Jeld-Wen Annual Sales Up 8.5 Percent

Leading aluminium systems company Reynaers is planning on making a big splash for its first appearance at this year’s FiT Show.

 
It will be showcasing its range of aluminium window and door products at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in May and has some big, brand new systems that will feature on its stand, N10.
 
Marketing Manager Rebecca Cope said: “We will be making our mark at this year’s show with new products, which have been developed by our highly-regarded design team.
 
“Trade visitors will be able to find out about our comprehensive range of systems, and also how we can help provide the tools to market and sell them too.
 
“The show is taking place not far from our brand new HQ in Birmingham and we will have big products, a big stand and innovative products that have never been seen before. Watch this space for more news!”
 
Reynaers has helped to shape the urban landscape for more than 50 years and its products feature in some of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Find out more at www.reynaers.co.uk.
 

FiT 2017 takes place in Halls 6-8 at the NEC from 23-25 May. Further details are available from: Reynaers Limited on 0121 421 1999 or reynaersltd@reynaers.com.

Phoenix Doors, part of MASCO UK Window Group, has increased its composite door and PVC door panel production capacity with a move to much larger premises in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Formerly occupied by Lola Cars International Ltd, the racing car engineering company, the new 75,000 sq ft site brings all Phoenix Doors’ manufacturing operations under one roof.

“Our new HQ gives us plenty of space, enabling us to further improve our production efficiency and expand our customer offering,” says Haydon Statham, Sales Director.

“With the Group’s backing, we have invested significantly in new personnel, plant and equipment that will help to take the business to new levels of growth and – just as importantly- to deliver the service our customers both expect and deserve.”

With extra space came the opportunity to examine their manufacturing requirements, says Haydon. Investment included a new beam saw and a doubling up of machinery. This has created more flexible production capacity with at least two machines, sometimes four machines, creating a fast response to market changes and seasonal upswings in demand.

As with any major factory move, there have been some ‘testing times’, according to Haydon. “The move took place, but it was not without its challenges due to various logistical issues and some that were outside our control. So I would ask our customers to bear with us during this period of transition.”

A second spray booth has been added in response to the growing trend for coloured doors. Catering for any specified RAL colour, this facility should help to reduce lead times and increase colour personalisation options across all Phoenix Doors’ composite door ranges. An added advantage of this investment is the ability to ‘spray to stock’; further enhancing the choices for customers and with faster lead times.

Haydon continues: “At Phoenix, much of our glass is toughened in-house. Incorporating our glass toughening plant in the same building brings this facility closer to where the doors are manufactured and glazing units installed in the finished doors.”

The new building also houses a purpose-built showroom showcasing the latest additions to the Phoenix Doors range.

“Throughout 2017, we’re broadening our whole product portfolio with new locks, fresh door styles and glass designs throughout our County Collection composite door and Meridian double-rebated composite door ranges,” explains Haydon.

Allied to this will be the introduction of a new range of Heritage-style hardware for these doors. New dedicated brochures showcasing all these additional design styles and glazing options will be available for these ranges over the coming months. Visitors will also be able to view the new products and brochures on the MASCO UKWG stand at the FIT Show in May.

Haydon adds: “How we deliver our products is also under review. As our move has brought us nine miles closer to the A14, we hope to factor in more deliveries per vehicle in our current 14-strong fleet and improved efficiency. We’re looking forward to another busy year!”

www.phoenixdoorpanels.co.uk.

Wakefield based fabricator Conservatory Outlet has launched an enhanced programme of events for 2017, equipping each of its network retail partners with new information, experiences, ideas and PR opportunities.

This year holds in store an event schedule far bigger than ever before for the Conservatory Outlet network, with a variety of different activities and events included, such as attendance at the FIT Show Gala Dinner 2017, an exclusive Golf Day, British 3 Peaks Charity Challenge and the annual October Networking Gala Dinner.

2017 will also mark the first year to include planned strategic events for marketing, sales, and operations, where individuals within similar roles from across the UK-wide network will come together to share best practice, tips and experiences with their peers.

Due to the unique business model of Conservatory Outlet, which offers an exclusive trading area to each of its retail partners, this enhanced event plan enables the network to grow by getting likeminded businesses together, and learning from each other without the pressures of conflict of interest.

Conservatory Outlet’s Business Development Director Andy Miller said: “At Conservatory Outlet we aim to offer a true support network to our partners rather than just the products we manufacture, and the benefits of getting together to share ideas really are second to none.

“We kick-started this year’s busy event programme off with our network wide operations meeting back in January, and the experience proved invaluable for all.

“The events we have planned this year not only facilitate the sharing of best practice but also help each company to improve. There are some great opportunities for each of our partners to get involved with, which will undoubtedly take our Network to the next level of growth.”

Green Building Store has just launched a triple glazed timber Lift & Slide door which, thanks to partnering with CENSolutions and ER Certification for certification, combines  PAS 24:2016 – Secured by Design and Part Q compliance with the highest Class 4 level airtightness standards.

The Lift & Slide door has been developed by Green Building Store to help fill a gap in the UK marketplace and to give UK designers’ greater flexibility and options on low energy projects.  Chris Herring, Director of Green Building Store, commented: “Lift and Slide Doors frequently present a challenge in terms of achieving airtightness and high security levels. We’re delighted to have overcome these issues and have developed a Lift and Slide Door that meets exacting security and airtightness standards.  We will also be launching a Passivhaus version of the Lift & Slide door later in 2017.”

Wayne Rogerson, Joint Managing Director of CENSolutions comments: “The new Lift & Slide door from Green Building Store is a fantastic product and one which is now fully certified to PAS 24:2016 and Secured by Design.  We’ve been working closely with Chris and the team at Green Building Store for several years and find them to be a great company to deal with and their environmentally friendly working practises highly commendable.  They are experts in the field of energy efficiency and low energy design. We have no doubt the Lift & Slide Door will prove a great success.”

For more information on the Lift & Slide Door log on to www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk

For more information on CENSolutions, call us today on 01785 716625, visit www.censolutions.com

Picture above: Emma Moorcroft & Mat Gibson of Chase Taylor Recruitment

With the FIT Show 2017 opening its doors in a little over two months, now is the time for visitors to plan on getting the best out of their time at the event.

The FIT Show, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham 23-25th May, is the only exhibition where those involved in the production and distribution of products, components and services for the manufacture and installation of windows, doors and conservatories can meet the people and the companies that sell, fabricate and install them.

Visitors will have the opportunity to get up to speed on a range of new products and industry developments by visiting the stands of around 300 exhibitors, while a range of seminars will focus on the key issues facing the sector.

But a visit to FIT 2017 is more than just about seeing great products and hearing experts talk about sector topics; companies like recruitment specialists Chase Taylor Recruitment Ltd (stand G21) will be on hand to greet and assist existing and new clients with things like free career health checks, recruitment solutions and CV advice.

Having undergone rapid growth in recent months the firm will be sending an even larger team to the show in order to deal with visitor enquiries in this crucial part of any companies’ game plan.

FIT Show Event Director Nickie West says the 2017 event is gearing up to be the greatest yet: “The presence of companies like Chase Taylor mean the show will cover ‘all bases’ for those working in and around the industry.

“We’ve got close to 200 exhibitors coming to this year’s show and with the quality of exhibitors and seminars higher than ever, and with more visitors anticipated than ever before, it’s sure to be the best FIT Show to date.”

Last year’s FIT Show attracted more than 8,500 visitors, a rise of 45% on 2014, and this year is on track to do even better.

Taking place 23-25th May 2017, to book a stand at FIT Show 2017 please contact Freya Humphries on: 07572 623457, or email: freya@fitshow.co.uk. To register as a visitor for FIT Show 2017 visit: www.livebuzzreg.co.uk/2017/fit17

Image Above: Mike Davis, MD (left) and Jerry Webb, Group Chairman (right)

Prime Minister Theresa May recently confirmed High Speed 2 (HS2), a high-speed railway in the UK linking London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, will go ahead.

HS2 would be the second high-speed rail link in Britain after High Speed 1, which connects London to the Channel Tunnel, and is due for completion in 2033.

A report by KPMG says the new rail project could boost the UK economy by £15bn a year and will create 22,000 construction jobs in the next five years.

Mike Davis, Managing Director of specialist aluminium fabricator CDW Systems, says new commercial and residential projects on, and around the rail line, could provide a big boost to the aluminium sector.

He comments: “HS2 is set to provide a big boost for the aluminium sector as specifiers on projects around the rail-line look to aluminium as the material of choice. We’ve already received feedback from customers who are being asked for quotes on commercial and residential projects, linked to the development.”

Whilst Mike praises the government’s investment in HS2, he questions why it doesn’t invest in other big infrastructure projects, while interest rates are low.

He comments: “Base interest rates are at an all-time low of 0.25% and have been around this mark for the past five years, meaning that this period would be the perfect time for government to borrow money for more big infrastructure projects. Cuts have been made to investments in schools and hospitals but not why invest in these sectors and create jobs and supply side benefits?”

For more information call 01452 414853 or visit www.cdwsystems.co.uk

Picture above: Adi Day, Digital Director

Purplex Marketing has strengthened its relationship with Google to help companies in the construction and glazing industry generate more leads online. The agency is a certified Google Partner agency and provides specialist paid search (PPC), display network and social media marketing for trade, commercial and retail suppliers.

Adi Day, Digital Director at Purplex commented; “We now manage over £1million a year of PPC advertising spend, so working directly with the Google HQ team in London helps us gain maximum results for our clients.”

Purplex has also expanded its social media advertising reach, particularly through Facebook. Adi explains; “Having a strong social media presence is now crucial to a brand’s success. We already manage the social media strategy for many companies across the window industry, but dedicated paid-for advertising across channels such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn generates tens of thousands of additional impressions and a significant volume of sales leads.”

Purplex digital specialists work closely with a dedicated Facebook account manager to help advertisers build highly targeted campaigns based on in-depth data from Facebook users. And with over 50% of the UK population using Facebook every day mainly on their mobile phone, it enables advertisers to engage with new customers wherever they are. It isn’t just restricted to consumers either – targeting business contacts when they are outside ‘work mode’ can significantly increase response rates.

Purplex use both offer-led and content-led campaigns – such as video, case studies, white-papers and infographics – depending on the campaign objectives.

Adi continues; “Digital marketing requires highly specialist skills and using an agency with the experience and resources is essential. We are currently generating millions of website and social media impressions and over 10,000 sales leads a month. “

For more information visit www.purplexmarketing.com or call 01934 808132