2017 FeneVision User Conference Sees Record Number of Attendees

The baypole jack from Window Widgets stops windows moving and bricks cracking, so installers know their windows will be safe and structurally secure for the long term. Window Widgets is the leading supplier of ancillaries that make installing windows and doors easier and safer.

Window Widgets’ jack is CE marked and BBA accredited. It is certified by itself, and tested and certified to be used with the Window Widgets baypole.

Managing Director Martin Dickie says: “There wasn’t a BBA accreditation for jacks, so we worked with the BBA to create one. Our baypole and jack have been tested separately and together. Testing them together means we know they join correctly and can hold the weight they need to without breaking.

“Using our jack means installers know they’re getting a high quality product that works, and has all the right certification. And its CE Marked so it’s legal,” adds Martin. “They know they’re Alright Jack.”

You’ll know it’s a Window Widgets jack because of its pink nut.

To find out more visit www.windowwidgets.co.uk or follow @windowwidgets.

UCS’s managing director, Mark Scullion, is presented with an award to mark 10 years partnership with Spectus at the FIT Show by Epwin Windows Systems’ managing director, Clare O’Hara and sales director, Paul Lindsay

Belfast’s UCS Design Group is celebrating 10 years of partnership with Spectus Systems. UCS’s managing director, Mark Scullion, was presented with an award to mark the anniversary at the FIT Show by Epwin Windows Systems’ managing director, Clare O’Hara and sales director, Paul Lindsay.

Mark said: “We are delighted to have reached such a milestone. We simply love working with Spectus and their product quality and support is superb.” Paul commented: “We are thrilled to be marking a 10 year partnership with UCS, they are a wonderful example of how a company can grow and develop in their market for more than 10years. They have always strived to be customer focused, continually looking for ways to improve their service levels and backup support to customers, and we are very lucky to have them as a Spectus customer.”

When asked what has made the partnership so enduring, Mark highlighted two factors: “The Spectus name is trusted by our customers and the products sell themselves. The second factor is the quality of the back up and marketing support offered by the systems house. “We have a strong customer service ethic at UCS which is matched by Spectus. We get excellent support from the Spectus team and their strong marketing support has helped us secure many sales over the years.”

Established over 10 years ago, UCS operates from a 25,000ft factory with a conservatory village, showroom and trade counter on a three acre site in Belfast. It also has a depot and showroom in Dublin. It is a trade supplier and works with window companies, trade window and conservatory installers, builders, local councils, education and health authorities and housing associations. The Spectus brand is reportedly now its flagship product, accounting for 80% of the business and the company says it manufactures around 500 frames a week using Spectus’ Elite 63, Elite 70 and flush tilt and turn systems.

The post A decade in business appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

In line with a commitment to provide only the best in terms of products and customer support, management at frameXpress have initiated a number of training programmes over the last 12 months.

The on-going staff development and training initiatives validates the forward-thinking approach taken by directors Stuart Green and Mark Westbrook which are instigated by HR Manager Angela Griffin, all of whom consider it a vital element for the team and the company’s customers.   This commitment to both staff and customers has seen very positive results with the company establishing itself further as a leading national fabricator with a turnover now in excess of £8 million per annum.

The programme is overseen by Angela who continually evaluates the team and methods of manufacturing. She then introduces the appropriate manufacturing performance courses including Health and Safety, NVQs and City and Guilds to help maintain consistently high production methods across all departments.

This helps to encourage growth and potential in all candidates and consequently boosts overall team morale.

Recent programmes incorporated proficiency in communications and motivational team building as well as man management skills. Production floor Health and Safety matters also require regular evaluation with nine staff recently enrolled on a course to ensure that the highest production methods are maintained.

The frameXpress training programmes evaluate a number of high level numeracy and literary skills, whilst ascertaining an individuals strengths and weaknesses, with courses then developed in line with individual requirements.

Manufacturing levels at frameXpress are easily maintained as candidates receive on-site evaluation and training which is carefully integrated into a working programme. Different modules take place regularly during work hours to combine practice with theory without disrupting the production floor.

Angela Griffin comments, “frameXpress strives to train staff to the highest industry standards and encourages growth within their chosen path. All departments are evaluated with the whole team offered the opportunity to further strengthen their skill set. This greatly boosts morale and benefits the company in many ways with customer support services always a key part of the strategy.”

Angela continues, “The courses are considered constructive and rewarding by candidates and as a company we try to offer the team as much support as possible while they look to improve their own career prospects.”

Training courses are an ongoing commitment at frameXpress with all departments keen to maintain a positive approach to training, development and customer support.

Image Above: James Lee

The GGF says it was delighted to hear the news that it has been shortlisted as a finalist in three categories for the Trade Association Forum (TAF) Awards 2017.

The three categories that GGF has been nominated for are:

• BEIS Sector Representation of the Year (for the GGF Consumer Code of Practice and gaining approval by Chartered Trading Standards Institute)
• Marketing Campaign of the Year (for MyGlazing.com)
• Website of the Year (for MyGlazing.com)

Now in its fifteenth year, the prestigious TAF Best Practice Awards recognise, reward and promote best practice amongst Trade Associations in the UK and are a chance for trade bodies to showcase their hard work and achievements during the last twelve to eighteen months.

At the end of 2016, the GGF won a Construction Marketing Award for MyGlazing.com and also the G16 Award for “Unrivalled Excellence and Outstanding Services to the Industry”. The GGF is now hoping to make it a remarkable hat-trick of awards.

On hearing the announcement, James Lee, GGF Director of Marketing and Communications commented, “Just to be nominated in the TAF awards is always very difficult because they cover every trade body in the UK, not just glass and glazing or construction. To reach the finalist stage in three categories is in itself a considerable achievement. Full praise should go to the GGF staff and Members for their work on the projects we entered, MyGlazing.com and the GGF Consumer Code of Practice.”

The winners of the TAF Awards will be revealed on 12^th July at a Gala Dinner at the historic Drapers Hall in London.

www.ggf.org.uk

Solid core composite door pioneer, Endurance^® Doors, have just unveiled their new #YouAskedEnduranceListened initiative, which is the result of responding on the feedback generated from several recent market research questionnaires, through the SurveyMonkey platform.

Listening to the needs of your customers is a fundamental business process that is embraced across all disciplines at Endurance^® Doors and it has been the recent feedback on marketing collateral that has ignited this new initiative. The result will see a number of new marketing tools developed over the coming months, helping their trade partners and Preferred Installers to close more sales, generate better margins and harness homeowner referrals.

One of the standout answers from the research was a hardware and glass brochure, which is now in the final stages of production and entitled The Finishing Touches. On the first marketing questionnaire, Endurance^® Doors promised to make every effort to introduce selling tools that customers actually wanted and this first development represents a response that’s true to their word.

There are also further marketing developments, as marketing manager, Grace Hutchinson explains: ‘The Finishing Touches brochure was an obvious first development and is about to go to print, but other point of sale materials are on the drawing board. It’s important for our customers to have the tools to inspire and sell, but also highlighting the several product USP’s that we’ve become renowned for.’

She continues: ‘We’re actively encouraging our customers to search and follow using the hashtag #YouAskedEnduranceListened, as we’ll be posting teasers and snippets of these forthcoming new sales and marketing tools.’

For further information on Endurance^® Doors, including complete door sets or slab only manufacturing, please visit www.endurancedoors.co.uk, e-mail sales@endurancedoors.co.uk or call the sales office on 01652 462042. You can also follow them on Twitter @EnduranceDoors.

Quickslide has added a further bonus to its Vertical Sliding Sash windows with a switch to Fab&Fix Hardex hardware from ERA.

The move, part of the Yorkshire fabricator’s recent consolidation of hardware suppliers, not only gives a step-up in looks and performance but also further endorses the company’s full ten-year guarantee on all products. The new hardware items have the additional bonus that they are also available in a wider range of eight colours and finishes.

Both the standard and the Heritage ranges manufactured by Quickslide – which are also available via its newly acquired sister company Welglaze – will now predominantly use ERA products, as Marketing Director Tom Swallow explained:

“These are premium products that are tested to retain their finish for longer without showing tarnish or pit-marks, and that is why we are more than happy to include them in our ten-year guarantee.

“Hardware is more than just a functioning element of a window, it’s an immediate indicator of its overall quality – both to installers and especially to their consumers – so it is important that we use the right components throughout.”

The move is part of Quickslide’s ongoing strategy of establishing close, long-term partnerships with major suppliers, which has already brought benefits from working this way with companies such as Edgetech, Pilkington and Synseal.

Yorkshire-based Quickslide is best-known for its acclaimed sliding sash windows, and the company has been instrumental in bringing this former niche product into the mainstream of the retrofit and new-build markets, but it also manufactures a wide range of other styles of windows and doors for trade and commercial customers.

www.quickslide.co.uk

Image Above: Gareth Jones

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:

Matt Janicki

Gareth Jones, Window Solutions Marketing and Technical Director at REHAU, said: “We’re now a few weeks 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.

Steve Tonkiss

“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.

Irene Smith

“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.”

As the country fell into general election fever across May, overall construction contract figures on the month dropped to their lowest value for more than three years.

According to the latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, £4.9 billion worth of construction contracts were commissioned in May (see figure 1.1), a £500 million decrease on the previous month and a noteworthy £1.5 billion drop when compared to May 2016.

(Figure 1.1)

Looking at construction across the UK regions, it was the South West that led with 18 per cent of the UK’s construction contract value, largely thanks to a £400 million mechanical and engineering contract at the Hinckley Point nuclear plant project based in Somerset, which was awarded to Balfour Beatty. Interestingly London, which usually sits firmly at the top of the regional rankings for market share, only accumulated nine per cent of the UK’s total construction contract value in May, with five regions contributing more value than the capital.

Looking across the sectors, only Residential and Education saw construction contract values increase in May compared to April – both increases were only minimal though at 1.9 and 0.9 per cent respectively. The remaining sectors all saw decreases with Infrastructure hit hardest, falling by 22 per cent on the month and by almost 40 per cent compared to twelve months ago.

Outside of the Hinckley Point contract, some of the biggest projects awarded in May include; £300 million Blyth offshore wind farm in Northumberland, £130 million halls of residence at the University of Hull and the luxury Vincent Tower hotel in Liverpool valued at £70 million.

Commenting on the figures, Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, said: “While the pre-election jitters will have no doubt affected these recent figures, many of the sectors – such as infrastructure and medical & health – have been performing below par for some time now, with the industry being too heavily reliant on residential building performing strongly each month.”

“What also stood out in May was the lack of major projects awarded in London, which saw a big drop in its construction contract value contribution in May, down to 9 per cent. The biggest projects on the month were spread sparingly across the country and with London’s modest contribution, its clear this held back the figures last month.”