NEW HEAD OF MEMBERSHIP AND TRAINING JOINS THE GGF

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Hearn as Head of Membership and Training.

Richard has an extensive background in professional membership bodies, focused on professional qualifications, accreditation and CPD (Continued Professional Development). He is specialist in developing and implementing membership and training strategies.

He joins from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) where, as Head of Member and Customer Development he transformed the membership focus over 3 years increasing both membership and revenues.

Richard has also worked for Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and for the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW). His commercial experience also includes terms at Ernst and Young and law firm Taylor Wessing developing customer value propositions. Richard has also consulted to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

On joining the GGF, Richard commented, “I am delighted to join the GGF at an exciting time of change and look forward to supporting Members and ensuring they get the best value from the Federation in terms of benefits. I am particularly looking forward to advancing the training side of the GGF. Firstly to ensure the Federation continues to be a focal point for best practice and also to raise awareness of the many career opportunities within the industry.”

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Picture above: Steve Goble and Bernhard Hoetger

The Bystronic Hegla Preferred Partnership was awarded the Best Machinery Company Accolade in recognition of its innovative system solutions for the UK glass sector in the #NFA17 Independent Industry Awards.

Both Steve Goble and Steve Powell take great pride in celebrating the innovation, entrepreneurialism and technical excellence provided by both companies.

For both managing directors, the preferred partnership union brings together the best of both worlds with innovation and customer services kept as priorities. With the awards requiring both nomination and voting for by peers in the industry, Steve Goble believes that there is evidently great belief in the products and the customer support.

With the National Fenestration Awards being industry led, for Steve Goble this has reflected the reputation of the company in a fair and open way. He comments, “As awards go, this is the one you want to win. It exemplifies the high standards set by HEGLA and the 15 years of self-motivation and hard dedication given by the UK team, which have been acknowledged by the industry as a whole. That makes us all very proud indeed.”

Steve Powell comments, “To win this award this year is cherry on the cake following such a positive year. It’s encouraging and rewarding to see that our diligence in this field has been recognised by the industry in general.”

The broad range of HEGLA modern automatic cutting, sorting and storage systems working alongside the Bystronic range of IG line solutions helps to increase customers efficiency and output. Working together with key decision makers the teams are recognised for carefully evaluating business plans in order to streamline production methods.

The pedigree of both the Helga and Bystronic brands is well recognised both nationally and internationally with those making investments in state-of-the-art machinery.

Working in tandem with the Bystronic Glass UK team which provides service support on all

products from the Bystronic/Hegla range, ensures that customers’ production methods are as efficient as possible before installing new equipment. For both companies the NFA Machinery Company of the Year Award reflects the success of that partnership.

For Bernhard Hoetger Managing Director HEGLA GmbH, the win has been a morale booster for everyone and he believes this to be great recognition for the UK teams. He comments, “In a tough market this is an excellent achievement. No doubt the UK success story can be attributed not just to the technology, but also the drive and commitment of the team. It is a great job well done!”

For more information on the HEGLA or Bystronic product portfolio or to arrange an appointment to discuss requirements please call 01908 261933 or 01952 677971 regarding service requirements.

Over recent months trade fabricator Modplan Ltd has reported a rise in sales of their LEKA roof systems as more installers capitalise on the benefits that feature-rich orangery roofs and solid-roof conservatory solutions can add to their business. This trend is showing little signs of decline as witnessed during the run up to Christmas when 5 LEKA roofs were installed on 5 conservatories over 5 consecutive days by one company!

Heidi Sachs, Managing Director of Modplan explains: “When we launched the LEKA roof products we knew they were a game changer in conservatory roof design. With a choice of solid-roof or orangery roof styles, there is a product for every installation. But feedback from our customers tells us that one of the standout benefits is the speed and accuracy of roof installation. Typically, a team can fit a LEKA roof in just one day. And with 5 LEKA roofs being fitted on 5 conservatories in 5 consecutive days this is proof, if needed, of just how quick these roofs can be installed.”

The impressive credentials of the LEKA roofs are backed up with Modplan’s trademark customer service. Installer partners are given full training, marketing support and sales software so they can become a LEKA Approved Installer and have everything they need to start making the most of what the roof has to offer. The products have achieved jhai Building Control accreditation so paperwork is kept to a minimum too.

Like all Modplan’s products, the LEKA roofs are manufactured in their dedicated conservatory roof facilities at its headquarters near Newport, Gwent. Modplan’s roofing portfolio is backed up with exceptional sales, marketing and service support to enable installers to make the most of the opportunities in the market.

When time is money it makes good sense to work with a roofing product that is simple and quick to install. And in LEKA roofs from Modplan, that’s exactly what you get.

www.modplan.co.uk

Aluminium glazing specialists Bennett Architectural have been chosen to supply and install glazing and curtain walling for the upgrade and refurbishment of Ainsdale train station in Southport.

Working with main contractor Morgan Sindall, Bennetts will provide and install Kawneer AA100 curtain walling systems as well as Pilkington Planar bolted glazing.

The £2.5m investment in the Merseyrail station comes from the Government’s National Stations Improvement Programme and Network Rail.

Additional features for the new station include a passenger waiting area with WiFi, improved information screens, increased seating and new waiting shelters.

Lionel Grant, Managing Director at Bennett Architectural commented, “We’re delighted to support the transformation of Ainsdale Station and provide our wealth of experience.

“The improved facility will greatly benefit users of the station.”

Liverpool based Owen Ellis Architects will provide designs for Ainsdale Station.

To find out more about Bennett Architectural Aluminium please visit www.baasl.co.uk or call 01782 566512.

Picture above: Conservatory Outlet Employee Award Winners with vision and values certificates.

Wakefield-based fabricator Conservatory Outlet Ltd has marked its best year ever with an award ceremony at its 2017 Employee Christmas party to recognise the dedication and hard work of its team.

In the 12-month period that has seen the company join forces with retailers Clearview Home Improvements and Pennine Home Improvements to form the Conservatory Outlet Group, Conservatory Outlet staff have stepped up to fulfil an unprecedented influx in orders, with several ‘record months’ topping all previous records.

A huge part of the company’s success in 2017 is also owed to the growth of its loyal Network of retailers, with 5 new or refurbished showrooms added to the network this year and a 6^th on the way in early 2018. The team at Conservatory Outlet have also found time to launch two new products to add to the company’s extensive portfolio; the Extreme 3 Security Locking System and the Envisage Flush Casement Window, both of which have contributed significantly to sales during 2017.

To support its recent growth, a stronger and more inclusive culture has been developing at the Wakefield plant, with the launch of a new vision and values, and a company video revealing a behind the scenes look at its manufacturing process featuring staff from all departments.

The team’s charity efforts can be commended too this year, with employees from across the business working together to get creative with a comedy Charity Calendar in aid of Cancer Research UK, as well as a Macmillan Coffee Morning, charity boxing matches and Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day.

To mark this huge year of change, individual team members were recognised for going ‘above & beyond’ at the Conservatory Outlet Christmas Party on 9^th December. Award winners were nominated by the senior management team for demonstrating exemplary behaviour in line with the new company values, including Honesty and Integrity, Growth and Innovation and Energy and Tenacity, and were presented with a personal thank you letter and vouchers by Managing Director Michael Giscombe.

Michael explains: “2017 has been a fantastic year for us at Conservatory Outlet and it’s extremely important to us that we recognise our employees and thank them for their dedication in helping us to achieve everything we have this year, I couldn’t be prouder of the way in which we’ve really pulled together.

“2018 will be crucial for our company as we take our current projects to the next phase. It’s down to the energy, passion and integrity of our fantastic team that this is made possible.”

What’s behind the recent upturn in the fortunes of conservatory sales? It’s simple: the alternatives to the traditional conservatory that have come onto the market in recent years. And if you want to capitalise on the opportunities these products bring, it’s time to take a closer look at LEKA Roof Systems. The company’s products have a unique construction that gives them a major USP over other roofs on the market. What’s more, the speed with which they can be installed is a big boon for installers.

The market-leading LEKA Warm Roof was developed using innovative engineering techniques, highly technical design protocols and practical experience, so it delivers a wealth of advantages. The unique GRP construction means it has a U value of just 0.15 W/m²K, so it delivers the thermal efficiency today’s homeowners are looking for from their conservatories. It has a better lifespan than the traditional tile, concrete or slate alternatives, making it a better investment. The roof is available in any design, can incorporate Velux rooflights and offers a bigger span and a lower pitch too, so it’s incredibly flexible. And because there are fewer elements to install than on a traditional solid conservatory roof, on site installation typically takes just two to three days, including removing the old conservatory roof.

The LEKA Orangery Roof uses the same technological innovation as the market-leading Warm Roof. It means it’s a genuinely lightweight orangery roof that has a U value of just 0.15 W/m²K, something that will be very appealing to homeowners looking to create year-round rooms to house kitchen, dining and living areas. The roof is supplied in kit form and all materials are pre-cut/fabricated to exact specifications. It means installation is a two man one day job (excluding the lantern and roof membrane).

LEKA Approved Installers are supported with a comprehensive marketing package plus full product and sales training so they can maximise their sales potential and take advantage of the trend for feature-rich conservatory roofs.

The LEKA Warm Roof and the LEKA Orangery Roof both revolutionised the market when they launched. The company will be launching a new product in March 2018 and all the signs are that it will take LEKA to the next level of innovation.

www.lekasystems.co.uk

Made for Trade has become what is now believed to be the biggest user of Emmegi machines in the UK by quantity, with the addition of a fourth Phantomatic T3A three axis machining centre to its manufacturing set up.

This brings to 13 the total number of saws and machining centres Emmegi has supplied to Made for Trade since 2013, as the company behind the Korniche roof system has continued to invest to keep pace with demand.

Made for Trade was reportedly operating older Emmegi type profile saws back in 2013, when managing director, Bradley Gaunt, ordered the first Phantomatic T3A and Emmegi Twin electronic double mitre saw.

That production set up is said to have proved so successful that Made for Trade ordered another Phantomatic T3A and Classic electronic double head saw two years later to create a second similar production set up, and these were followed in 2016 by the third T3A and a top of the range Combi 5 axis electronic compound cutting mitre saw. The fourth T3A and a second Combi saw were added in 2017.

Alongside the T3As, Made for Trade has also invested in two Phantomatic X4 four axis machines, specifically to manufacture the Korniche roof system, with a third ordered and scheduled for delivery in February. These have been specially tooled to suit the precision requirements of the new roof.

Ian Latimer, managing director of Emmegi (UK), commented: “Made for Trade has been buying Emmegi machines ever since they were established and we’re very proud to be their key machinery partner. Their growth over the past four or five years has been truly phenomenal and we’ve worked with them every step of the way to make sure that they have the very best machinery set up to suit their needs.

“With six advanced CNC machining centres, electronic double mitre saws, NC bead saws and a single head upstroke saw, we think they now have the most Emmegi machines of any single customer in the UK.”

Bradley Gaunt from Made for Trade added: “We chose Emmegi from the outset because we liked the quality and durability of the machines. Once we’d launched the Korniche roof, precision accuracy became our key criteria and Emmegi have again delivered exactly what we need to achieve the tolerances required to make sure every roof fits together effortlessly.”

Latimer concluded: “We continue to work hard to repay the loyalty Made for Trade have shown to us. They know that they can rely on us for quality products, reliable service and expert advice and, when a company is growing as fast as they are, that’s more important to them than ever.”

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A couple in Exeter have praised their Ultraframe conservatory for ‘saving their lives’. Mr and Mrs Bushell were said to be sitting in their conservatory, which was installed by Realistic Home Improvements, when it was hit by a 600kg silage bale that had rolled through a hedge from a neighbouring field.

Despite landing on top of their conservatory, smashing two of the glazed roof panels and raining down safety glass on Mr & Mrs Bushell in the process, the frame remained intact and the couple were spared any serious injuries.

“The conservatory style is a lean-to, on bolster beams,” explained Ryan Barrett, managing director at Realistic Home Improvements. “The ring beam was twisted but the bolster beams remained intact. If it had been a polycarbonate conservatory without the reinforced roof, it could have been a lot worse.”

Mrs Bushell said: “Thank goodness we made the choice of conservatory that we did. If we hadn’t selected such a good quality, solid conservatory, we’d probably be dead now. When I asked my husband how he wanted to repair the damage from the silage bale, he told me simply, ‘I want exactly the same conservatory as the one which saved my life.”

The team at Realistic Home Improvements, based across Devon and Cornwall, are now in the process of installing a new Ultraframe conservatory for Mr & Mrs Bushell.

“This conservatory was one of the first we installed after becoming an Ultra Installer in 2012,” explained Ryan. “I wanted to become an approved installer because I like to do things by the book – it’s peace of mind for me and for the homeowner. This type of situation is obviously rare, but when things like this happen, it’s so good to know we’ve installed the best for our customers.”

The post Life saver appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

A new report from Palmer Market Research suggests the composite door sector will see significant growth through to 2021.

According to The Market for Domestic Entrance Doors, composite doors now account for 54% of the market, the share rising to 56% by installed value with the inclusion of PVC/ABS faced doors. This follows an above market forecast of 9% increase in volume last year to 758,000 doors.

This contributed to 7.9% increase in installed value for the total entrance door market, the move to composites from PVC-U panels inflating installed prices.

Taken in its entirety, the market for entrance doors, however, remained

relatively flat last year at 1.4million door sets, with growth of just 0.9%. This compares to the 2.2% seen last year.

“The longer-term trends in the market have been more muted than those for windows. For instance, the market is now only 5% above the low point in 2012 but 20% below the peak year of 2007,” writes the author of the 2017 Palmer entrance door report.

Despite the growth of composites, PVC-U panels remained the second biggest material, accounting for 25% of the market in volume terms and 24% in installed value. This included modest growth in volume last year of 0.7% to 351,000 door sets.

Timber accounted for 16% in volume and 15% in installed value. This included a 25% decline in volume to 228,000 doors – the continuation of a 20-year downward trend.

Steel faced door sets fell 12% in 2016 to 40,000 doors – supplied almost exclusively into new build. Aluminium, again supplied primarily into new build by contrast, as in other areas of the window and door industry recorded growth.

“Going forward, there are a number of factors, which we expect to mute total market growth in coming years,” explained Robert Palmer, Palmer Market Research. “Despite significant demand for new homes, a general slowing of the housing market is having a corresponding impact on new build completions. Consumer confidence has also weakened – something that is very difficult to disconnect from the continuing uncertainty that has accompanied Brexit.

“We expect the coming two years to be fairly tough but, as in previous years, and like other areas of the window and door industry, some products will fare far better than others, with innovation and the shift to higher value installations, key drivers of growth.”

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