Mr & Mrs FIT take over Twitter

Mr & Mrs FIT

They may be small in stature, but thanks to an online marketing campaign from the organisers of the FIT Show, there are two new stars of Twitter that are proving to be a massive hit with the window, door and conservatory industry. Called Mr & Mrs FIT, the cardboard couple have been busy touring the country over the last few months, and have been snapped in dozens of locations in the run up to the 2017 FIT Show at Birmingham’s NEC.

In fact their celebrity status has reached such heights, they’ve even been photographed on board a flight with Edinburgh based trade supplier, Stevenswood, and enjoyed a week-long holiday in Wales with software and IT specialist Windowlink UK – not to mention a VIP trip out to Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

But while Mr & Mrs FIT have clearly spent a lot of time touring the UK, they’ve also been very busy behind the scenes with various exhibitors for this year’s show, as plans are finalised ahead of the exhibition in May. From helping to organise the stand at sash window specialist Roseview Windows, getting the inside line at hardware giant Yale, lending a hand with outfits for the show at ERA or getting a sneak preview of what to expect from system’s house Liniar – which included a tour of the factory in miniature high-vis jackets – Mr & Mrs FIT have so far enjoyed a unique insight into what visitors at this year’s show can expect.

And while Mr & Mrs FIT have no doubt been privy to a whole host of industry secrets, it would appear that they’ve still found the time to let their hair down for events such as World Book Day at Carl F Groupco and Oakland Glass – where they got into the spirit of things by dressing up as Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf – as well as Valentines Day, where they posed for some very romantic shots at Universal Arches, Ultraframe and Iceni Windows.

So where will Mr & Mrs FIT end up between now and the opening of the FIT Show? You can follow their continuing adventure by following them on Twitter (#MrMrsFIT) or by checking out a gallery of images at www.fitshow.co.uk.

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from left to right: Kevin Warner of Kömmerling with Jim Moody of Tradelink Direct.

Tradelink Direct has just opened a new Windowcentre in Welwyn Garden City, adding to its trade counter in Rotherham and the founding model in Mildenhall, Suffolk.

Products offered are from some of the biggest brands in the trade sector including Kömmerling, Smart Systems, Ultraframe and Tradelink’s own branded Regiment composite doors.

These trade counters are aimed at the professional tradesperson and DIY enthusiast, with a showroom environment to showcase the products on offer and the promise of short lead times, thanks to direct manufacturing support from Tradelink. The first two trade counters are said to have been built on ‘product knowledge, excellent customer support and strong supply chain links’ with brands such as Kömmerling.

Kevin Warner, head of sales and marketing for Kömmerling commented: “We’re thrilled to be able to support the expansion in the Windowcentre business model from Tradelink. It’s a proven platform for growth and one we are fully supporting with our proven window and door systems.”

Jim Moody, managing director of Tradelink Direct, concluded: “The opening of Welwyn Windowcentre is an important part of our carefully orchestrated expansion plans for this business model. Our customers look for great products, backed by exemplary levels of support, as is the Tradelink way and I look forward to the new business opportunities this will bring for us.”

www.tradelinkdirect
www.kommerling.co.uk

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The aluminium renaissance has been in full swing for years now. It would not be accurate to describe it as just getting going. And the more proactive installers and fabricators in our industry have seen the advantages to be gained from this swing in home owner demand from the start.

Right now, there are more installers and fabricators selling both PVCu and aluminium products than ever before (probably) and are making the most of this boom in demand for aluminium window and door products.

However, as with all bandwagons, they at some point get full. Enough join it to the point where it becomes far too crowded, and there are more people and companies on board than are required to service demand.

When it comes to aluminium, I do fear that we might be edging closer to that wagon being full.

Late to the party

A few years ago, as the market was beginning to move strongly towards residential aluminium, there was a portion of fabricators that moved quickly to ensure they were scooping up as much of that new business as possible. Installers were quickly wanting aluminium solutions so that they could go to home owners with a product rising in demand.

Back to present day, and these fabricators and indeed installers who moved quickest are probably now seeing the most benefit when it comes to sales and margins of aluminium. They’re expanding, earning new market share, building new production facilities and selling more aluminium than ever before. They moved first, and now they’re getting their rewards.

Some however are only just making that transition, which means they’re already playing catch up with their competition. They’re the ones having to make up ground and lost time. The companies who were proactive enough years ago are the ones to beat.

It’s not a closed opportunity though. I do see residential aluminium growing strongly for the next decade or so, which means there is plenty of new business to be made out there. The problem is becoming a loud enough voice in the residential aluminium market to compete with the now established aluminium businesses out there.

A two-tier system in the making

It’s possible that what we’re seeing in the bi-fold market now happen in the residential aluminium market. In a bid to win business, shout loudest and make some sales, installers and fabricators will cut corners, slash their prices and margins, all in an effort to win business away from their nearest established competition.

The end result, as we are now seeing in the world of bi-folds, is a two-tiered market. The upper tier, dominated by the longer established, arguably more professional outfits, selling and producing properly, maintaining a margin and determined to do residential aluminium in the right way. The lower tier, populated by companies playing catch up, undercutting their way to business, not worrying about the margins or the quality of what they’re selling and producing.

We have had that in PVCu for years. There has been a most definite split between the higher end, more prestigious part of PVCu, in comparison to the budget part of the market where the “stack ’em high, sell ’em cheap” attitude still prevails. The end result here is an eclectic mix of very brilliant products and some not so brilliant products.

I can see the same thing happening to aluminium in not so many years time, as more of the industry rushes to make new revenues from the rise in demand from home owners. And it will be a shame. Aluminium is most definitely considered a high-end product. It’s why aluminium bi-fold doors have become so popular. But as more and more fabricators and installers get involved, the focus on sales will move away from quality and inevitably down to price. It seems to be the way with our industry.

When it comes to fabrication, it might already be too late to start getting into aluminium. Not that it’s not worth a shot. But there are already a good number of quality aluminium fabricators, and a number of long established PVCu frabricators who have already decided to run an aluminium product alongside their PVCu ones. It’s likely that installers who want to sell aluminium products ave already found their preferred aluminium fabricator, so any new fabricators might find it difficult to win any new business from this part of the market.

The price to be paid by being slow on the uptake.

KÖMMERLING will bring a number of new developments to stand number F30 in hall 6 at the FIT Show, that will include products from the new 76mm platform, proCoverTec surface technology, an innovative Pergola for outdoor living and the global debut of the first ever soft close technology in a PVCu glazing system.

The stand will be packed with innovation from KÖMMERLING and the new 76mm platform will be represented with a 6m x 2.5m, lift and slide PremiDoor 76 in the two sash format. The door theme continues with a French door combination, again in the System 76 variant with proCoverTec, which also features a clever tilt option for ventilation.

One of the other main door systems on show will be a4-pane, Secured by Design 5m x 2.5m PremiLine Pro patio door, highlighting the patented multi-point locking system at the interlock. This is believed to be the first PVCu patio door in the industry to achieve PAS 24, without plunge bolts, carry Secured by Design and that can meet the needs of the Lifetime Homes criteria.

Window systems are also well represented on the stand with a System 76 AluClip Pro variant, creating a PVCu/aluminium hybrid design, which offers a flush aluminium external appearance, with options for Passivhaus levels of performance. Also on show will be the window derivative of the PremiFold system, which is a unique slide, swing and folding system.

The FIT Show will also be the platform for the launch of proCoverTec, a unique surface finish technology that offers full colour through the rebate, or alternatively coloured on one side, that also offers proven dirt and water repellent properties.

The new Pergola will be used as a canopy for a hospitality area and represents the first product launched from a new division within the profine Group. The Pergola is a product purely aimed at the outdoor living market, which is projected to emerge as a strong growth market in the years to come.

Kevin Warner, head of sales and marketing commented: ‘It’s our first FIT Show and we’re genuinely thrilled with the number of new products on show, as we continue to lead in terms of innovation in the UK market for PVCu window and doors systems. There will also be the chance to experience the first ever soft close technology for PVCu systems seen globally, which should cause quite a stir with stand visitors.’

For KÖMMERLING information on becoming a manufacturing partner, approved installer or as a building specifier, call 01543 444900, e-mail enquiries@profine-group.com or visit www.kommerling.co.uk. You can also follow them on Twitter @kommerling_uk. Please visit stand F30 in hall 6 at the FIT Show.

Trade fabricator and supplier, Total Glass is now using a combination of Yale hardware creating a formidable window package, certified to PAS24 standard and backed by the extensive Yale Lifetime Security Guarantee.

The Liverpool-based fabricator, which purchases hardware through window and door systems brand Profile 22, is using the Yale Shootbolt window Lock, Yale window hinge, Yale 8 door lock and the KM Series 1 Star Euro Profile Cylinder to complete the package.

Discussing the partnership, Frank Deary, Group Managing Director for Total Glass, said: “We recently made the move to Profile 22’s new Optima Window Systems. This provided us with the opportunity to consider our hardware offering and Yale was the obvious choice. The products tick every box and the strength of the brand is unrivalled.

“At Total Glass we aim to keep things simple and focus on giving our customers good service and consistent quality. Using Yale enables us to offer assurance to our customers that one of the key components of the window’s design – security – is in tried and tested hands.”

Backed by Yale’s ‘Lifetime Security Guarantee’, ‘The Complete Yale Door and Window Package’ provides ultimate peace of mind to homeowners. The guarantee offers a range of benefits and incorporates up to £3,250 worth of financial repayments to the homeowner in the event of a break in, if it was due to a failure of a Yale component*.

Gerald Allen, Brand Manager for Profile 22, added: “Our relationship with Total Glass has been a long and happy one, which dates back over 25 years and they have been on board with the Optima window systems since day one.

“Having Yale, a household name, in our product portfolio has only strengthened our partnership opportunities. By choosing Yale hardware, backed by a Lifetime Security Guarantee, Total Glass has a powerful product proposition to stand out in the marketplace.”

Paul Gravell, Regional Sales Manager for Yale Door & Window Solutions, said: “We have a fantastic working relationship with both Total Glass and Profile 22. The fact that Total Glass has chosen to use Yale reinforces the value of our hardware and how we operate as a company to maintain and build on successful partnerships.”
From their 100,000 square foot premises in Liverpool, Total Glass manufactures in excess of 2,500 frames per week for its UK-wide customer base, which includes private and public sector organisations.

To find out more about Yale Door and Window Solutions product portfolio, please visit www.yaledws.co.uk. For further information on Total Glass, head to www.totalglass.com and for Profile 22 visit www.profile22.co.uk.

*For full details of the ‘Yale Lifetime Security Guarantee’ please visit www.yaledoorandwindowsolutions.co.uk

Brian Berry

T-Levels must match A-Levels if we are to ensure that technical education has ‘parity of esteem’ with the more academic route, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget Statement, Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “The Chancellor clearly understands that the UK won’t address the productivity challenge unless we rethink our approach to technical and vocational education. T-Levels could be the answer if they genuinely rival A-Levels in the eyes of parents, teachers and young people. UK society as a whole has been guilty of putting too much emphasis on the academic route – this has made it more difficult for vital sectors like construction and house building to attract the talented people we need. In construction, we are suffering from a severe skills shortage and this is likely to worsen once we leave the EU and no longer have easy access to European labour. This £500 million funding announced today for T-Levels is therefore a welcome and much-needed boost.”

Berry concluded: “The Budget was an all-round strong performance from the Chancellor and he had good news to report right across the piece. However, increasing tax on the self-employed is not helpful. If we want to establish a resilient, Brexit-proof economy, we must encourage and support our current and future entrepreneurs in the construction industry and beyond. A jump in National Insurance Contributions from 1% to 10% next year could send the wrong message to those individuals who are considering going it alone. The self-employed are the backbone of our economy and the government should tread carefully here.”

www.fmb.org.uk

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RegaLead’s recently launched ColorLine service for composite door fabricators is going from strength to strength, with the most recent addition of KÖMMERLING’s 070 and C70 Gold® suites, including 70mm,82mm and 112mm transoms for sidelights and top boxes. Designed as the ideal solution for matching or complementing door frames, the ColorLine service provides pre-painted profile in a three-part kit form. KÖMMERLING fabricators will now be able to match any paint colour on a 3 day lead time direct from stock.

Guy Hubble, Joint Managing Director at RegaLead explains: “We’re very pleased to welcome KÖMMERLING fabricators to the ColorLine family, and to extend to them the increased sales opportunities provided by matching or complementing their frames with their doors. Independent research recently highlighted to us that 75% of consumers would like a colour-matched frame option and 70% of installers want to offer this across their range. But only 25% of fabricators currently offer colour-matched frames across all door colours. This is no longer the case for KÖMMERLING fabricators who now have access to this brand new home improvement market.”

Stefan Seidel, Managing Director of profine UK adds: “Colour is such an important driver in our market. Woodgrains and colours now represent around 40% of sales with a rapid rise in the last 5 years, something that’s also been influenced by the trends seen in mainland Europe. It looks set to continue to be very much be part of the future for the industry from the period inspired colours, to the more contemporary rich and bold colours. If you look at the adoption of door slab colours from the composite door market, then market penetration and subsequent growth in general window profiles, is the obvious next step.

“That’s why it’s important for us to be able to arm our customers with products that help them meet any change in market demand. It’s a fundamental business proposition, that you need to differentiate your product offering as we do with our market leading range of PVC-U window and door systems. Our customers buy into our brand and understand the need to stand out. Our strategic relationship with the ColorLine brand will help us collectively continue to do just this.”

Guy concludes: “It’s great that KÖMMERLING fabricators now have access to ColorLine so can benefit from the self-assembly painted profile kit that eliminates all the usual problems associated with using external painting contractors. We’d be delighted to invite any KÖMMERLING fabricators who’d like to have a personalised tour of the ColorLine facility to give us a call.”

For more information, please visit www.regalead.co.uk or call 0161 946 1164 for a copy of our brand new ColorLine brochure