CentralRPL makes the switch to Optima

From left to right – Gary Morton, CentralRPL, Nic Rossano, Epwin Window Systems

CentralRPL, reportedly one of the Midlands largest trade fabricators, has switched to fabricating Profile 22’s Optima system.

Gary Morton, central’s managing director, commented: “Moving to Optima is a natural step for us. In terms of delivering products, marketing support and sales aids for our customers, Profile 22 are unsurpassed.”

Clare O’ Hara, divisional managing director of Epwin, added: “We are delighted to have CentralRPL on board. They are a proactive, customer-focused company and in Optima they have found a system that matches their desire to offer the very best.”

CentralRPL is manufacturing the Optima Sculptured system and feedback from Central’s customers so far has been extremely positive. Profile 22 held an open day for Central’s customers in May and the decision to switch was met with universal approval, confirming Optima’s status as the next generation window system that offers the best of everything. Gary said: “Our customers thoroughly enjoyed the day and all that Profile 22 has to offer. In particular they were really taken by the new Excellence as Standard (EAS) programme.”

CentralRPL switched to Optima in July and the process has been described as ‘seamless’. Clare said: “When we launched Optima last year, we moved nearly 100 Profile 22 fabricators over to it in nine months. Our process is so detailed, finely tuned and proactive that it is possible to finish with one system on the Friday and begin with Optima on the Monday, as we demonstrated once again with CentralRPL.”

Central manufactures over a thousand frames a week from its 39,000ft2premises in West Bromwich and supplies installers and trade suppliers nationwide. It was founded as a result of a merger between Central CRC, which was founded in 1992, and RPL Tradeframes (Reliant Products Ltd), which was founded in 1982.

Martyn Elwell, Central’s sales and marketing director, attributes the company’s success to its philosophy of ‘reinvestment to progress’ and says the company always seeks to exceed customer expectations. He said: “Moving to Optima together with the services offered by Profile 22 such as the commercial support programme and marketing with the EAS programme will further help us excel with our customers. Our strategy has a strong flavour for finding products for our customers, rather than customers for our products. Optima delivers on this element of our strategy remarkably well.”

www.profile22.co.uk

The post CentralRPL makes the switch to Optima appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Tony Craggs

Enquiries have reportedly been ‘flooding in’ just days after the launch of a new composite door from Virtuoso.

Virtu-AL, which is reportedly the UK’s first aluminium textured, non-woodgrain finish composite door, was officially launched on 1 August. Since then, word has been rapidly spreading about how this new generation contemporary aluminium style door can help installers to advance into the fast-growing premium end of the market.

Tony Craggs, managing director of Virtuoso, explained: “It’s been a whirlwind since we launched our ultra-modern aluminium alternative composite door and the reaction from installers has been nothing short of amazing! There is very good reason for this because Virtu-AL is, quite simply, like nothing else out there. Everyone has been eager to hear about the three magic components of this door – its unique texture, its unique styles and its unique hardware.

“Aluminium is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our industry and it’s been recently reported by the Council for Aluminium Building (CAB) that the number of installers offering aluminium has risen by more than 40% in the last five years. The trio of magic ingredients that Virtu-AL has are what really make it special. These elements will help a growing band of installers to elevate their businesses and yield from a sector that’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.”

Virtu-AL combines the best attributes of an aluminium door with those of a composite door and it brings many unique features to those homeowners who want to achieve a high-end, individual look for their home.

At the heart of the Virtu-AL door are its unmatched looks and texture, which have been carefully engineered to create the look of a premium aluminium door.

Tony added: “Since its launch, installers have been lining up to touch the Virtu-AL door. It incorporates the crisp detailing you’d expect from an aluminium door and features a very tactile textured finish that looks and feels like a powdercoated aluminium door. People are so convinced by this door, which is way beyond a standard composite door, and they just can’t resist touching it.”

Virtu-AL delivers a greater variety of styles for homeowners who don’t want to be restricted in their choice of entrance door and is available in four contemporary designs, which are totally exclusive to Virtuoso. For what is described as a ‘truly premium look’, there is an option for anodised glazing cassettes too. And, for greater individuality, there is a choice of seven standard and 14 superior colours. Doors can also be sprayed to match any RAL colour in the Virtu-AL in-house spray booth.

The Virtu-AL collection is unmatched in the choice of hardware it offers, which includes a range of traditional or contemporary hardware from ERA Fab&Fix. Virtuoso was the first to adopt the sleek, ultra-modern new inline flat pull bar, which is available in a choice of 400, 900 and 1,600mm lengths.

Virtu-AL also utilises a range of locking systems which have achieved the three-star security standard. It includes the new Lock Lock security handle from Brisant Secure. The handle is used in conjunction with the 3* Ultion cylinder and has a patented design to withstand cylinder picking, bumping, drilling and snapping. It incorporates a unique spindle block which is activated to prevent the door from being opened from the outside, even if the cylinder is breached.

The Virtu-AL collection can be sourced through Virtuoso’s door designer software – Gateway. Gateway is a bespoke door designer package, which enables customers to design, order and price standard and bespoke composite doors. With the recently launched Gateway 2 package, homeowners can now design their own Virtu-AL door online.

www.virtuoso-doors.co.uk

The post Enquiries ‘flood in’ for Virtu-AL appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Specialist barn and farm buildings renovator Cheshire Barns Homes is committed to using traditional materials in keeping with the projects they typically undertake. The developer has a strong commitment to producing homes using traditional farm buildings that are energy efficient, a philosophy that is underpinned by the company’s founder and director, Rhys Nevett, who has a vision to restore buildings with heritage to create sustainable luxury, and a desire for absolute perfection.

The traditional style of the properties they renovate must be considered against the requirements of the Building Regulations and desire of the new owners for modern comfort and performance, a balance that can be difficult to achieve. But for one recent project undertaken by Cheshire Barns Homes such potential conflicts were resolved when the firm chose Halo FlushSash PVC-U windows, for a semi-detached property located in a rural location.

Nottingham-based Fearns of Carlton were chosen by the developer to supply eight Halo FlashSash windows produced in Balsalt Grey on white, after being impressed with the authentic appearance of the frames combined with the exceptional performance. The colour was selected from a range of 29 foils available on this highly popular traditionally styled window, with the frames manufactured by Glazerite UK Group at the company’s Peterborough factory.

Rhys Nevett of Cheshire Barns Homes is committed to maintaining the traditional appearance of the properties he renovates and was impressed with the Halo FlushSash windows chosen for this project: “We are usually committed to genuine timber windows but when we saw the Halo window and learned of the energy efficiency that they brought to the project, we had no hesitation in specifying them. They provide an impressive authentic appearance that is in keeping with this project.”

For the window supplier Fearns of Carlton Jak Fearn said: “Many of the projects I work on are with timber sash windows as they are listed buildings. Fortunately as this project wasn’t listed so it gave the developer and us the opportunity to specify the Halo FlushSash. It not only looks great but offers an “A” rating which is fantastic for a traditional property.”

Chris Thompson of Glazerite was delighted: “There is nothing I love more than to get a timber window installer onto PVC-U. We have also had a number of installations approved and passed by building control in conservation and listed buildings so even if a property is in such an area the installation of windows manufactured in modern materials should not be ruled out.”

www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

Thermoseal Group, manufacturer of high performance warm edge spacers and UK distributor of insulated glass components, has released new editions of both its trade and warm edge consumer videos. The adaptions of both videos reflect the international growth of the Group and its series of high-profile awards whilst showcasing the benefits of high performance warm edge spacer systems Thermobar and Thermoflex.  The videos, for use throughout the supply chain, are available to watch on the Thermoseal Group website: www.thermosealgroup.com news with multilingual versions to follow.

“Since the initial release of our trade video and our ‘Warm Comfortable Homes’ consumer video we have seen further growth and development and now supply to 22 countries in 5 continents. We have also won numerous prestigious accolades for our products, services and to recognise our international development”, says Samantha Hill, Head of Marketing and Communications.

“Alongside being announced as winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2017, Thermoseal Group has attained a multitude of other awards over the past year including: ‘Component Supplier of the Year’ at the glass and glazing industry G-Awards (for the second year in a row); ‘Amazon Growing Business Award – Export Champion of the Year’; ‘Wigan Business Award for Export’ and the EEF Future Manufacturing Award for the North West Region for Export. We are delighted with the recognition and endorsement that these awards represent.”

Thermobar and Thermoflex warm edge spacers have achieved Bundesverband Flachglas (BF) thermal ratings of 0.14W/mK and 0.135W/mK respectively and have available BF data sheet Psi values for windows and façade profiles.  Both products also achieve Passive House Institute phA+ ratings. All products are proven within Thermoseal Group’s own EN1279 test centre before being submitted and achieving highest-performance independent test results. We also manufacture a wide range of bespoke components in our in-house injection moulding division to flush-fit with our spacer systems.  All products are also tried and tested by customers and developed to suit current sealed unit manufacturing methods before they are officially launched for sale.

For more information or to watch the Thermoseal Group trade video or ‘Warm Comfortable Home’ visit www.thermosealgroup.com/news or you can visit www.thermobarwarmedge.com or www.thermoflexwarmedge.com for more information about our warm edge product ranges.

Thermoseal Group can be contacted about its comprehensive range of insulated glass components and machinery for glazing manufacture by calling +44(0)121 331 3950 or by emailing sales@thermosealgroup.com.

75 SFX Sound Attenuator vents from Titon have been installed at the newly constructed Honduras Wharf project in Birmingham. Located in the heart of the city centre, the building comprises 99 residential apartments and penthouses, each with between one to three bedrooms. The project, which was completed in June 2017, was overseen by Leicester-based Unique Window Systems Ltd, while the contractor was J.A. Ball Ltd.

Titon’s SFX Sound Attenuator is a compact slot ventilator which provides high levels of sound attenuation compared to similar ‘acoustic’ products. The vents and accompanying canopies for the Honduras Wharf project were coloured RAL7024 Matt Graphite Grey in line with the décor of the building’s façade and window frames.

Commenting on selecting the vents, Gary Burrows, Project Manager at Unique Window Systems, said: “Due to the city centre location, acoustic vents were required in order to adhere to the necessary building and planning regulations. Having used Titon’s products for many years now, we knew the SFX Sound Attenuator was perfect for the application in hand. Not only are these vents easy to fit, they are excellent at minimising noise while maintaining the required levels of background ventilation.”

The SFX Sound Attenuator is part of Titon’s renowned SF Xtra range – and is widely specified throughout the UK. It can be purchased in a number of combinations based on different sizes of inner (ventilator) and outer (canopy). Combinations can be chosen depending on the acoustic requirement and can achieve up to 44 D,n,e,w attenuation when the vent is open.

These vents have also been subjected to independent EA testing (measuring airflow through the product) conducted by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and acoustic testing by SRL Technical Services Ltd. The EA tests were carried out in accordance with UK Approved Document F (ADF) 2010 and the Scottish Technical Handbook 3.14.6 using the recognised test method to BS:EN 13141-1 clause 4. The independent testing substantiated the claimed performance data of the Titon Trimvent Select, SF Xtra and SFX Sound Attenuator trickle vents.

The SFX Sound Attenuator is a cost effective method of reducing incoming noise in situations where conventional slot ventilators are unable to assist with acoustic issues. It comes fitted with a Titon SFX and/or SF Ventilator Canopy and fits over the standard SF, Trimvent Select or Select Xtra slot size.

For more information about Titon and its range of window and door hardware, as well as its whole house ventilation products, please visit: www.titon.co.uk

QUALICOAT has grown over the last few decades into a truly international architectural powder coating standard for the industry. All the main powder coaters in the UK are licenced QUALICOAT members, as are the supply chain companies who provide the powder and pretreatment systems. The QUALICOAT Standard is always kept up to date and later this year it will be revised again into its fifteenth edition with all the most up to date technological advances and developments.

The QUALICOAT Standard is regularly updated by its members within defined ‘working groups’ each undertaking research and development to ensure QUALICOAT licenced applicators offer finishes with long life expectancy and with the greatest efficiency.

In October this year QUALICOAT UK & Ireland will be holding their RIBA approved CPD at the RIBA in London with a short introduction to the new, fifteenth edition of the standard. These presentations will be followed by a forum for specifiers to discuss architectural coatings and their specification requirements.

Quality and consistency of quality, continues to be highlighted by QUALICOAT UK & Ireland, which includes third party testing of all certified powder formulations and pretreatment systems that make up the QUALICOAT approval process. For specification support, any member of the association can offer advice and guidance, for updated information about the use and specification of QUALICOAT in the UK and Ireland, please visit the associations’ website at www.qualicoatuki.org

Image Above: Chris Long, MD of Sherborne Windows

An installer has increased its aluminium business by 50% after making the leap to REAL Aluminium. Sherborne Windows is reaping the rewards of Customade Group’s complete aluminium solution after becoming one of the first installers in the UK to adopt it when it was launched a last year.

Chris Long, managing director of Sherborne Windows, explains: “We are very pleased to have increased our spend on aluminium by 50% compared to the same period last year. There is a rapidly rising demand in the domestic market for aluminium and we have been able to take advantage of these positive trading conditions because we have a robust supply chain in place and access to full sales and marketing support to help us achieve growth.”

Sherborne began installing aluminium glazed roofing systems from Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, which is also part of the Customade Group, some time ago and recognised that REAL Aluminium could help the company achieve growth in aluminium.

The company, which has three dedicated showrooms at Farnborough and Hartley Wintney in Hampshire and Windlesham in Surrey, was attracted to REAL Aluminium because of the impressive array of aluminium products available from a single source and the enviable showroom and marketing support on offer. With access to these products and the best domestic aluminium retail brochure to help the sales team to win business, Sherborne has completed dozens of large-scale installations using REAL Aluminium windows, bi-folding doors, sliding doors, French doors, residential doors and lantern roofs.

REAL Aluminium is designed to eliminate the common pitfalls associated with the supply of aluminium and to make sourcing aluminium as easy as buying PVC-u. The REAL range of aluminium windows, bi-folding doors, sliding doors, French doors, residential doors, composite doors and lantern roofs is manufactured in a dedicated factory, which holds more than 100 miles of aluminium extrusions in stock in the four most popular colours. Lead times for REAL are just two weeks, says the company.

www.real-aluminium.co.uk