New WarmCore Fixed Roof Light for the Celsius Solid Roof

Synseal Group has launched a new fixed roof light for their Celsius Solid Roof which uses a stepped glass structure and WarmCore technology maximise light and offer excellent thermal performance. WarmCore products use a unique multi-chambered thermal core which provides 25% more thermal efficiency than standard aluminium window and door systems. Combining this technology with 6mm outer and 4mm inner toughened glass, the new WarmCore Fixed Roof Light offers impressive U-values of around 1.4.  The stepped glass structure covers the whole area of the window, right up to the subtle ceramic edge which sits flush to the roof, to create an incredibly clean looking finished product. This fully glazed design approach means the product has 41% increased visible glass area compared to the equivalent sized market leader in roof lights. The new fixed light comes in three sizes – 630mm x 700mm, 630mm x 1200mm and an impressive 630mm x 1700mm – and has been designed to be easy to integrate into the Celsius Solid Roof. It comes in white and anthracite grey internal colours with a black exterior, and a discreet black flashing kit that is barely noticeable from an external viewpoint.

Andy Jones, Group Sales and Marketing Director, said: “Solid roofs are a really popular choice among installers at the moment, particularly for retrofit projects as they are flexible, easy to fit and can be incorporated into practically any existing structure in no time at all.  As the solid roof market continues to grow we wanted to bring to market a high performance fixed roof light which can help our customers to increase their margins and add more value to their roof sales.  Following the huge success of our WarmCore window and door systems, it made complete sense to utilise this technology to design the new fixed light so our customers know they are getting exceptional thermal performance as standard. The market place for fixed roof lights which can be easily incorporated into tiled roofs is very restricted, so we wanted to design a product which would be really straightforward to install and which offers maximum natural light and a clean looking finish. Feedback from our customers shows that the majority of homeowners who have roof lights installed in conservatories or extensions never really use them as opening windows because they’re out of reach and inconvenient. Realistically, customers install roof windows to add more natural light, not to improve ventilation. You will be amazed by how much more light you can add to a room by removing the open/close mechanism from a roof light and using glass across the whole width and length of the aperture. We think this is going to be a real game changer for homeowners, helping them to get light and thermally superior living spaces that can be used 365 days a year.”

The new fixed light is available now as an option on any Celsius Solid Roof through Synseal stockists.

The post New WarmCore Fixed Roof Light for the Celsius Solid Roof appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Paint manufacturer, Kolorbond, has made a successful debut at the FIT Show with a cheerful and vibrant display that was hard to miss.

If there was a prize for the, brightest, most colourful stand, it would surely have gone to the Birmingham based colour specialist, which was showcasing its range of paints for the window and door sector, including a new metallic option, ‘designed to make PVC look like aluminium’.

Commenting on Kolorbond’s FIT exhibitor experience, head of technical sales at Kolorbond, Simon Moore, said: “From both a networking and a business perspective, the show’s been great for us. Wednesday was really busy and we’re very pleased with the leads we’ve got.

“Visitors to our stand have been pleased to hear that there’s no primer required for our paints, so they can be used straight out of the tin. We use a three coat system that dries within 10 minutes, so it’s all very simple.”

Through a chemical bonding process, Kolorbond adheres to surfaces including PVC-U and GRP, as well as powder-coatings, aluminium, steel and even glass.

Offering both solvent and water based paints, suitable for internal and external use via spray or brush application, Kolorbond is available in all standard RAL and BS colours and also offers a specialist colour matching service.

Watch Simon’s live chat with FIT TV here.

www.kolorbond.co.uk

The post Kolorbond brightens up the FIT Show appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

The solid, engineered timber door manufacturer Masterdor has added a stylish new door design to its Craftsman range, bringing the total up to 28 styles.

The newest addition to this comprehensive range is The Kensington, named to reflect its London influenced design with three vertical panels, high letter box, authentic period shelf and arched ‘eyebrow’ above the window. The door has also been designed to complement traditional Georgian glazing bars with a choice of satin or obscure glazing.

As with all 28 Craftsman door styles, the Kensington is available in 21 eye-catching colours applied with the latest spray technology for a hard-wearing finish that lasts.

The new door was on display for the first time at the FIT Show along with The Charlcote, one of a trio of solid timber stable doors which were added to the collection earlier this year.

Andy Jones, Group Sales and Marketing Director at Synseal Group who own the Masterdor subsidiary, said:

“We launched our range of solid, engineered Craftsman doors at the FIT Show last year with great success and we’ve had a very successful year at Masterdor securing large contracts with house builders like Avant Homes who are well known for their innovative approach to home design.

“One year on from the Craftsman launch we have introduced a number of new styles to keep the collection fresh and on trend while responding to homeowner trends which dictate the market place. The Kensington door style and our range of stable doors have been designed in response to a growing desire for traditional doors with a modern twist and we are really pleased with the positive feedback received so far with these latest additions. We asked all visitors to the stand whether they liked the new door style and 96% of those asked were really impressed with the new Kensington door.

“With 21 colours and now 28 door styles, we have one of the largest selections available in the industry and we are the only manufacturer who can provide a consistent supply of both 44mm and 54mm timber doors across our full range, supported by our own Masterdor delivery fleet. We’re really excited to get started on producing our made-to-order doors for the new customers we met at the FIT Show and continuing to provide innovation and excitement to the door industry with our Craftsman range.”

To find out more about the Masterdor Craftsman range of doors visit synseal.com/craftsman or call 01623 444390 to speak to a member of our sales team.

Premium Solidor installer, Truglaze focuses on selling quality with Solidor as its only composite door option.

In the last year, Solidor says its investment means it’s operating at a world-class level. Upwards of 99.7% of deliveries consistently arrive on time and in full. A large range of door styles, colours, glass, and hardware provide plenty of options for installers to sell to homeowner customers.

Truglaze Director Rob Gaunt says: “Solidor fits perfectly with our business because our excellent reputation is based on providing quality products with outstanding service, and that ever important personal touch. Solidor’s service is second to none, and the product gives homeowners everything they want from a door. They come into the showroom and they can feel the weight of a Solidor and that reassures them that their new door really is secure.”

Eighty-five percent of homeowners say security is their top priority when buying a new door. Solidor’s laminated-hardwood timber core makes its construction reassuringly solid. Every Solidor is also sold with Ultion, the ultimate high security cylinder door lock from Brisant Secure.

“We only sell Solidor because we don’t see the point in selling anything less. It’s the most secure, and it looks absolutely stunning every time,” adds Rob. “We get quality homeowner leads from Solidor, and now we have the Door Designer on our own website, homeowners come to us already knowing the Solidor they’re after. It makes Solidor a really easy sell.”

Solidor CEO Gareth Mobley says: “Our priority is to give our customers exactly what they need to sell Solidor, and give them everything they need to make selling easy. Then we make the quality door they’ve sold and deliver it on time to world class standards. We’ll continue to invest in developing this service so installers like Truglaze can continue to grow.”

To find out more about the most beautiful and most secure composite door in the market visit www.solidor.co.uk, call 01782 950 941, or follow @SolidorLtd on Twitter.

In the latest phase of development, Conservatory Outlet has appointed a new production manager to oversee the fabrication plant based in Wakefield.

In keeping with growth plans at Conservatory Outlet for both people and infrastructure, Christopher Smith came into post on Monday 22^nd May to drive forward operational standards within the 60,000 sq ft site in Thornes Lane Wharf.

Conservatory Outlet currently serves 24 retail partners across a UK- wide network, manufacturing some of the most innovative, high quality windows, doors, and outdoor living spaces on the market. The Network has experienced a vast amount of growth in recent years, and the appointment of Christopher falls in line with the progression and development plans for the coming years, ensuring the delivery of quality products in an efficient manner to the ever-growing retail network.

Christopher has a strong background in plant management, with over 21 years’ experience, most of which spent at Timber Door Manufacturer Jeld-Wen, implementing a variety of initiatives such as value stream mapping, waste elimination and team involvement.

Christopher said “I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to take on this exciting role and help take Conservatory Outlet to new heights. With the growth forecast across the network it’s going to be a challenging role, but I am certain as a team we can implement the improvements needed to ensure we meet customer expectations.”

Conservatory Outlet Managing Director Michael Giscombe added “The infrastructure at Conservatory Outlet is undergoing many planned changes at the moment in order to develop in line with the growth we are experiencing. It is important we invest in the right people to help implement the changes and improvements to be able to provide the best service possible to our network.”

Rehau’s FIT Show experience featured an ice carving demonstration by Danny Thomas

The FIT Show has come and gone and as all recollect on the recent event the Rehau team have been wondering is it money well spent:

Gareth Jones, Window Solutions marketing and technical director at Rehau, said: “We’re now over a week on from this year’s FIT Show but we have been looking back at the success of the exhibition for our team. This year as I walked the stands everyone was very upbeat and there was a positive feeling that the show was a success with record visitors and busy stands. But now is a time to reflect on the success of the show for our business.

“At the Rehau stand this year we went for the In Hand concept – something slightly different – and focused on the four key areas of sustainability, support, product and colour. From my point of view I was very pleased with the way the stand came together and I am pleased to extend thanks to all involved.

“One of the great additions this year was Big Tuesday, which I think we did really well with the introduction of our gin bar, four cocktails following our core themes, our virtual reality game and the ice sculpting.

“Overall for us the feedback has been very positive and people really understood our themes. But the cost is no longer insignificant as we move to the NEC and all the incidentals that come with this, plus the time invested within the business, which is where the real expense comes in. To me the message is let’s not rest on our laurels and while this was a successful show we must judge each year as it comes.”

Matt Janicki, North West area sales manager at Rehau, said: “As this was my first show I found the event to be a real eye opener, from the size of the show in the NEC to the stands, which were far past my expectations.

“I felt our stand was very friendly and welcoming to customers. Throughout the event and post show I received a lot of positive feedback from visitors who loved the stand, with the virtual reality experience a particular highlight – and of course the gin bar.

“In summary these were three long days which were not good for my feet, but overall I really enjoyed the show and valued the networking possibilities the show presented.”

Steve Tonkiss, Windows Solutions commercial sales manager, said: “I thought the show went very well generally and the Rehau stand had a good positive buzz about it.

“For myself I do feel that there were lower numbers of architects and specifiers than I would have hoped to see. For the future I believe this should be addressed as fenestration solutions are vitally important. There could also be opportunities to run CPD seminars at the show to encourage different visitors.

My opinion is that the show is too insular in its approach to enticing new delegates and visitors to the show and continues to lack on the amount of aluminium suppliers attending the show.”

Irene Smith, Windows Solutions marketing manager, said: “It was great to be back at the NEC and there was a fantastic buzz to this year’s show. It’s important to me to assess the reaction to the show and I was really pleased with the response to our stand from visitors, particularly guests enjoyed our giant profiles and were very interested in the virtual reality and product displays.

“Big Tuesday was a great success offering us the opportunity to mingle with our customers in a relaxed environment as well as the chance to watch the brilliant ice carving demonstration by Danny Thomas. But I do have a word of caution for 2019 the show shouldn’t get too big and become very expensive as it could make it impossible for some exhibitors to participate and take away from the variety on show and thus overall visitor experience.”

The post Rehau reflects on the FIT Show appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Respected installation firm Homeglaze has been handed Which?’s Trusted Trader of the Year Award at a glitzy ceremony hosted by TV’s Natasha Kaplinsky.

Which? is the UK’s most trusted source of independent consumer advice. Its Trusted Trader scheme puts homeowners in contact with over 8,000 extensively vetted builders, plumbers, window installers and other tradesman, ensuring that, whatever the job, they get an outstanding level of service.

Companies can’t nominate themselves for a Which? award – nominees are chosen based on feedback from the public and research by Which?’s team of in-house experts. After examining each nominee in detail, those same experts decided that Homeglaze’s record was the most impressive, and duly named the firm their Trusted Trader of the Year.

“Customer satisfaction is hugely important to us,” commented Managing Director Colin Morgan. “As a proud family business, we base everything we do on the principles of honesty, openness and reliability, and strive for 100% customer satisfaction every time. Our Checkatrade profile is one of the highest-rated, with over 1,000 reviews and an average score of 9.8 out of 10.

“I’m incredibly fortunate to have a brilliant team behind me at Homeglaze. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, we became the first window installer to ever receive Which?’s Trader of the Month award in April 2016 – and now, we’ve been able to go one better. We’re hugely ambitious about where we want to go in future – so look out for us as we continue to grow!”

Homeglaze is a family-run home improvement company in Essex with over 30 years of experience in the industry.

For more information please call 0800 756 6958 or visit www.homeglaze.co.uk

The range of machinery from Mighton Products has grown again with the recent addition of the innovative X-Cut™ machine. Developed by Mighton’s in-house experts to improve the painstaking task of cross-jointing glazing bars, this compact semi-automatic milling machine measures just under 40cm wide and 45cm high. Mighton gave Tibby Singh, the former BBC Young Carpenter of the Year and now a professional tools and tech tester and reviewer, the opportunity to trial the X-Cut™ machine and see if mighty things really do come in small packages.

Tibby considered the task that the X-Cut™ has been produced to tackle: “Making any cross detail look strong and well finished can be a tricky task especially if you’re short on time. Various shortcut methods exist of course, such as using jointing clips, but none of these compare to an authentic cross joint,” he said.

“There are a number of 45 degree angles incorporated in a traditional cross joint, making it a little more complex to achieve, so I was surprised how well the X-Cut™ machine simplifies the process. The machine itself was quick and easy to set up, the tools were easy to interchange and there was no lengthy manual or complicated computer program to learn before being able to get started,” he continued.

Once assembled, the X-Cut™ machine adjusts to accept bead profiles measuring anywhere from 9mm to 19mm in height and 12mm to 38mm wide. Any lengths over 500mm can be used with the option to add extending arms either side of the machine for ease of loading longer sections.

“After slotting my chosen bead into place the machine’s three cutters then worked together to produce the cross cut,” explained Tibby. “Two cutters, one on either side, move up and down to produce two clean 45 degree cut outs whilst any dust is removed through the 63mm extraction outlet. This is followed by a third flute cutter gliding horizontally through the bead to create a hollowed-out section designed to accept other interlocking parts. Speed control is variable between 12,000 and 18,000 RPM to suit different materials, but on average it takes only 15 seconds before the cutting is complete.

“Even at this speed the X-Cut™ maintains a consistent high level of finish,” added Tibby, who writes about tool tech for trade magazines as well as demonstrating and evaluating products in the UK and overseas. “This is aided by features such as the thickness gauge tool. When setting the cutting depth required the X-Cut™ is designed to automatically increase measurements by half a millimetre, ensuring all components comfortably slot together every time.”

Demonstrations of this and any other Mighton machines are available through the new Mighton Mobile Demonstration Vehicles. Available at home or work, this popular service gives customers the option to book a free appointment with a Mighton expert and receive a live demonstration showing how to get the most out of a potential purchase.Flexible finance options are also available making the Mighton X-Cut™ easily attainable for small to medium joinery companies.

To learn more about the range of Mighton machinery or to order a new catalogue visit www.mightonproducts.com or call 01223 497097.

Industry-leading spacer bar manufacturer Edgetech, a Quanex company, took visitors back to the classroom as they showcased the ‘science of warm edge’ at the FIT Show 2017.

Offering one of the most interactive stands at the FIT Show, Edgetech shared just a taste of the thirty years of fastidious research, constant development and thorough scientific testing used to create the ground-breaking Super Spacer flexible foam spacer bar.

The stand also featured live demonstrations of Super Spacer application, showing how glazed units can be manufactured efficiently and cost-effectively using Super Spacer. To complete the science theme, visitors were also able to pick up a test tube of Super Spacer branded M&Ms.

“We had a brilliant time at this year’s FIT Show taking visitors back to the classroom and behind the scenes of our unrivalled Super Spacer,” comments Edgetech’s Head of Marketing, Charlotte Davies. “Behind all of our products, there is a wealth of research and countless hours of testing to ensure every single parameter delivers only the best performance. Our stringent and thorough research and development programme provides the evidence we need to verify the quality and performance of our products, in addition to over three decades of real-life experience outside the laboratory.”

“As experts and pioneers of warm edge, it was great to come to the FIT Show and share the facts behind the technology through our fun, interactive stand. As veterans of the FIT Show, appearing every year since the event began, we can safely say it has been one of our most successful appearances in terms of quality leads. We were able to leave the NEC having established new relationships with installers looking to gain a greater understanding of the quality inside their products, fabricators who are looking to manufacture IG and leading, established IG manufacturers who want to use the best-in-class spacer bar. With such success, we are already looking forward to FIT Show 2019!”

Founded in 1989, and today forming part of global building products group Quanex, Edgetech revolutionised the industry with the introduction of the game-changing Super Spacer flexible warm edge spacer bar. Currently celebrating a decade of manufacturing at its Coventry headquarters, the company offers a comprehensive range of components for warm edge windows.

For more information on Edgetech call 02476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk

Integral blinds are the ideal partner for bi-folding doors and can help towards achieving energy efficiency homes.

Originally developed for the commercial sector integral blinds are a glazing alternative to internal or external blinds, shutters or traditional curtains. Sealed within the glazed unit, blinds are sealed from any ingress of dirt, dust or moisture offering an inexpensive and safe solution, with low maintenance and reduced sound intrusion and solar glare. Blinds can reduce air-conditioning and heating costs by providing greater insulation and light reflection minimizing the effect of direct sunlight, providing protection from overheating in the summer and thermal insulation in the winter months.

For homeowners, blinds are both a creative and practical solution for any home, adding elegance and style while at the same time offering a safe and low maintenance answer to providing light and privacy. The customer has a wide choice of stylish Venetian and fabric finishes including blackout options in a range of colours to complement the building’s designs. Although traditionally corded operated, blinds are being increasingly supplied motorised either powered by a battery unit on the glass or hard wired through to a central control box. Motorised blinds are the ultimate in safety and convenience, easily controlled by a hand held remote unit for up to 12 blinds or interfaced with a home automation systems such as Lutron or Control 4.

Italian-style quality, custom made

Italy’s leading designer and manufacturer of interstitial blinds, Sunbell, has created a range of high-quality, innovative and energy-efficient solutions. A well-established family business in Italy Sunbell has a good reputation for service and quality, manufacturing a wide range of traditional and integral blinds. Supplied in kit form, custom made, Sunbell can offer a wide choice of solutions and styles to suit every taste comprising of aluminium Venetian slats, pleated (Sunlight), duette (Sunveil) and blackout (Sunblock) including a new venetian finish ‘Charcoal Grey’ (that’s a close match to the ever popular grey RAL 7016) together with a choice of spacer bar, black or silver. 

Venetian blinds are designed to control the diffusion of light that offer varying degrees of privacy for all rooms. Simple to operate and adjust Sunbell’s venetian blinds provide a modern, sleek design that will enhance the look of any home. As a well-established leading designer and manufacturer of stylish blind solutions and electrical control systems; Sunbell offers a unique combination of Italian design, superb quality and engineering excellence.

The post Solar-shading solutions for bi-folding doors from Sunbell appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.