Fenster Fabrications Wins Installation Of The Month For Stylish White Oaks Development

Devon’s Fenster Fabrications has contributed to a multiple award-winning architectural project in Plymouth.

The White Oaks development saw noted contemporary building specialist Barc Architects design a stylish, modern home for a couple with a passion for architecture and interior design.

Initially asked to renovate and extend an existing bungalow, Barc advised the couple it would be more cost-effective to rebuild from scratch – and called on Fenster Fabrications to provide sleek and stylish aluminium glazing products that would suit their desired aesthetic.

Fenster contributed one of its flagship Uni_Slide doors, alongside other glazing products. Uni_Slide is an ultra-slim aluminium sliding door, equally suited to commercial and residential applications.

Offering exceptional thermal efficiency, build quality, and desirable minimalist aesthetics, Uni_Slide can achieve frame sightlines as slim as 20mm, and a slim central interlock, while being able to support sliding panels of up to 3m high and 2.2m wide. The product can be assembled in a limitless run of units, with each panel capable of holding up to 320kg of glass.

Tony Drake, Fenster Fabrications Managing Director, commented: “Uni_Slide makes a fantastic addition to any residential development. It can offer a sense of sleek luxury to any architectural development, and, for installers, it’s an excellent way of appealing to the lucrative high-end of the market.

“We’ve had a great response to our search for Uni_Slide installation partners so far – but we’re still looking for exceptional installers, dedicated to quality products and fantastic customer service, to join the network. If you think your business fits the bill, don’t hesitate to get in touch!”

For its role in the White Oaks project, Fenster was named the FIT Show’s Installation of the Month in April 2017, and shortlisted for Installation of the Year. The development as a whole also received the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Award for Best New Dwelling.

  For more information, call 01626 334455 or visit www.uni-slide.com

A trio of experienced Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions’ installers have been inspired to create three incredible installations.

The remarkable projects showed the terrific design skills of Keymer Double Glazing, Thames Valley Windows and Vale Orangeries and earned them winning places in the Atlas Installation of the Month competition.

Gareth Thomas, sales and marketing director at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, explains: “Our Installation of The Month competition is all about getting the industry talking about design and inspiring installers to be ambitious with their projects. We are overwhelmed by these three amazing installations which show just how much can be achieved with clever design and innovative products. The bold vision and imaginative use of space in each project makes them stand out and the teams behind them deserve to be very proud of these installations.”

Keymer Double Glazing from Burgess Hill, West Sussex created a one-off underground extension on a grand, multi-level property in Sussex. Keymer worked closely with the owner to come up with a design that would be very contemporary yet like nothing else they’d seen. An important element of the design was to consider the flow of light in the property and to frame the beautiful views over acres of private land. Keymer created a generously sized family room, which is sunken into the ground. The extension is illuminated from above by a large Atlas lantern and features a wall of slim-framed aluminium sliding doors which open out on to the newly landscaped garden. The focal point of the installation is the cleverly positioned lantern, which juts out of the patio on the level above.

Kieran Collins, sales director at Keymer, said: “We are really proud of this fabulous project which is a superb addition to this home and a real talking point among visitors. The client had a strong vision of what he wanted and he loves the new space which really makes the most of its glazing. We were very keen to show off this novel installation and it’s a great honour to win an award for it.

Thames Valley Windows showed off enviable design talent with an orangery installation on a detached dormer bungalow in Twyford, Berkshire. The owners of the property had originally wanted to install a modest sized conservatory on the rear of the property to create an open plan kitchen diner. They approached Thames Valley Windows for design ideas and, having reviewed the possibilities, they rejected a conservatory in favour of a much larger scale orangery. The imaginative scheme spans the entire width of the rear of the property and incorporates ample spaces for cooking, eating and relaxing. The large, contemporary multi-functional extension features three Atlas glazed roof lanterns to flood the 45 square metre space with light.

Carly Butler, marketing manager at Thames Valley Windows, said: “This is an absolutely beautiful orangery which has breathed new life into a traditional style property. The before and after photos really capture how much the orangery has transformed this home into a sociable, light-filled space, which is now the most used area of the house.”

The design flair of the team at Vale Orangeries is evident throughout a vast double-storey extension on a property in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. The ultra-modern ‘cube’ styled extension was carefully designed to contrast with the rest of the house and take advantage of its south facing orientation. Vale Orangeries’ design incorporated lots of crisp modern materials and acres of glass to create a light-filled contemporary family space. A large 1.2m x 2.3 metre Atlas Flat Rooflight and a mighty wall of glass adds to the dramatic visual impact of the extension.

Dean Edmonds, owner of Vale Orangeries, said: “The homeowner had a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve and the design and choice of materials was absolutely crucial.  Everything we specified needed to live up to the high expectations of this homeowner who wanted to draw as much light into the extension as possible. The end result speaks for itself and we are really proud to have won an award for this magnificent project.”

Each month, the winning installer will scoop a £200 Screwfix voucher and a £50 Majestic Wine voucher, plus trade industry PR and entry into the Atlas Installer of the Year award finals. All entries submitted with completed installation pictures will receive an Atlas thermal mug.

Entrants can submit their Atlas roof installations via Twitter to @Atlasroofjohn using the hashtag #AtlasShowOff or on email to marketing@atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

For further information, please contact Atlas on 02838 327741 or visit www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

As trade legislation regarding industry accreditations and product marking continue to reflect the high standards of the glazing sector, there is continual pressure on processors to ensure that their quality standards are accurate, particularly as end users are now keenly aware of their necessity.

As glass processors are answerable not just to their customers but to end users alike, Hegla developed new technologies that help manufacturers accommodate all legislative measures and which further improve output. Consequently laser marking technology was introduced as it helps to speed up production and eliminate confusion during the manufacturing process.

Increasingly, customers are stipulating laser technology when placing orders or are looking to incorporate this into existing production lines via retrofits due to the advantages it offers.

Helga’s innovative marking technology is already known to a number of large UK glass processors who have embraced the latest marking techniques, having grasped the lasting advantages it brings that will help to take their companies further forward.

The Hegla pedigree repeatedly proves itself through cutting line installations, with the build and quality of the engineering helping companies to become fully automated.

With many years industry experience in precision glass cutting and sorting systems, Helga has introduced the laser marking system as it will help to speed up production and eliminate confusion during the production process.

Meticulous attention to detail has gone into the laser capability design which enables glass to be marked automatically before it is cut. Laser marking on the cutting table ensures that the correct production data is put onto the correct piece of glass and in the right sequence.

During production the laser removes the need for marker pens on toughened glass with any potential ghosting completely eradicated on coated products. Additionally, if the glass has the correct address for its production route, sequencing should be simpler with coatings guaranteed to be the correct way round and cavities in the correct position in relation to the coatings.

Whether for double or triple glazed units, this system interfaces to the customer’s order entry and production software to offer many advantages such as reverse-etching a toughened logo/image or specific data, which is imperative when producing units with multiple pieces of glass.

Customers who have invested in this technology commented: “Whilst it is recognized that the laser system will help to further coordinate and increase output, it was evident that the technical merits and cost saving benefits of the Hegla equipment perfectly suited demands on the production line to improve efficiency.”

Many existing Bystronic and Helga customers are now looking to invest due to the positive effect that automation has brought to their production departments. Many investors see the long term benefits because the reliability of the equipment combined with precision engineering is helping them to increase output more efficiently than ever before.

In general Laser System retrofits take place outside normal production hours, because in most cases companies only have one cutting table, so when fitted to new tables it becomes part of the standard installation, commissioning and training.

Steve Goble, Managing Director Helga UK comments, “As glass design becomes more dynamic and triple glazing increases in popularity, laser technology is giving manufacturers more control, greater scope and helps to improve quality standards. It is an excellent, proven technology that will increase profit margins and give fast payback. All glass can now be marked with unique production addresses as part of the automated process, whether it be float glass going direct to the IG Line or Toughened which has multiple processes and accounts for at least 50% of production.”

For more information on the laser technologies available or for more information on allied glass manufacturing solutions please call: 01908 261 933 or 01952 677971.

A brand new Run-Through Sash Horns design option is now available for ECOSlide, the PVC-U vertical sliding sash window.

This new design employs Victorian Sliders expertise in design and manufacturing to deliver an authentic top sash frame solution with precise detailing and elegant aesthetic appeal.

True to the design of original timber box sash windows, the Run-Through Sash Horns option looks quite unlike the standard mitre-jointed PVC-U sash frame construction and provides the smooth and unbroken vertical lines of mechanical-jointed details at the top sash bottom rail frame intersections, along with beautifully shaped and contoured decorative sash horns.

These well-designed new Run-Through Sash Horns were previewed at the FIT Show 2017 and received a highly positive response from the hundreds of customers old and new who visited Victorian Sliders’ eye-catching stand in Birmingham’s NEC Hall 8.

ECOSlide vertical sliding sash units are supplied to Professional Trade Installers at “£199 any size, up to 1300mm wide and 2400mm high” for an A-Rated WER solid White PVC-U window, featuring decorative Plant-On sash horns along with toughened glass on both top and bottom sashes, travel restrictors, quick release tilt restrictors, White hardware, thermal inserts to both frame and sash and a signature extruded “anti-jemmy” security bar on the cill.

The new Run-Through Sash Horns design option is available for an extra £20 per window on this well-established standard ECOSlide pricing to the Trade, which has now been held stable without any price inflation for more than 5 years in a row.

Run-Through Sash Horns can be supplied in the full range of Victorian Sliders woodgrain foil colour finishes, as well as bespoke custom-spray finishing to any specified RAL colour which can be an important factor when supplying modern 21^st century PVC-U sash windows for conservation area “heritage” projects.

“Our new Run-Through Sash Horns design option is a continuation of our proven commercial strategy to offer the very best product solutions in terms of manufactured quality and value for money to Professional Trade Installers,” says Brendan McCambridge, Managing Director at Victorian Sliders. “Installers will be able to add a substantial profit margin when offering this highly attractive design option to Homeowners. Further design enhancements to deliver even more authentic and aspirational PVC-U vertical sliding sash windows will be announced soon, as we continually seek to improve our products and services to the benefit of all our customer partners.”

Distinction Doors says it has invested over £750,000 in the past 18 months in its production facilities at its 86,000ft headquarters in South Yorkshire. Gareth Williams, operations director, commented: “The investment we have made in our production facilities helps us to be more efficient across the board and gives us benefits we can pass on to our customers.”

The investment Distinction has made includes two new CNC machines, which has doubled its capacity. Alongside this, Distinction now has two edge banders and says that rollers and transfer trollies have been installed in the preparation areas to improve organisation and the flow of doors through the department. Further investment is expected and the company is currently looking at automated manual handling systems and conveyors between machines to improve the flow and cut down on manual handling where possible.

The production facility is also benefiting from a new extraction unit. The unit includes an extraction-on-demand system, which constantly monitors machine use and only powers up when machines are running, rather than operating continuously. Gareth commented: “The extraction-on-demand installation will help us make significant energy savings – in fact, we believe we will have recovered its cost in less than 18 months, not to mention helping us meet our environmental commitment.”

“Delivering a top quality door efficiently is at the heart of our offering to customers. Our investment means we can continue to do this not only now but in the future too.”

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Tibby Singh

Mighton Products has increased its offering to include a new scribing machine. The Scribe-It, developed in-house by Mighton, features a 240 volt semi-automatic design capable of providing joiners with high quality results whilst requiring minimal input. The company gave Tibby Singh, the former BBC Young Carpenter of the Year and now a professional tools and tech tester and reviewer, the opportunity to put the Scribe-It to the test.

“The main action is carried out using not one but two cutters. This allows for the shaping of the bead to be done in two halves, one after the other,” said Tibby. “By using a method like this the machine safeguards against potential issues, such as the bead splitting or spelching at the end, leaving you with a precise clean cut every time. There’s a range of compatible tooling available to suit various types of profile and the components have been made quick and easy to interchange, which for me was a real plus. The speed can also be adjusted to anywhere between 12,000 and 18,000 RPM to suit the material being cut.”

The Mighton Scribe-It completes a full cutting cycle in just 15 seconds and is compatible with any profile up to 45mm wide and 35mm deep, making it both efficient and flexible.

Tibby added: “The machine is not only fast but clean too. With a 63mm extraction outlet it can be connected to a vacuum extractor of choice to continuously clear away waste materials as you work. It also came with a complementary air gun which is great for getting rid of the daily dust build up to keep everything looking and performing at its best.”

www.mightonproducts.com

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Image Above: Gareth Jones

In 2016, many Window and Door System Companies joined the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). Due to the level, quantity and quality of those Members, the Federation has now fully established a new specific GGF ‘Systems House Group’.

The scope of the Group was determined at a preliminary meeting in January 2017 when system house companies met to discuss the potential Group’s scope. It proved to be far reaching and includes;

• Input into the GGF overall strategy such as the future shape and requirements of Building Regulations, e.g. Approved Document changes in England in 2018
• How to tackle the issues caused by restrictive planning conditions (such as Article 4 Directions) that may exclude some framing materials in certain circumstances
• To assess the potential impact of any regulatory changes and through the GGF’s political lobbying campaigns, influence the shape of those changes to ensure they can be achieved and are not detrimental to any specific framing materials
• To ensure System Companies are represented and their voice heard in Industry Standards setting forums
• To work with our partners and develop workable solutions to current or potential issues that may exclude certain companies, in particular small and micro enterprises, from parts of the market, e.g.
  • Small/micro fabricators who cannot justify third party certification to supply SBD compliant works

The Group met for its first meeting on 4^th May in Birmingham and GGF Members companies such as REHAU, VEKA, Profine UK, Synseal, Deceuninck and ALUK were represented. The meeting was chaired by Gareth Jones, Marketing & Technical Director – Window Solutions REHAU, who commented,

“It was good to Chair the first formal meeting of this essential group for the GGF and the industry.”

Gareth was elected Chairman of the System House Group by the Group’s Members and the position also means a seat on the GGF Board. On taking on this new responsibility, Gareth added,

“It’s an honour to represent the System Houses in the GGF Membership and the sector overall on the GGF Board. I will ensure the Group works to maintain and raise industry standards and that we focus on addressing the key issues affecting the sector.”

Some of the concerns involve changes to Building Regulations, reducing the duplication of certification on some projects and making it easier for companies to use and feed into Building Information Modelling (BIM) which is being used more frequently by architects and specifiers.

The next meeting is in August 2017 for more information on this meeting and if you would like to attend please email info@ggf.org.uk.

David Keates and Jonathon Mountford of DK Windows were announced as the overall winners of this year’s FIT Show Master Fitter Challenge at the exhibition’s gala dinner, by celebrity host Nick Knowles.

The 2017 Master Fitter Challenge (MFC) included six teams competing to install windows, residential and bi-folding doors and a lantern roof in just two days. In what was declared the most professional competition yet, David and Jonathon prevailed to win a cheque for £5,000. The pair also won the prize for the MFC best bi-fold door installation.

The runners-up were David Shaw and Nathan Daw of Shaw Home Improvements who took home a prize of £3,000, also winning the lantern roof section of the event. The final cash prize of £2,000 was scooped by Dale Harrison and Colin Stubbs of West Yorkshire Windows, who also won the window fitting section. Mark West and Mark Hardy of Sherborne Windows won the residential door fitting section.

Products installed by the teams were fitted to specially built competition rigs that were designed to replicate real-life technical installation conditions. Products for the competition were supplied by FIT Show exhibitors, including AluK (bi-folding doors); Epwin (windows); Apeer (residential composite doors); and Atlas (lantern roofs). Edgetech’s new installation tape, Trufit, was also introduced as an additional test.

The post Master Fitters appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Picture above: Swish cast iron effect guttering – faithful reproductions of the real thing.

Most professionals working in the design and creative industries, be it fashion, automotive or construction, recognise the importance of detail. The widely-quoted idiom, “The devil is in the detail” means that attention paid to small things can have big rewards and that details are important.

In construction, choosing the right product or material for a specific task can mean the difference between a design solution that is right and one that is very much wrong.

Rainwater systems specialists, Kayflow support this crusade for excellence in detail and offers a range of guttering and downpipes for housing commercial and industrial applications, all designed to complement the nuances of contemporary and traditional architecture.

For contemporary, the slick minimalist lines of round, ogee, square and deep section gutter profiles work beautifully on houses designed for modern lifestyles in new build as well as refurbishment projects.

Where more traditional detail is required, Kayflow has a range of PVC rainwater goods in designs that faithfully reflect the old-world charm of cast iron guttering and pipework, popular since pre-Victorian times.

Kayflow cast iron style rainwater goods are authentic reproductions of original designs, accurately made in all the traditional profiles, sections and sizes and with a surface texture that makes them highly appealing and cost effective alternatives to the hugely more expensive, real thing!

Kayflow’s “cast iron” range was developed as a result of extensive trade and consumer research. Attention to detailing of bracketry and fixings and high quality surface finish were front on mind in the development of the range.

Strength, durability and authentic appearance of all components, right down to small caps designed to cover wall fixings, make the system the ideal choice where traditional architectural styles need to be followed.

The spray applied coating applied to all components is permanently bonded during manufacture, ensuring each retains the excellent ductile qualities associated with all Kayflow rainwater goods.

Kayflow’s range of cast iron reproduction rainwater goods is available in black semi-gloss finish, in ogee, half round and deep-flow gutter profiles, together with square and round section down pipes and associated fittings. All components come with a comprehensive 10 year guarantee.

For further information on the full range of Kayflow rainwater systems contact:

Kay flow: 01827 317 200

www.kayflow.co.uk.

Essex based installation firm, Homeglaze, has been handed Which?’s Trusted Trader of the Year Award at a ceremony hosted by TV’s Natasha Kaplinsky.

Which? is regarded as the UK’s most trusted source of independent consumer advice and its Trusted Trader scheme reportedly puts homeowners in contact with over 8,000 extensively vetted builders, plumbers, window installers and other tradesman. Which? award nominees are chosen based on feedback from the public and research by Which?’s team of in-house experts.

“Customer satisfaction is hugely important to us,” commented managing director, Colin Morgan. “As a proud family business, we base everything we do on the principles of honesty, openness and reliability, and strive for 100% customer satisfaction every time. Our Checkatrade profile is one of the highest-rated, with over 1,000 reviews and an average score of 9.8 out of 10.

“I’m incredibly fortunate to have a brilliant team behind me at Homeglaze. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, we became the first window installer to ever receive Which?’s Trader of the Month award in April 2016 – and now, we’ve been able to go one better. We’re hugely ambitious about where we want to go in future – so look out for us as we continue to grow!”

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