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Lochnivar
Windows Cleans Up with Pilkington Activ™
Scottish
double glazing specialist Lochinvar Windows
of Loanhead, Edinburgh, has been supplying high quality doors, windows
and conservatories for over 15 years . The company has built up a large
customer base throughout the Lothians, largely through customer recommendation
and judicious local promotions.
However,
since Pilkington Activ™ Self
cleaning glass was adopted as part of the standard offering just one
year ago things have really taken off. Currently, the company is riding
a welcome wave of market interest, and is about to run a local advertising
and PR campaign to take advantage of this new product.
.Pilkington Activ™ was officially launched in Britain in September
2002 as the world's first self-cleaning glass. Pilkington says that
the high-tech product will undoubtedly help bring an end to one of Britain's
most - loathed chore's, that of cleaning windows, and for that reason
it is proving very popular with customers throughout the country. Similarly
the product is proving a hit around the world after it was launched
internationally throughout Europe, the USA and Australia.
Developed in the UK by the St Helens-based glass manufacturer Pilkington
plc, Pilkington Activ™ 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 while it then
uses the rain to wash the dirt away.
Ian Oates, Sales Manager of Lochinvar, believes that the clear and proven
advantages of the product are the key to his company's success over
the past 12 months. He comments: 'When we first started offering clear
Pilkington Activ™ to customers, word spread fast and we started
getting enquiries in from far and near. We are currently getting calls
from all over the Lothians, some from far beyond our previous catchment
area. There's no doubt in my mind that being able to offer a glass with
so many customer advantages is a real winner for us'.
Lochinvar's efforts have been closely supported by the local Pilkington
branch at Cumbernauld, and Sales Manager Stephen Laing is delighted
at Lochinvar's success with Pilkington Activ™. He comments: 'All
of us here at Pilkington have an unshakeable faith in the success of
this product, a sentiment which is now being proved totally justified
on a global basis. But it takes the combination of an exceptionally
robust specialist supplier like Lochinvar, and the focused commitment
of a major glass manufacturer like us to make this the outstanding success
it is'.
Lochinvar is not resting on its laurels though. It is now putting the
finishing touches to an intense local publicity campaign, designed primarily
to explain the product advantages of Pilkington Activ™ to even
more potential customers. In the spring, radio and press announcements
based around the 'fit them and forget them' theme will invite interested
householders to visit the Loanhead showrooms to see for themselves just
how good the offering is. And with incentives like £20 IKEA vouchers,
the company believes that its customer base is set to take off during
the year.
Ian Oates optimistic about converting enquiries to sales. 'Normally'
he says, 'we
need to convince interested potential customers that the quality of
our installed product is better than that of comparable competitors.
We can certainly do that, but by offering Pilkington Activ™ - with
its clear long-term advantages - our conversion rate is proving to be
very much higher. The initial customer response to Pilkington Activ™
is disbelief, followed quickly by 'I want it'. So it does look as though
the product will become the de facto standard window glass choice in
the future.'
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Peter
Brown started Harlequin Frames in
December 1999 in an 11,000 square foot factory unit in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Its business was mainly fabricating for local retail and trade customers.
The Shield profile system was chosen and that decision has never been
regretted. The company say 'Product quality is extremely consistent
and service levels are immaculate.'
In addition to the standard range of white, mahogany, rosewood and light
oak, Harlequin has arranged a special foiling deal which allows the
company to offer dark green, dark blue, black and burgundy across the
whole of its range. Harlequin is able to provide these products at attractive
prices for low minimum order quantities - even one window.
From the very beginning the company's main aim was to specialise in
colour in the belief that this was a growth market which needed to be
served by companies having a high level of expertise in this particular
sector.
In the light of this, Harlequin added to its product range in May 2000
and became an approved applicator of the Avko colour coating system.
A free colour matching service by spectrometer analysis means the company
can offer virtually any colour of PVCu product either for its own frames
and conservatory roofs or for those supplied by its customers.
Harlequin has recently filled another gap in the coloured product market
by becoming the first company to offer foiled flat panels in the colours
listed above in 300mm and 900mm widths in small minimum order quantities,
again just one panel.
By virtue of having a colour coating facility, the company can now also
offer a virtually unlimited range of colour-coated flat panels with
a grain finish.
In March 2000, Kevin Findell who Peter Brown had known for some time,
became a shareholder in the business and brought with him a wide experience
in selling and fabrication within the PVCu industry.
Early in 2002, Harlequin decided that while the trade and retail businesses
were both growing quite nicely, the company needed to focus much more
specifically on the two areas, and set up a separate company in May
2002, taking on a Planet Franchise for the Cambridgeshire area to handle
the whole of the retail side of the business.
Peter Brown says, 'This has been a major success and our retail side
has almost quadrupled since the franchise started.
'This change has also allowed us to create a totally separate management
focus on serving the trade sector with particular emphasis on developing
our colour business.
'In addition to the colour options noted above, we have also used the
availability of the coloured foils to develop our Harlequin Door range.
We can supply these as externally or internally beaded, coloured one
side or both sides and with white outer frames or with matching coloured
outer frames as required.
'We believe that this choice at competitive prices and lead times makes
us a real market leader for these products.
'This is a very flexible product range which we are continually developing
to meet the demands of the market place. A clear example of this is
this launch of coloured foiled flat panels in the wider widths. We could
not find anyone to supply these in sensible quantities so we set about
producing them ourselves.
'We believe we are in a strong position to work with our customers so
that we can each take advantage of the growth in the market for coloured
windows, doors and conservatories.'
Email: mailto:peterbrown@harlequinframes.fsnet.co.uk
Web: http://www.harlequinframes.co.uk
Atcost
Windows Masters New Build
Eurocell
Ultimate 70mm window system fabricator, Atcost
Windows, based in Liphook Hampshire, has announced the continuing
success of the company’s New Build department established within
its existing premises on the Passfield Mill Business Park.
Since it’s inception the New Build division has been servicing
a number of building contractors, developers and house builders as well
as the growing band of smaller builders in the area. One of the reasons
for the success of the department is the fact that Atcost new build
personnel are both in the factory and on site, allowing orders to be
processed immediately as well as eliminating problems at source.
‘The new build division we have developed at Atcost Windows allows
us to take advantage of Eurocell’s product range - window, door
and conservatory systems combined to the Eurocell branded Building Plastics
– effectively solving a number of issues the builder may have in
one order. By dedicating experienced staff to this growing sector of
the business, as well as developing close working relationships with
our customer base, it can only benefit Atcost in the future.’ said
John Edwards, MD Atcost Windows.
Tel: 01773 842 100
Email: mailto:marketing@eurocell.co.uk
Web: http://www.eurocell.co.uk
‘A
Fresh Approach to Conservatory Roofing’
STR,
a new conservatory roofing fabricator in Scotland, has completed a review
of roofing systems and chosen Ultraframe
after it’s systems came out top on all criteria required. Managing
Director Chris Lambe said ‘the ease of fabrication and installation
of the Ultraframe system above its competitors together with the huge
range of detailed features has to be a winning combination in Scotland.’
ScotTrade Roofs (STR), based in Motherwell was formed by two partners
who recognised a potential in the market for a fresh approach to conservatory
roofing to the trade. ‘ We recognised that Scotland was lacking
a progressive and dynamic trade roofing company that not only valued
its customers but communicated with them. We are delighted to be working
exclusively with Ultraframe. Its heritage is built on innovation and
this is key to the success in the conservatory industry, With products
such as Uzone, Ultralite 500 and a fully bespoke as standard system
including portals using Ultraframe allows us to access a whole new range
of customers.’
Scot Trade Roofs, which employs twenty people, operates from Motherwell
but covers the whole of Scotland.
Contact: Chris Lambe
Tel: 01698 263388
Harlequin
Frames Offers a Competitively Priced Colour Coating Service
You
can have any colour you like as long as its black was a slogan made
famous by the Ford Motor company, and for many years manufacturers of
PVCu windows, doors and conservatories offered any colour you liked
as long as it was white.
Harlequin Frames can now colour
coat your windows, doors, cladding or conservatory in the colour of
your choice. Whether Harlequin manufactures it and colour coats it,
or you supply it and the company colour coats it.
One customer, Nick Lake, Director of Communications at Panels Plus said
'When we launched our System–X Composite doors in 2002, one of
the most important considerations, together with safety, was being able
to offer a choice of colours.
'Colour is important; almost everything we buy today is based on colour,
our clothes, our furnishings, and even our spectacles. For hundreds
of years the army has rallied to its colours; to imagine television
without colour is now unthinkable.'
Nick goes on to say 'Colour can enhance the home with added style and
visual appeal, it can be as bright and individual as you want or as
subtle and discreet as you like. First impressions count, and as the
System-X door would be the first thing visitors notice it was important
to create a range of door colours to suit every requirement.
'The problem we had was to find a company capable of applying a tried
and tested colour coating to our composite doors. We found the perfect
solution at Glassex.
'Harlequin Frames Ltd was promoting its service where the colour you
choose is applied to the PVCu at the company's factory in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Harlequin's location was an added bonus as we were able to send the
doors to the company from our regional depot in Ely.
'The colour coating used in Harlequin's process is a specially developed
paint, which is sprayed on and then physically bonds to the PVCu material.
It dries quickly to a superb smooth satin finish as standard or if required
a semi-gloss or high gloss, which forms an extra protective coating
that never needs re-painting.
'It literally becomes the surface of the material to which it is bonded.
It doesn’t chip, crack or flake; it is guaranteed weatherproof
for ten years and is virtually fade free. It is UV stable and is available
in any colour.'
The colour coating in question was developed by Switzerland’s leading
specialist paint manufacturer in its ISO9001 quality accredited factory
near Zurich.
It has been tried and tested in Europe for over fifteen years, and is
recommended for use by leading profile producers. 'Exactly what we were
looking for,' says Nick
'Since the introduction of our System-X doors we have had a great many
doors colour coated by Harlequin Frames and there have been no problems
whatsoever.
'Harlequin Frames is competitively priced and provides a quick and efficient
service; turn round time is a matter of days, which is very important
when quoting a delivery time to our customers. I can honestly say that
it has been one of the most helpful companies we’ve ever worked
with.'
Tel: 01480 377070
Email: mailto:peterbrown@harlequinframes.com
Web: http://www.harlequinframes.co.uk
In
early 2000, local Sunderland man Terry Richardson set up TWR
Trade Frames to service the local market. He believed that
there was a niche for a trade window supplier that could produce high
quality windows and doors at the right price and on time.
The company grew rapidly, and Terry realised that his companys’
growth was held back by often lengthy delays in the supply of sealed
units. Consequently he decided to manufacture them himself.
He head hunted Craig Buist to manage the glass division. Craig has over
24 years experience in the industry, and his experience covers sealed
units, decorative glass and door panel manufacture.
Craig and Terry firmly believe that a company succeeds by investing
in its staff, and as a result the business has grown from employing
three to eleven people in little over a year.
Every employee is encouraged to undertake NVQ level 2 and 3 training
in glass processing and PVCu manufacturing. They believe in investing
in quality, up to date machinery, and this runs through their sealed
unit division to their decorative glass studio. The business is currently
in the process of achieving EN1279 recognition.
The next area for growth was to bring door panel manufacture in-house,
and this is an area that Craig has a lot of experience in. By making
their own panels, the business was able to control this vital element
in its product offer.
In late 2002, TWR approached the UK Door Panel Network which was more
than happy to assist them set up their door panel manufacturing operation.
Craig says, 'The UKDPN has been a great help in offering advice, marketing
back up and quality materials. This has enabled us to not only supply
TWR with panels, but also offer trade panels to the local trade market.
'We set up Express Decorative Panels and as this complements our decorative
glass division, it has enabled us to build extra sales in this area.
We currently produce about fifty panels per week, but recent developments
from the UKDPN will enable us to increase this to a hundred panels over
the next 6 months.
'In turn we expect to increase our door panel employees from 5 to 8
over the same time period.'
TWR now employs 33 staff, and is currently expanding into another 15,
000 sq. ft factory unit. The company has gained a reputation for quality
and value for money, a loyal customer base and a committed work force.
Terry's initial dream of offering a local service has been realised
TWR - 0191 565 5007
The UK Door Panel Network
Tel: 0800 018 3499
Email: mailto:uap@btconnect.com
Web: http://universal-imports.com
Absolute
Windows Secures MOD Contracts
Set
up just over two and a half years ago, Eurocell
Ultimate 70mm Fabricator, Absolute Windows
of Portsmouth is making a name for itself in the window market. Partners
Wayne Richards and Paul Kennedy, both of which have been in the industry
for a number of years, are now carving a niche in their business in
the supply of windows to the Ministry Of Defence.
Absolute Windows which has already completed a number of contracts via
a third party developer, including the Culham Science Centre in Oxford,
one of the country’s foremost scientific centres, is now adding
RAF High Wycombe to the company’s list of contracts. The ‘fighter
command’ facility, which is due to be renovated shortly, is one
of the most up to date places of this type in the world.
‘Absolute has had great success dealing with the Ministry of Defence’s
contractors.
We find that our key strength, as with the rest of the business is service,
we are prepared to go the extra mile for our customers – even if
that means opening up on a Sunday morning!’ says Paul Kennedy,
Absolute Windows.
The company is building for the future, the partners have decided to
invest a further £30k in new Hard Coat Glass Machinery, which
will help them to develop a sealed unit production facility within their
existing factory – enabling the company to increase the levels
of service to its customer base.
Absolute Windows is also developing its other trade and commercial sectors,
again based around the high quality service offered. The Eurocell Ultimate
70mm Window System has also been specified in a number of exclusive
apartments in Cosham, incorporating a grey finish as well as acoustic
glass.
Absolute Windows: 023 9238 3399
Web: http://www.absolutewindows.net
Eurocell: 01773 842 100
Scottish
Evergreen Door fabricator Smith
and Frater is going from strength to strength, manufacturing
doors and delivering them all across Scotland.
The
Grangemouth based business is selling increasing quantities of steel
and fibreglass doors a month to both public and private sector customers
from its 14,000 square feet new factory.
In order to maintain its outstanding service to customers, the company
has recently increased and updated its fleet of delivery vehicles, by
taking delivery of two brand new lorries.
Gordon Chalmers, Sales and Marketing Manager, comments, ‘We have
been fabricating the Evergreen Door product for six years now, and during
that time we have established and developed a good working relationship
with everyone at Evergreen.
‘Our customers expect a quality product, prompt delivery and good
service from us, and we can rely on Evergreen to provide the backup
we need to ensure we fulfil our promises.’
Evergreen Door, an ISO 9002 registered company, is the UK’s leading
supplier of steel and fibreglass door leaves. By providing fabricators
with a unique ‘one-stop-shop’ service it is living up to its
motto – ‘opening doors to the future’.
It
offers a full range of hardware, which complies with the Secured by
Design police-approved standards, components, including door locks,
handles and letterplates, and glazing options along with the fully prepared
door leaves. This service helps fabricators to differentiate their offer
in the market place and promotes flourishing business.
For more information call Smith and Frater on tel: 01324 878787, or
Evergreen Door on tel: 01924 423171.
Tim
Goldson of Centurion PVCU Services,
Cambridge, installers of windows, doors and conservatories say’s
'Over the years the demand for value for money, maintenance free quality
PVCU products has grown steadily and innovation has been impressive.
'The demand for composite doors is on the increase with customers wanting
a more distinctive look, with extra security, choice of colour, a wood
grain effect and glazing options, so we saw the introduction of the
next generation composite door.
'As customer satisfaction is essential to our continuing success we
looked for a versatile, value for money door to stock that would meet
all of the above requirements. The Panels Plus ‘System X’
door was the obvious choice as it offers flush fitting, a twin seal
design, embossed grain and traditional mouldings.
'Its high performance leaf gives improved U value over traditional timber
doors and there are no unsightly raised glazing cassettes to discolour.
With a high security five point lock and adjustable hinges. As System-X
has a multiple outer profile capability it is perfect for our outer-frame
profile, and is colour and thickness matched to suit our Rehau profile.
'It is a durable high security door that meets all the stringent requirements
and necessary standards. Exactly what the discerning homeowner wants.
'The System X door has been very well received by our customers and
we have had a very positive reaction from our installation teams.
'Our relationship with Panels Plus works extremely well, they offer
a fast and efficient delivery service via regional distribution centres,
and if required, an express delivery service is available, we are very
happy to endorse the company's products.'
Tel: 01638 743343
Fax: 01638 743990
Email: mailto:centurion@dial.drakken.com
Tel: 01708 630 045
Email: mailto:sales@panels
plus.co.uk
Web: http://www.dpplastics.com
Kombimatec
Machinery Offers more Options for Growth
GTI-Kombimatec
machinery installed just 18 months ago in the factory of Glossop fabricator
Window Options has helped the company
to increase its turnover by 50% during the last year alone. Indeed,
the ‘Power Trio’ of the Kombimatec 4HDV Combination Welder,
DGS530 Double Mitre Saw and EV450 Corner Cleaner has proved so effective
for Window Options that the company recently ordered another 3HDV welder
and a V notch saw from Kombimatec.
Window Options, based in Glossop, North Derbyshire, is an established
window and door fabricator and installer that also specialises in manufacturing
conservatories. Director Mark Styler has over 20 years’ experience
in the window trade and puts much of his company’s success down
to his creed of ‘quality products and service linked with competitive
pricing’ and a low-pressure sales approach, with over 75% of the
company’s business generated from personal recommendation or referral.
The
company began to experience a rapid growth curve a few years ago and
decided that, in order to maximise on their new market position, they
had to invest in new machinery. Says Mark Styler:
‘As we predominantly manufacture conservatories, one of our biggest
issues was the fact that you have to perform 2 or 3 crucifix welds at
a time to make one frame. This was really slowing us down so we knew
we had to look at investing in faster, more efficient machinery.
‘Kombimatec impressed us because their kit represented extremely
good value for money and because we felt that they would live up to
our expectations in terms of after-sales support. I’m pleased to
say that this has been the case, and that the trio of original machines
has made a huge impact on our business. We just finished our current
business year yesterday turning around approximately £3 Million
– a year ago it was £2.1 Million. We couldn’t have achieved
this without taking that big step.
‘We feel that we can talk to Kombimatec and that they respond positively
to our queries, hence our recent order for another 3 HDV Combination
Welder and V Notch Saw from them.’
Tel: 01582 455934
Web: http://www.gtikombi.demon.co.uk
A
Positive Chain Reaction
There’s
a lot of publicity about systems companies experiencing tremendous growth,
but we don’t so often hear about this growth spreading down the
supply chain. South Wales fabricator Euroframe
has enjoyed 200% growth since becoming a Synseal
Extrusions customer three years ago
‘We started fabricating Synseal in 1999 and grew 60% 2000-01, 100%
2001-02 and 40% 2002-03 to a current turnover approaching half a million,’
explains Paul Goddard Owner of Euroframe.
One of the customers supporting Euroframe’s growth through its
own growth is installer JP Windows and Conservatories. ‘We buy
from Euroframe because they provide us with a good service,’ says
Tony and Robert, Directors of JP Windows, ‘but also because they
supply Synseal. The Shield conservatory system saves us 40% on installation
time which means we can install more, which means we need to buy more.
It’s a win-win situation.’
Tel: 01623 443 200
Web: http://www.synseal.com
M.W.
Windows
based in the Knowsley district of Liverpool has chosen the Stuga
Autocut automatic Saw Centre and Stuga Ecoline automatic Prepping Centre
as the foundation for the company’s latest expansion programme.
Run by Mike Warner and his son John, M.W. is a well established and
well known fabricator in the Liverpool area.
M.W. fabricates the Eurocell Logic system and will run the new machines
with the latest version of the Windowlink production software.
The Autocut saw will be sent window batches direct from the office by
a network link and will produce all cut pieces complete with bar-coded
labels ready for prepping. The saw produces all cuts of forty five and
ninety degrees as well as arrowheads, which are guaranteed to be in
the centre because the machine self centres the transom profiles.
Prepped pieces are fed onto the infeed of the Ecoline after scanning
with the fixed barcode reader and from there all prepping is fully automatic
before the parts are returned back to the operator without him having
to go and fetch them. The machine produces all preps including drainage,
trickle vents, espags, ‘V’ and ‘Y’ notches and all
door preps including letterboxes.
As in many areas good labour is hard to come by and M.W. Windows expects
to reduce labour, increase output and improve quality and consistency,
whilst reducing profile wastage and scrap from mistakes.
British machinery manufacturer Stuga was considered by M.W. Windows
to be the best supplier of automatic cutting and prepping machinery
as the company specialises in this type of equipment and has all the
necessary engineering and software resources needed to back-up it up.
For further information contact Stuga sales on 0800 169 5444 or visit
http://www.stuga.co.uk
Taking
the ‘Highland’ Road
Business
is brisk for Inverness-based Profile 22 fabricator
Alba Windows, and its domestic
division Cairngorm Windows, as new housebuilding around the Highland
city continues apace.
Located
at the gateway to the Highlands on the shores of the dramatic Moray
Firth, Inverness is experiencing rapid growth with a population approaching
90,000, due in part to an influx of outsiders from the south seeking
a different quality of life.
With new housing springing up on the hills surrounding the city, it
all spells good news for David Dowling, Managing Director of Alba Windows,
who has made substantial investment in the business – in its Golden
Jubilee year - to meet demand from customers across all market sectors.
Recent £500,000 investment in machinery includes automatic cutting
tables and a free-fall glass table to increase efficiency and bolster
the growing the trade frame supply of the business.
And coinciding with the company’s 50th anniversary is a new 8,000
sq ft glass shop adjacent to the main 15,000 sq ft premises due to be
completed by Spring 2004, and providing a dedicated area for sealed
unit and glazing production. Several new jobs are expected to be created
too.
Moving the glass production frees up factory floor space for window
and Quantal conservatory roof fabrication – both expanding areas
for Alba which manufactures and supplies windows for some of the largest
housebuilders in the Highland region including Tulloch Homes.
Tulloch Homes has just awarded the next phase of window supply to Alba,
helping to boost production to 500 frames per week. Of these, woodgrain
makes up a fair proportion complementing the contemporary look of Scottish
new homes.
Explains David: ‘Most windows going into newbuild round here are
PVCu as housebuilders have recognised their low maintenance and thermal
qualities. Traditionally windows were stained wood, so the Rosewood
is a perfect choice as it replicates the appearance of timber and has
been very well-received.
‘The business split of newbuild supply within the company is now
the highest it has ever been in our history and we expect 2004 to be
as equally busy as 2003.’
Tel: 01952 290910
Kestral
Soars to New Heights
When
Kestral Window Systems was established
in Blackpool in 1978, Hotel California was playing on the radio, Grease
was everyone's favourite film, and a Japanese businessman had just invented
a strange gizmo called the Walkman….
25 years later, Kestral Window Systems Ltd is now an associate company
of Express Trade Frames Ltd of Preston, employing eight staff at a 5000
sq ft showroom, where the company promotes and sells the K2 roofing
system. The company, is now run by Directors Nick Roberts and Malcolm
Atkinson, has a turnover of £1,000,000 and is currently expanding
and recruiting new staff.
Kestral Window Systems Ltd celebrated its silver anniversary with an
open day at its remodeled show room, which includes new conservatories
and windows.
Malcolm Atkinson comments: ‘Music and fashion over the last 25
years may have changed, but what hasn’t changed at Kestral Window
Systems Ltd is our focus on quality and value for money and we won't
sell a product unless we can personally recommend it - I have a K2 roof
on my own conservatory, as it is a quality product that is supplied
with excellent customer support.
‘Kestral Window Systems has gone from strength to strength during
the last 25 years and we intend to continue expanding to cover the entire
North West’.
Sally Fielding, managing director at K2 says: ‘We congratulate
Kestral Window Systems on 25 years of successful trading. At K2 we pride
ourselves in providing quality products and we are delighted that Kestral
Window Systems recommend our products to their customers across the
North West’.
Web: http://www.k2conservatories.com