masonry faced lightweight insulated cladding, structural thin bed load bearing blocks, insulated structural roof systems and internal partitions with integrated doorset packages.

Said Company Architect Richard Wilks: 'Europe - particularly Germany, Holland and Belgium - is ahead of the game but we are catching up fast and Interbuild certainly has a role to play in helping with this.

'Although more and more contractors are buying into the idea of off-site and fast-track construction methods, there can still be a confidence problem. Some still need convincing that fast-track methods and products do work and from our point of view, Interbuild will give us the chance to win them over.'

Robertson Timberkit, which has grown to become one of the UK's leading manufacturers and suppliers of quality timber frame kits to the residential and commercial sectors of the construction market since its formation in 1986, has big plans for Interbuild.

It will be constructing a typical three-bedroom family home to a Robertson Timberkit design, demonstrating the quality of its product and the benefits of utilising timber frame construction.

Said Sales Director Derek Hamilton: 'The house will serve as an example of what is possible and we are looking forward to meeting with main contractors, architects, social housing providers, and house builders, who are keen to develop timber frame solutions as a viable alternative to traditional construction methods.'

Ward Building Components, part of Kingspan Group, aims to use Interbuild as the launch vehicle for a new range of off-site complete building solutions which will service the significant demand it anticipates in the future.

The North Yorkshire-based company is already involved in off-site construction but Commercial Manager Gary Crosby explained: 'We are investing heavily in our off-site business in Sherburn because we believe there will be massive opportunities over the next 10 years and beyond.'

For more information on Interbuild or to pre-register, visit http://www.interbuild.com

Legal Changes Inspire new Pavilion

Interbuild will unveil a new section at the 2004 show in response to sweeping changes in building legislation designed to improve access for people with disabilities.

The Disability Pavilion looks set to be one of the busiest parts of Birmingham's NEC between April 25th and 29th next year with market leaders like ThyssenKrupp Accessibility and Minivator already committed to exhibiting.

ThyssenKrupp Accessibility envisages a busy year ahead for those involved in the accessibility market because by October 2004 service providers must ensure that they provide 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure equal access for people of all abilities.

A leading supplier of wheelchair platform lifts the company will be demonstrating its existing range of products but also plans to unveil a new and exciting addition.
Vicky Palmer, Marketing Controller for ThyssenKrupp Accessibility, said: 'We tested Interbuild in 2002 with a small stand area and the mix of visitors included contractors, architects and designers involved in the decision making process which ideally matched our target market.

'For 2004, we decided to invest in a larger area, which enables us to showcase our existing products.

'We've also chosen the show to launch our newly developed platform lift which has been designed, researched and built by our UK development team at our Leicester manufacturing site.'

The new lift has a stylish, modern appeal and has been made to meet with the recommendations laid out in the amended Disability Discrimination Act.
Long-established West Midlands-based stairlift manufacturer Minivator will also be exhibiting in the Disability Pavilion.

Business Development Director Mike Lord said: 'Minivator is proud to be associated with this initiative.

'As the DDA deadline approaches we are finding more and more people looking for information on products that can help remove barriers to entry.
'All too often inclusive design is disregarded with buildings being designed for the majority.

'It is our hope that events such as Interbuild will contribute to raising awareness of the issues faced by individuals with disabilities whilst also providing ideas on how visitors to the show can help eradicate these problems by practicing inclusive design.'

Interbuild Director Steve Webb added: 'Extending the Act has been carried out to improve access to services for people with disabilities.

'It will have a considerable impact throughout the industry and as the largest trade event around, Interbuild must reflect that.

'The new legislation could have an influence in all sorts of ways affecting things like entrances, doors, internal layout, stairs, toilets, lighting and emergency exits.'

Steve said that as a result of the changes, service providers must think ahead and consider how they might be affected by the changes.

'By introducing a Disability Pavilion at Interbuild, we hope to highlight the changes and give visitors every opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of what's involved,' he added.

Other companies already booked into the Disability Pavilion include: Mayfield Engineering, Litchfield Group and Wessex Medical.

Web: http://www.interbuild.com

New Manager for Light+Building and Lightstyle

Maria Hasselman-Börner has been appointed event manager for Light+Building, the International Trade Fair for Architecture and Technology (18 to 22 April 2004) and Lightstyle, the International Trade Fair for Home Lighting (24 to 27 April 2005). She succeeded Erika Boll on 1st August 2003, who successfully managed both fairs until then, and will be devoting herself to her family in the future.

Ms Hasselman-Börner is committed to the further development of the product areas lighting, electrical technology and house and building automation at Light+Building as her particular challenge. Her aim is to make the trade fair even more interesting for trade visitors. To achieve this, she intends to extend the trade fair with further, complementary fringe areas. 'The concept of combining architecture, technology and design is still a very convincing one', is how Ms Hasselman-Börner comments on her new task.

In the realisation of her ideas, she will be supported by an experienced team of colleagues, most of whom are organising Light+Building for the third time. Ms Hasselman-Börner was involved in the creation and development of Light+Building from the very beginning. As a sales representative and project manager in the area of lighting in 2000, she made a significant contribution to the success of the first Light+Building.

Ms Hasselman-Börner, who was born in the Netherlands, has been with Messe Frankfurt since 1994. Her diligence and commitment resulted in her being appointed in December 2000 to the positions of event manager of the trade fairs IFFA/IFFA Delicat, International Trade Fair for Investment Goods in the Meat Industry, and Texcare International, World Market for Modern Textile Care. Ms Hasselman-Börner will continue to be responsible for the IFFA/IFFA Delicat in her new position. She is handing over the Texcare International to Dirk John, event manager of the ISH, International Trade Fair for Building and Energy Technology and the Bathroom World of Experience. Ms Hasselman-Börner does not have a great deal of time before the event as new event manager for Light+Building 2004: the trade fair for architecture and technology opens its doors between 18 and 22 April next year.

Web: http://www.light-building.messefrankfurt.com

A Totally Successful Solution

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC), along with hardware and profile supply partners Wagner (GB) Ltd and Rehau, recently hosted a seminar, entitled ‘The Total Solution’, which addressed various aspects which need to be brought together when drawing up a successful window and door specification.

Speakers from the three organisations, as well as KFV and Strand Hardware, addressed the many delegates who had travelled from across the region, and topics raised included Quality Assurance, Whole Life Costing, Product Standards on hardware, profile and finished product, and options in emergency exit and electronic door hardware.

The need to bring all parties involved in the supply chain together to form one combined client-focused team dedicated to supplying sustainable value for money, quality products, solutions to problems and, very importantly, aftercare was also addressed.

Wagner, Rehau and many of Wagner’s suppliers, including KFV, Strand, Hoppe, Maco, Roto, and SFS intec, Winlock and Cotswold erected display stands and staff from all the companies were on hand to answer questions in their particular fields of expertise.

The event was hailed as a great success and Mark Johnson of RMBC revealed that they had been invited by a delegate to tender for a new window contract, and were also given the opportunity to quote on upgrading the hardware on a large number of existing windows, based on the information delivered on the day.

Tel: 01634 26326
Web: http://www.wagnergb.com