AluK announces official launch of its new Luminia Veranda system

AluK has officially launched its new Luminia Veranda system, designed to give customers an exciting new business strand targeting all those homeowners who want to make more of their outdoor living space. The stylish glazed Veranda perfectly bridges the gap between house and garden, and provides fabricators and installers with a potentially valuable new sales opportunity alongside virtually every bi-fold or sliding door installation.  AluK’s Managing Director, Russell Yates, said: “We previewed this product at the FIT Show and the response was fantastic. It perfectly complements our doors, and gives you the feeling of being outdoors whilst being comfortably sheltered from the elements. It lets our customers sell an aspirational lifestyle to homeowners, with the promise of an outdoor living room which they can use late into Summer evenings, right into Autumn and from the very start of Spring.”

The Luminia Veranda is available in four different models to suit any contemporary or traditionally styled property and in four popular coloured finishes –  white, cream, quartz and volcan, all with the reassurance of the Qualicoat quality label. The Premium model features thermal breaks, allowing it to be combined with low threshold, easy glide glass sliding doors and protective side walls to create a truly year round indoor/outdoor option. The Modern model is a more contemporary option with slimmer sight lines, while the two Enhanced models – available with standard or Victorian style guttering, are the ones designed for larger open spans, with steel reinforcement allowing them to stretch up to 6 metres in width using just two posts.

Alongside the stylish aesthetics, the Luminia Veranda is a great illustration of AluK’s renowned design innovation. It has clever features like invisible fixings, water drainage pipes integrated within the posts, adjustable roof pitches, optimised aluminium reinforcement, and cable-free LED lighting solutions in the rafters. AluK stresses that all of the models and all of the features are easy to fit onsite, with the option of choosing either a polycarbonate or glass roof to suit any customer’s budget.  The Luminia Veranda is almost 100% recyclable so has excellent green credentials and comes with a full 10 year guarantee.

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Bennett Architectural is delighted to have raised over £9,500 for The Donna Louise over 8 years of support.

The Newcastle under Lyme based aluminium glazing specialists began supporting the Trentham Lakes based hospice in 2009, and has raised funds with various activities such as golf days, dressing up as superheroes, cake sales, raffles and taking part in It’s a Knock Out.

As well as the staff efforts in raising this incredible amount of money, Bennetts owners have also matched fundraising efforts by £2,277.90 for every pound raised from monthly dress down days.

Lionel Grant, Managing Director at Bennett Architectural commented,

“We are delighted to have raised such an amount for the Donna Louise, a local charity close to many of our hearts, and one that offers so much to our local community.

“Bennetts will continue to support the hospice with their Christmas Jumper Day on 8^th December.”

Katie Tams, Regional Fundraiser at The Donna Louise added,

“The support of Bennett Architectural really makes a difference to the children, young adults and families, who rely on The Donna Louise, so on their behalf I’d like to say a big heartfelt thank you to everyone at the company.

“We have to raise £3.5 million each year to support more than 240 families from Staffordshire and Cheshire, with most of this coming from fundraising and donations.

www.baasl.co.uk

The market for conservatory roof replacements is on a high says Prefix Systems and one of the latest jobs carried out by Stevenage-based Conserv-A-Tech, shows that consumers still yearn for the appeal of a glazed roof.

As part of Prefix’s proven Refurbish My Conservatory scheme, Conserv-A-Tech have access to dedicated marketing materials, along with specific products for roof replacements. These products have been specially designed by Prefix for these types of applications and include Retro-Fix posts to carry the additional loading of glass or even solid roofs and Bi-Span to support the structural requirements for large openings.

With around 3million existing conservatories installed in the UK and many first-generation ones glazed in tired polycarbonate, there’s an important market sector emerging. Over the last 10 years the market has also seen the rapid development of specialist solar control glass with U-values now down to 1.0W/(m²K) and so glass is now very much the dominant glazed material.

Eric Knappett, owner and director ofConserv-A-Tech commented: ‘Conservatory roof replacements are becoming more prevalent in terms of our sales opportunities. As a diligent company, it’s re-assuring to know that we have a supporting brand and product range specific to this sector which is boosted by the outstanding customer service levels from Prefix.’

Chris Cooke, co-director of Prefix Systems concluded: ‘Companies of the calibre of Conserv-A-Tech are a shining example of how the conservatory and glazed extension market is evolving. Replacements are becoming a more important part of the revenue stream for the sector, yet we must be mindful of the design considerations and structural loadings for each individual project, it’s a must for the sector to ensure the products installed are fully fit for purpose.’

For further information on Conserv-A-Tech visit www.conservatech.uk. For information on Prefix Systems and their Refurbish My Conservatory scheme visit www.prefixsystems.co.uk, or add to their considerable following on Twitter @prefixsystems.

The problem of how to open a front door with both hands full has been solved by the introduction of Schueco BlueCon, a breakthrough new product from building envelope specialist, Schueco UK. Schueco BlueCon is an access control module that uses Bluetooth wireless technology to enable a Smartphone to communicate directly with the door, causing the latter to open at the approach of an authorised user. With Schueco BlueCon in place, a Smartphone app (downloadable from Android or iOS) will activate the door lock as soon as the user comes within 4 metres of the door, enabling him/her to enter the building without having to employ a key or even touch the handle. The convenience of this in everyday life – for example when a person is laden down with shopping – means Schueco UK expects BlueCon to prove very popular with end-users.

Schueco BlueCon consists of a small hardware module integrated directly into the door rebate (vent frame or outer frame), which connects to the cable of an electric door lock, activating it on demand. The module is not visible when the door is closed. Suitable for both Schueco ADS and ADS SimplySmart profiles, the BlueCon module – which employs a simple plug-and-play connection – may also be easily retrofitted to any door with an electric locking system. In addition to keyless operation, BlueCon can be set for manual activation (through swiping a key on the Smartphone) and can be programmed with a variety of additional access authorisations to enable entry by children, cleaners and similar users. These may be set up in a number of ways ie on a permanent basis (no time or date limit) or on a reoccurring basis (fixed, recurrent time periods) or on a one-off, fixed-time period. An integral log function records every action of the BlueCon module, providing full details of date, time and personal identity of the user. If desired, the module can also be activated using an Apple i-watch loaded with the Schueco BlueCon app.  

Finally, system security is absolutely assured: the digital keys are renewed every 24 hours and if the Smartphone is lost, unauthorised access can be prevented by changing the user account password in the app or resetting the module to factory settings.

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Chris Hornby and Mark Atkinson

As the city of Hull nears the end of an ‘extraordinary year’ as ‘UK City of Culture 2017’, Hurst Plastics has unveiled a unique composite entrance door that pays tribute to one of the most prominent landmarks of the company’s home city.

Manufactured at Hurst Plastics’ dedicated factory in Hull, the door features a spectacular image of the Humber Bridge from local photographer Wendy Rowe, who lives in Hessle. The iconic 2,220m long suspension bridge, which was given Grade I listed building status in July, was chosen by Hurst as a fitting subject for the door because it captures the heart of Hull as a thriving city port and vibrant cultural destination. The bridge also inspired the name for the one-off door – the Humber door.

The door was presented to Hull based installer Yorkshire Windows and Doors, which has been a customer of Hurst Plastics for 20 years. The company will display the door in its showroom in Sutton Fields before handing it over to local charity Dove House Hospice. The hospice will auction the door at its annual Winter Ball, which takes place in November at The Country Park Inn in Hessle. The fundraising gala event hopes to raise £12,000 for the hospice.

Mark Atkinson, sales director at Hurst Plastics, presented the door to Chris Hornby from Yorkshire Windows. Mark said: “This is a really special year for Hull and we just had to produce something that marked the occasion and honoured our famous bridge. We have some clever technology that’s capable of reproducing any photograph onto glass and so the idea was borne to create a door with a dazzling image that really captures the essence of Hull. And here it is – the Humber door!

“The finished door is remarkable and we’re proud to have created a real statement piece that’s like nothing else out there. And of course, we’re delighted to donate it to Dove House Hospice and to lend our support to a fantastic local charity. We certainly hope it opens the door to a bidding frenzy at the auction!”

Chris Hornby, managing director of Yorkshire Windows and Doors, added: “It is a real privilege to be custodians of this magnificent door, which is a true celebration of Hull. I’m a Hull man and this year has been an incredibly proud year for the people of Hull as UK City of Culture. I’m very pleased that the door will also help to raise money for Dove House Hospice. I have personal experience of the hospice and it’s a wonderful place.”

The Dove House Hospice winter ball takes place on 25 November at The Country Park Inn in Hessle. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.dovehouse.org.uk/ball

www.hurst-plastics.co.uk

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Wakefield based fabricator, Conservatory Outlet has released a short promotional video revealing a behind the scenes look at how the Yorkshire plant manufactures some of the most innovative high-quality windows, doors and living spaces on the market.

The first in a series of planned videos, the three-minute film shows the journey of a product from the point of order with a Conservatory Outlet retailer right through to dispatch, emphasising the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into every element of manufacture.

Viewers will see a glimpse of Conservatory Outlet’s ordering and design processes, as well as an insight into its quality control, customer services and transport departments. Also highlighted is the company’s commitment to invest in the latest technology such as its state-of-the-art cutting centre and its most recent purchase – the SV800 machine that removes weld sprue for a superior finish.

The video was filmed on-site in the working factory, with staff carrying out their daily roles, and also includes footage of real installations from around the UK delivered by its Network of retail partners.

Conservatory Outlet has planned further videos to be created in the coming months including, “Being part of the Conservatory Outlet Network”, and a sequel for the manufacturing process video which will enable each retail partner the exclusive opportunity to show off their own services, showrooms and installations locally.

Tom Oliver, Managing Director at James Oliver Conservatories (part of the Conservatory Outlet Network of retailers), said “This latest video is a powerful tool for us to be able to show our customers exactly where their products will come from. This is a real asset for us in the selling process, which alongside our exceptional product guarantee highlights the quality products and service we have on offer.

“We have just finished filming for our own showroom video which will follow on from this, showcasing the James Oliver brand locally, we can’t wait to see the end cut”

Conservatory Outlet Managing Director Mick Giscombe added “Being ‘made in the UK’ is an important product feature for many homeowners looking to invest in home improvements. Customers like to know where they are buying from and that they can trust the source.  Our products are only available through one of our 24 approved retail partners, simply because they’re as passionate about delivering an excellent service as we are.

We manufacture to exceptional standards and we’re extremely proud of the care and attention to detail that goes into our products, it’s great that we can now share this for all to see.”

Picture above: Ian Short and his dance partner Olivia Choi.

Integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing’s managing director Ian Short has been crowned the winner in the Variety’s Strictly Ballroom competition and raised more than £10,000 for the children’s charity.

Ian was one of 10 amateur dancers and their professional dance partners who trained for three months before competing in front of a star-studded judging panel, featuring the X Factor’s Ray Quinn, choreographer Ian Banham and professional dancer Jemma Girling. The charity event, which was hosted by TV presenter Gethin Jones, raised a total of £39,500, which is enough to buy a new Sunshine Coach.

Commenting on his achievement, Ian said: “This has been a life changing experience; I’ve lost 4 stone in weight, stopped smoking, and helped to raise more than £10,000 for a fabulous cause. It’s been completely humbling and I am so grateful to everyone who sponsored and supported me and my dance partner Olivia Choi from the North Leeds Dance Academy. We were absolutely thrilled to win both the judges’ and audience trophies.”

Ian and Olivia danced the samba and have already committed to entering more dance competitions and will “keeeep dancing”.

Variety provides practical, tangible help to children in the UK coping with sickness, disability or disadvantage.

To sponsor Ian visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ian-short5.

Image Above:  Simon Braithwaite (left), Category Manager at Travis Perkins, with Liniar’s Business Development Director Tony Basile

Clear communication and a willingness to work together has led to the successful launch of Liniar’s roofline range in 130 Travis Perkins branches in South Wales and the South West – which is set to rise to up to 400 across the UK in the near future.

Originally formed in 1797, Travis Perkins is one of the UK’s largest builders’ merchants, supplying over 19,000 quality trade products – but there was a gap in its offering when it came to roofline.

Recognising this opportunity, Liniar’s Business Development Director Tony Basile spoke with CEO Roger Hartshorn. They formulated a plan and approached Travis Perkins with a proposal.

“When we first heard from Liniar, I wasn’t aware that the brand had a full roofline range,” said Simon Braithwaite, Category Manager at Travis Perkins. “But right from the very first meeting I was struck at the relaxed way that they operate and how well the products have been thought out.

“I was very impressed with their extrusion facility and how all the departments and teams work together to make Liniar a world class systems house!

“Everything that we’ve asked for, Liniar has delivered. The first roll out has been so successful that we are reviewing further and hope to roll out in up to 400 branches.”

Tony says: “Working with Simon and the team at Travis Perkins has been fantastic. They understood immediately what makes our roofline range different to anything currently out there, which provides the branch staff with unique selling points when promoting the range.

“At 20mm thick, instead of the usual 16mm, Liniar fascia boards provide great strength, with longer return legs and extra cover on mouldings for easier fitting.

“Liniar boards are manufactured using the latest advancements in extrusion equipment and technology to provide a consistent thickness of board with improved flatness.

“The Travis Perkins team were particularly impressed with the protective tape we have on our boards. It’s pre-marked and lined which makes it easy to find the centre line for the rafter end. The pin guides are set at 100mm centres on each line, and the lines are set at 25mm intervals.

“Should the board need cutting, installers are guaranteed a straight cut with no need to peel back the protective tape. There’s no need to pre-mark the boards which obviously saves the installer time. This also prevents the risk of scratching or damaging the boards.”

Liniar’s comprehensive roofline range incorporates capping and replacement fascias, both foam and hollow soffits, a full set of associated trims and mouldings, ventilation options and dry verge.

“The stock has been well received and the branches have been impressed with all aspects of Liniar,” said Tony. “This has been a great success because both sides have listened to what is needed and it’s fantastic to see what can be achieved.

“We’re very proud to be working with Simon and the team at Travis Perkins and are looking forward further success as the range rolls out across all the branches.”

To find your nearest Travis Perkins branch is go to www.travisperkins.co.uk.

More information on Liniar’s roofline range can be found at www.liniar.co.uk/building-products.

The chairman and managing director of aluminium specialist, CDW Systems, was recently chosen to attend a prestigious event organised by the Prime Minister Theresa May.

The event – which is called ‘The Parliamentary Review’ – took place in October at the House of Commons and was attended by political heavyweights such as Phillip Hammond MP and Greg Clark MP; as well as economic commentators like Andrew Neil.

The review is organised annually by government to assess the state of parliament and the economy; and a select handful of representatives from industry are invited to attend, to provide their input.

Due to its continued success and position as the UK’s leading specialist aluminium fabricator, CDW Systems were selected to take part in the 2016/2017 review focusing on manufacturing and services.

The chairman of the CDW, Jerry Webb and managing director, Mike Davis, both attended the event.

The review was founded in 2010 by former minister The Rt Hon David Curry, to also provide a guide to industry best practice.

Several editions focus on different policy areas and provide overviews of how each sector has responded to changes in the UK’s political and economic environment.
CDW Systems has been manufacturing and supplying aluminium windows and doors to trade, commercial and retail customers since 1992.

Alongside the gala event, a high-quality magazine is produced with a foreword from the Prime Minister and other MPs as well as a two-page feature on each company invited to attend.

Jerry Webb, commentsed: “We are thrilled that CDW Systems has joined a privileged few in this year’s Parliamentary Review. Only a handful of companies across the UK are selected to take part each year and to receive this level of recognition is a reward for what we have achieved as a team in the manufacturing and services sector.”

Mike Davis commented: “We were delighted to be asked to contribute to 2017’s Parliamentary Review and to act as an example of best practice within our sector.

“In our feedback, we have taken the opportunity to look back on the challenges we, as a business, have overcome in the last 25 years whilst also explaining how we intend to continue our growth in the future.”

You can read an online version of the review here: www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/editions/manufacturing-services/interior-installation

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