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New
President at Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH,
supplier of high-quality system solutions for the production of insulating
glass, located in Neuhausen-Hamberg in southern Germany, has a new president.
Bernhard Schmitt, Engineer, recently assumed this position as successor
to Volker Abt.
Bernhard
Schmitt has worked in the machine and systems engineering sector for
the past 25 years.
During this time he spent several years at ABB as Technical Director
for flexible robot welding systems. This was followed by a position
as Head of International Machine and Systems Engineering at Lafarge-Braas
in Heusenstamm, Germany.
From 1999 on he was a member of the managing board of Josef Vögele
AG in Mannheim, an international manufacturer of construction machines.
'We want to continue to offer our customers intelligent, all-in-one
solutions for the production of insulating glass that meet their individual
requirements in the future. Here the focus is on our main competences,
e.g. innovative technologies with sophisticated techniques. In addition,
we also want to advance our international close proximity to our customers
by establishing new markets', said Bernhard Schmitt explaining the mid
and long-term corporate objectives.
Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH has belonged to the Swiss Bystronic glass
division since 1990. Bystronic is a global supplier of total solutions
for the economical, application-engineered manufacture of architectural
and automotive glass.
Tel: +49 (0)7234 601 153
Spilsbury
in Charge at New CEN Laboratory
Linn
Spilsbury has been appointed by CEN Solutions
Ltd to run the company’s new EN 1279 test laboratory
which opened in Stafford last month. The new test facility is a major
step forward for CEN Solutions, allowing the company to implement fully
the compliance management service on which increasing numbers of ig
unit manufacturers are relying.
Clients of CEN Solutions can now submit their units for the mandatory
periodic testing required under the new European regulations to a modern
test facility being run by one of the most experienced and able technicians
in the glazing industry.
Managing director, Dave Frost says: ‘The test facility is fundamental
to our current work and our plans for the future. It enables us to provide
continuing support to our customers who know that the testing will be
rigorous, fair and efficient.
Therefore, finding the right person to work to these standards was crucial.
There are very few people in this industry with the experience, skill
and integrity we need. Linn’s name was one of those at the top
of our list and fortunately for us, we did not have to look any further.
I believe we have the best technician in the business and that is seriously
good news for our clients. The efficient and methodical way she is organising
her work has already proved to us that we made the best possible decision
in offering Linn the job.’
Dave Frost and fellow director Mike Gaillard are both former colleagues
of their new testing laboratory manager, so they have first hand knowledge
of her abilities. Linn has worked for many years for Evode and subsequently
for Bostik Findley and she, Mike and Dave worked together on Evode’s
initial glazing sealant development programmes.
Tel: 07977 554024
The
customer service team at Foilex
is dedicated to ensuring complete customer satisfaction at all times.
Laminating specialist, Foilex says that it is focused on providing excellent
service, from initial contact, right through the manufacturing process
and beyond.
Richard
Morris, General Manager, explains, ‘Our entire team has a 'can
do, will do' philosophy, and our flexibility is second to none.
‘As a business partner, we have an approachable, efficient and
reliable attitude, with the ability to respond to special requirements
quickly and effectively. For new customers we provide a seamless transition
from the company’s current laminator, matching any packing, labelling
or marking requirements. Most importantly, absolute confidentiality
is assured so any work we undertake will not compromise commercial discretion.
‘Our technical and production teams, led by Dave Nock and Karl
Draper, have many years of industry experience between them, providing
valuable information and advice on every aspect of lamination technology.
An ongoing comprehensive training programme in the factory ensures consistently
high quality and service, throughout the whole operation.
‘Customer Service Manager, Emma Gittins, provides a point of contact
for existing and potential clients. Using the latest order-tracking
computer software she can respond quickly to any changes that may be
required, keep customers informed of progress and ensure orders are
ready as and when they are required.
‘So if you are looking for a reliable foiling partner, see for
yourself what Foilex has to offer,’ concludes Richard.
Tel: 01952 289209
Web: http://www.foilex.co.uk
Yale
Strengthens Specifications Team with Three New Appointments
Yale
Door & Window Solutions has strengthened its specification
support team with the three new appointments. The team works with and
advises the social housing sector on correct door and window hardware
specification.
Newly
appointed Nick Haskins heads the team supported by Neil Cockle and Peter
Bennett, who are responsible for the south and north of England respectively.
Yale designs, manufactures and supplies a wide range of products from
its new multipoint door locking solution to specialist ranges for disabled
usage and increased security. A leading brand in the consumer and commercial
markets, Yale has extended its expertise to meet the requirements of
the social housing sector.
Nick Haskins says: ‘We are an experienced team that can provide
high levels of service and advice to social housing specifiers. Our
main responsibility is to ensure that specifiers are aware of the current
British Standards, comply with safety and security issues and understand
the relationship between lifetime costings and performance.
‘Social housing specifiers are under more and more pressure to
create detailed specifications as local authorities and housing associations
invest in new build and refurbishment projects as part of the requirements
of the Decent Homes Standard. We can provide free advice which will
make this task easier and less time consuming.’
If you would like to arrange a meeting with the Yale specification support
team call Nick Haskins on 01902 364607
Sarnafil
Roof Assured Appoints new Business Development Manager
Sarnafil
Roof Assured,
the domestic single ply roofing systems company, has appointed Bob Newall
as UK Business Development Manager. Bob’s main objective is to
continue to grow and support the 70 strong nation-wide installer network.
Bob comments: ‘I am especially keen to assist existing installers
in achieving increased turnover and even better profits, as well as
introducing new installers to the benefits of offering pvc flat roofing
to domestic customers.’
Contact:
Bob Newall
Tel: 01603 748985
Email: mailto:robert.newall@sarnafil.co.uk
Stuga Ltd Appoints Engineering Manager
Stuga
Ltd
recently appointed an Engineering Manager – Allan Thomas. Allan joined
the Company in September 2004 from a background of electronic, mechanical,
reliability and quality engineering as well as training and consultancy.Immediately prior to his appointment, Allan was a Director of a Training and Consultancy Company which provided services such as:
• Advanced Product Quality Planning
• Reliability & Maintainability
• Quality Systems
• Continuous Improvement Tools & Techniques
• Value Management
Allan is responsible for the Service and Design Departments. His aim is to build upon the Company’s reputation for service, product quality and innovation; in particular his goals are:
• To have highly trained, motivated people who are focussed on Customer Satisfaction and Quality Assurance
• To achieve the highest standards of Customer Service
• To help produce machines which exhibit high reliability and maintainability by focussing on defect prevention rather than detection
• To foster the culture of innovation in design without compromising robustness
• To introduce new Systems, Tools and Techniques to ensure consistency of Products and Processes
Email: mailto:sales@stuga.co.uk
Aztec
Invests in Customer Support
Enhanced
customer service is now available from Aztec
Conservatory Roof Systems with the recruitment of a dedicated
technical support and training manager.
Rob Small, 32, joins the Haydock, Lancashire based roof systems company.
He has spent half a decade in the industry; he was previously general
manager in the building and construction materials supply industry.
From Altrincham, Rob has a young son, and enjoys football, motorsport,
golf and fishing in his spare time. He comments, 'Aztec has a reputation
for being an honest operation with a technically advanced yet simple
system: it has less than 25% of the number of components to other roof
systems on the market, for example. My job will be to help customers
understand how to maximise efficiency and understand how to build the
simplest to most complex roof.'
Gordon Cooke, Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems sales manager, adds, 'Rob
is technically skilled, and understands the issues facing fabricators
and installers in building conservatory roofs. He is an excellent communicator,
and will prove a valuable resource to Aztec and its customers, in giving
customers the ability to tap into focussed, dedicated technical support
so they can fabricate and build the roof as efficiently as possible.'
Tel: 01942 720044
Email: mailto:enquiries@aztecsystems.co.uk
Web: http://www.aztecsystems.co.uk
Aluminium
system supplier, Senior Aluminium Systems
(SAS) has appointed a new sales manager to join its team.
Michael Hawkins, 43, will cover the whole of the south east from Norfolk
to Southampton, including London, for SAS. He has an extensive background
in sales, with previous employment including sales manager at pvc fabricator,
GIS plc of Luton and work with SAPA Building Systems, HW Systems and
Park Lane Architectural.
‘I have 18 years sales experience which covers gaskets, doors and
window hardware, pvc and now aluminium,’ says Michael. ‘But
as well as using my established customer and contact base, I am looking
forward to making new contacts.
‘I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with
SAS – it is a professional, forward-thinking organisation that
has a great work ethic and I am thrilled about being a part of it.’
Out of working hours, Michael from Fleet Hants, enjoys spending time
with his two children and runs his youngest son’s football team:
Fleet Spurs.
Independently owned, Senior Aluminium Systems offers a one-stop aluminium
and powder coating service for the architectural aluminium glazing market.
Providing high performance glazing products with a responsive and personal
service, SAS operates from three service centres in Denaby Main, Newport
and Livingston.
Tel: 01709 772600
New
Business Development Executive Boosts Veka’s Expansion Programme
With
2004 proving to be one of Veka’s
biggest recruitment periods yet for its rapidly growing UK fabricator
network, the company recently employed a new Business Development Executive
with a primary focus to win even more new customers in the trade and
commercial sector.
Jason Bird was chosen for the role due to his proven experience and
expertise in the window, door and conservatory market. Jason has spent
many years working within the industry in sales and business development
roles and he is very familiar with the Veka Matrix System. He is married
with two children and lives in Doncaster.
Jason is looking forward to developing new opportunities for Veka:
‘I have always had a lot of respect for Veka as an organisation,
but particularly for the Matrix product. The Matrix system is a superior
quality product – people appreciate how good it is to work with,
and also the support and care they receive from the company in general.’
Tel: 01495 246844
Volkswagen
Fleet Services Adds New Role to Achieve Growth
Volkswagen
Fleet Services has appointed John Langman
to the newly-created position of Fleet Controller, a strategic planning
role which will help the department increase its market share to around
ten per cent over the next five years.
Langman joins the department following 27 years with Volkswagen. He
is a qualified accountant and has fulfilled a number of finance and
planning positions during this time. His latest role was strategy and
performance management for aftersales, and he is also a member of the
Chartered Institute of Management.
Head of Fleet Services, Vince Kinner, said: ‘I’m delighted
that John is joining our team. His wide experience and excellent understanding
of the fleet market will be an asset to us and help us achieve the goals
we have set.’
During the past five years, Volkswagen Fleet Services has been highly
successful and is now a respected contender in the fleet marketplace.
It sells over 80,000 cars a year and has a 7.5 per cent market share.
These 80,000 vehicles represent around 45 per cent of Volkswagen’s
total annual vehicle sales.
Kinner adds: ‘This planning role is important for growth and ensuring
our systems are designed to serve our staff and customers.
‘But without a doubt, the key to achieving our market share aim
is looking after our customers. The staff changes within our department
earlier this year are designed to make us as customer-focused as possible.
And if we look after our customers, incremental sales growth will look
after itself.’
Volkswagen Fleet Services is the four-time winner and current holder
of the Fleet News Fleet Manufacturer of the Year title. To find out
more about Volkswagen’s range of cars or fleet services, call the
Fleet Business Centre on 0800 38 989 38 or visit http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/fleet.
Volkswagen
Financial Services Appoints New Managing Director
Graham
Wheeler has been appointed joint managing director of Volkswagen
Financial Services (UK) Limited (VWFS) with immediate effect.
He replaces Geoffrey Banks, who has taken over the position of Regional
Manager for VWFS Asia-Pacific.
Graham will work alongside VWFS’s other joint managing director,
Bryan Marcus, who has been in his current position since April 2001.
Having joined the company in March 1995, Graham takes on the new role
after previous positions within the organisation as the General Manager
of Fleet Market Centre and, more recently, as the Sales and Marketing
Director of Europcar Fleet Services in Germany.
Newstead
has added three new recruits to its sales department. Duncan Maydew
joins Newstead as Sales Development Manager with 16 years sales experience.
Duncan joined Newstead in February and is responsible for the day to
day running of the sales department. David Jackson was recently appointed
as a Sales Representative at Newstead, bringing with him over 23 years
of sales experience.
To complete the team, Emma Moore joined Newstead as Sales and Marketing
Coordinator in June. ‘I joined Newstead only four months ago,’
says Emma, ‘but I can already see what a professional team I will
be working with. I come from a customer care background so I recognise
the importance of meeting customers’ needs. I’m looking forward
to improving on what is already a comprehensive marketing support package
for Newstead installers.’
Tel: 01782 641 642
First
National Appoints New National Account Manager
First
National
has announced the appointment of Julie Stowell as the new national account
manager for its Home Improvement Loans business (HIL). HIL is part of
First National, a GE company, and is one of the leading providers of
home improvement point of sale credit finance in the UK.
Julie has extensive experience in the sales arena. Prior to joining
First National she spent six years at FIRSTPLUS financial group, where
she held a variety of roles, including divisional sales manager and
regional manager. Most recently, she was responsible for establishing
a home improvement business unit. In her new role Julie will focus on
the provision of flexible products and services while continuing to
improve levels of efficiency. She will contribute to First National's
record of excellent customer service, working closely with the home
improvement loans intermediaries to further strengthen First National's
customer relationships. Julie will report to Julian Nutley, regional
manager.
Julie commented: 'I'm delighted to join First National, it is a well-established
business with a great reputation and extensive experience in home lending
finance. As the home improvement market continues to grow, it is vital
that companies look to enhance the quality of their products and services
to meet the challenge of the current marketplace and remain competitive.'
First National operates its home improvement finance business across
the whole of the UK and has a strong network of trusted brands who use
its finance products. It also offers a range of insurance products that
are also sold through intermediaries.
Web: http://www.firstnat.co.uk
New
Sales Appointment at Portal Products
Portal
Products,
the door panel and composite door manufacturer, has strengthened its
sales team with the appointment of Lawrence Ogden as Area Sales Manager
for the South West.
With an extensive sales and engineering background, Lawrence is responsible
for growing sales with both new and existing customers.
‘Portal's reputation for excellent product quality and its reliable
delivery record makes it a market leader and I am looking forward to
contributing to this success story,’ he says.
Married to Janet with two children, Lawrence's spare time hobbies include
coaching junior squash players to County standard and, time permitting,
steam locomotive and vehicle restoration.
Tel: 01242 267000
Ka-Shing
Man has been appointed by surface protection specialist Ritec
International as Deputy Marketing Communications Manager.
His main role in the company is to provide marketing support to Ritec’s
UK and international customers as well as promoting the company’s
brand names through a variety of new and ongoing marketing activities.
Working alongside Serge Perkoff, International Sales and Marketing
Manager, Ka-Shing will also provide marketing support to the UK Sales
team.
With a strong academic marketing background, Ka-Shing holds a BA (Hons)
in Marketing Design and MA in Marketing Communications. He has worked
as a Marketing Executive for Klaxon Signals, a major international supplier
of sound and visual signalling equipment, and Secomak, manufacturer
of industrial fans, air knives and heaters.
Ritec’s products include the ClearShield Glass Protect system,
which converts unprotected, high maintenance glass into ClearShield
Low-M (Low-Maintenance) Glass.
Ka-Shing says, ‘Ritec is an innovative company with plenty of ambition.
It is wholly committed to its customers, large or small, so I look forward
to using my knowledge and experience to help where possible.’
Tel: 020 8344 8210
Web: http://www.ritec.co.uk
Windowlink
Continues to Expand
Paul
Loxton has joined software house Windowlink
as Sales Executive. His appointment marks an ongoing expansion of the
workforce following the company’s recent move to larger premises
in the centre of Cirencester.
As part of a dedicated team Paul will be responsible for maximising
sales of Windowlink’s suite of sales presentation and manufacturing
software among fabricators and installers nationwide. This includes
promoting Windowlink’s ‘Try Before You Buy’ policy, in
which new and existing customers can obtain a free 14-day free trial
of its Vector conservatory and Focus windows and doors sales presentation
software. The Plus versions of both these programs allow accurate prices
to be calculated during a sales discussion with a potential customer,
ensuring pin point accuracy in terms of both the price and the customer’s
requirements.
Commenting on his appointment Paul says, ‘With its innovative product
range and comprehensive support programme Windowlink is acknowledged
as the industry’s leading software supplier. I’m looking forward
to playing my part in helping us retain that position in the market.’
Tel: 0870 7701640
Web: http://www.windowlink.com
