Redefining the window and door industry

Tougher second-time replacement sales and the shift away from home ownership, are driving long-term change in the window and door industry. The analysis was delivered by Robert Palmer, Palmer Market Research during the recent FIT Show seminar programme. He said first-time window and door replacements had dropped from 80% in 2000 to less than 30% in 2015, with ‘replacement of replacement’ installations now accounting for 70% of all installations. He argued that this was driving increased focus on aesthetics: “Homeowners want something that is tangibly different and the appearance of windows is increasingly important in the market,” he said. “That in turn is driving innovation in the industry and the shift to premium finishes and foils in retail markets. “While there will always be a place for standard budget white PVC-U, there has been a definite shift in consumer expectation.

“The industry has responded with foils and premium finishes as well as the very substantial growth that we’re seeing in demand for aluminium.” To this end he forecast that aluminium is on course to reach a 17-year high by 2020, topping 220,000 frames by the end of the three-year period. This he said would be delivered by significant growth in the bi-fold market, which he forecast was set for growth of 30% through to 2020 in all material types to 55,000 door sets. Of these, he predicted that aluminium would take the lion’s share of the market at 35,000 units.

Palmer cited ‘exponential growth’ in the solid roof conservatory market as a second key area of opportunity. According to The Window, Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain, (October 2016) the market for replacement conservatory roofs was up 62% in 2015 to 11,200 installations and is forecast for continuing growth through to 2020.

He also forecast continuing if steady growth in the composite door market, which he said would increase to around 850,000 door sets per annum in the next three years. But while citing sizeable areas of growth, he tempered forecasts with predictions of continuing challenge. Alongside the shift to tougher second-time replacement sales, Palmer said that the long-term decline in homeownership was also driving a long-term change in the market. This according to figures has dropped from a peak of 14.8million in 2005 to below 14.3million last year. Conversely, the private rental sector was up from around 2million properties in 2005 to 4.5million.

“The private rental market tends to be again, that little bit tougher and price driven. There are however incentives – or perhaps more accurately, disincentives for not doing so – to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. “MEES or Minimum Energy Efficiency standards give landlords just a year to bring the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of their properties to no lower than E for new tenants and to all existing tenancies from 01 April 2020,” said Palmer. He concluded: “Brexit is clearly also an influence. What that influence will be right now is very difficult to predict as we know so very little about its potential shape. “Regardless of this, however, message is that the market as always never stands still and that product innovation. but also end-user expectation, coupled with the impact of legislation, is reshaping how the industry does and will need to do business.”

Tel: 020 83908131

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Sometimes it’s simply all about being in the right place at the right time. For Trade Frame Manufacturers Ltd this was certainly the case when they stumbled upon Kombimatec at FIT Show 2016 inspiring a working relationship that both parties were excited about.

Visiting the last FIT Show to be held at the Telford International Centre before moving to the NEC in 2017, Pembrokeshire-based Trade Frame Manufacturers went with the purpose to view the machinery on offer as they were in need of some new equipment. Impressed with the speed and ease of use that Kombimatec’s machines offer, according to Trade Frame’s Russ Evans it was an easy decision to make when committing to purchasing a pair of machines from the Bedfordshire-based machinery manufacturer.

Choosing a 4HDV Four Combination Head Welder and 6 Axis CNC Corner, Transom and Cruciform Cleaner, Russ explained what it was that sold Trade Frame on Kombimatec’s range. “The fact that they are a UK based manufacturer was a huge plus for us,” he said. “This way if we ever need any replacements parts or a service it’s easy enough to sort out.”

Trade Frame, who have specialised in the manufacturing of uPVC windows, doors and conservatories since 2001, have benefitted from the excellent customer service Kombimatec offers to all of its customers. “It’s been very good! I really can’t fault them,” Russ explained. “The delivery and installation went without a hitch and because of that we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Kombimatec to others who might be on the market looking for new machinery.”

Providing greater fabrication flexibility than ever before, Kombimatec’s 4HDV Four Combination Head Welder comes with individual start buttons for each head that enables the machine to be operated from any head. Essentially two machines in one, it can be used as 4 heads together, 2+2, 3+1 or 1+3.

The EV475 6 Axis CNC Corner, Transom and Cruciform Cleaner is the fastest and most reliable of its kind. With two separate sets of cleaning tools, each with their own independent programmable movements, it can work on both sides of the joint at the same time. This speeds up the overall cycle time because transoms and cruciforms can be cleaned in one complete clamping sequence.

Since 1984 Kombimatec has delivered over 10,000 machines for working PVC and aluminium profiles worldwide. Designed and manufactured to the highest standards, the machines are easy to use, simple to maintain and with CAD experts on hand to assist with factory planning the company’s technical expertise has built over 30 years of serving the industry.

For more information visit: www.kombimatec.com.

National Plastics has just announced that Pro-Can canopies will be available through its UK trade counter network. Geoff Foster, National Plastics’ Managing Director, said: “Pro-Can canopies don’t compromise on quality and use the best materials and the latest production processes. We’re proud they are available through us.”

Pro-Can canopies are constructed in the UK using high quality GRP, polycarbonate and steel and have been designed with the tradesman in mind. All products are robust and supplied fully protected and shrink wrapped to ensure they reach site in perfect condition. They are easy to fit and come with the minimum number of separate parts because as much assembly as possible is done in the factory. A complete fixing kit is included in each pack, including a full installation guide, Rawlplug fixings and with fixing templates where required.

All nine Pro-Can canopies are available via the National Plastics network which include the Clear Top Flat and Clear Top Curved, the Flat Top Thin and the Flat Top Deep, the Classic Flat, the Peaky Top Boxed, the Double Top Open, Double Top Sunrise and the Big Top.

National Plastics is renowned for being a one-stop shop when it comes to building plastics. The Pro-Can canopies will be part of an offering that also includes bathroom panels, guttering products, fascias and soffits, cladding, drainage products, roofing products, PVC-U windows, doors and conservatories, composite doors, garden products, accessories and wall panels.

All products are sold with the promise of National Plastics’ competitive pricing and by knowledgeable and experienced staff making it such a successful trade counter network.

www.nationalplastics.co.uk

The Epwin Group has just announced that it has appointed Katie Leese as Programme Manager for Excellence as Standard, its groundbreaking new member programme. Sharn Samra, Epwin’s Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted Katie will be managing the Excellence as Standard programme and I’m personally looking forward to working closely with her on our ambitious new initiative.” Katie added: “I’m excited to be joining Epwin and leading the mission to make Excellence as Standard the benchmark for quality in the industry.”

Katie has over 16 years’ experience in the industry and is no stranger to the Epwin Window Systems – she spent over 8 years as the Brand Manager for Profile 22. It means she has a deep understanding of the industry in general and the Epwin Window Systems’ brands and culture in particular that will stand her in good stead as she takes up her new role.

Excellence as Standard was launched at FIT 2017 and is a powerful new initiative to drive quality in the industry. When an installer signs the Excellence as Standard charter, they are making a pledge to commit to striving for excellence in fenestration. From day-to-day business operations through to product manufacturing processes and physical installations in the home, Excellence as Standard is a culture that permeates every level of a member’s business.

In return, installer members have access to a wealth of support and tangible benefits designed to drive quality and sales. These can be divided into six areas: quality products, the EAS Academy, effective lead generation, marketing support, partner benefits and the support team.

Epwin’s status and reputation means it can attract the best and brightest talent. The appointment of Katie Leese, with her wealth of industry experience, is a perfect demonstration of this ability in practice.

www.epwin.co.uk