New Mighton Machine Receives Glowing Review

The range of machinery from Mighton Products has grown again with the recent addition of the innovative X-Cut™ machine. Developed by Mighton’s in-house experts to improve the painstaking task of cross-jointing glazing bars, this compact semi-automatic milling machine measures just under 40cm wide and 45cm high. Mighton gave Tibby Singh, the former BBC Young Carpenter of the Year and now a professional tools and tech tester and reviewer, the opportunity to trial the X-Cut™ machine and see if mighty things really do come in small packages.

Tibby considered the task that the X-Cut™ has been produced to tackle: “Making any cross detail look strong and well finished can be a tricky task especially if you’re short on time. Various shortcut methods exist of course, such as using jointing clips, but none of these compare to an authentic cross joint,” he said.

“There are a number of 45 degree angles incorporated in a traditional cross joint, making it a little more complex to achieve, so I was surprised how well the X-Cut™ machine simplifies the process. The machine itself was quick and easy to set up, the tools were easy to interchange and there was no lengthy manual or complicated computer program to learn before being able to get started,” he continued.

Once assembled, the X-Cut™ machine adjusts to accept bead profiles measuring anywhere from 9mm to 19mm in height and 12mm to 38mm wide. Any lengths over 500mm can be used with the option to add extending arms either side of the machine for ease of loading longer sections.

“After slotting my chosen bead into place the machine’s three cutters then worked together to produce the cross cut,” explained Tibby. “Two cutters, one on either side, move up and down to produce two clean 45 degree cut outs whilst any dust is removed through the 63mm extraction outlet. This is followed by a third flute cutter gliding horizontally through the bead to create a hollowed-out section designed to accept other interlocking parts. Speed control is variable between 12,000 and 18,000 RPM to suit different materials, but on average it takes only 15 seconds before the cutting is complete.

“Even at this speed the X-Cut™ maintains a consistent high level of finish,” added Tibby, who writes about tool tech for trade magazines as well as demonstrating and evaluating products in the UK and overseas. “This is aided by features such as the thickness gauge tool. When setting the cutting depth required the X-Cut™ is designed to automatically increase measurements by half a millimetre, ensuring all components comfortably slot together every time.”

Demonstrations of this and any other Mighton machines are available through the new Mighton Mobile Demonstration Vehicles. Available at home or work, this popular service gives customers the option to book a free appointment with a Mighton expert and receive a live demonstration showing how to get the most out of a potential purchase.Flexible finance options are also available making the Mighton X-Cut™ easily attainable for small to medium joinery companies.

To learn more about the range of Mighton machinery or to order a new catalogue visit www.mightonproducts.com or call 01223 497097.

Industry-leading spacer bar manufacturer Edgetech, a Quanex company, took visitors back to the classroom as they showcased the ‘science of warm edge’ at the FIT Show 2017.

Offering one of the most interactive stands at the FIT Show, Edgetech shared just a taste of the thirty years of fastidious research, constant development and thorough scientific testing used to create the ground-breaking Super Spacer flexible foam spacer bar.

The stand also featured live demonstrations of Super Spacer application, showing how glazed units can be manufactured efficiently and cost-effectively using Super Spacer. To complete the science theme, visitors were also able to pick up a test tube of Super Spacer branded M&Ms.

“We had a brilliant time at this year’s FIT Show taking visitors back to the classroom and behind the scenes of our unrivalled Super Spacer,” comments Edgetech’s Head of Marketing, Charlotte Davies. “Behind all of our products, there is a wealth of research and countless hours of testing to ensure every single parameter delivers only the best performance. Our stringent and thorough research and development programme provides the evidence we need to verify the quality and performance of our products, in addition to over three decades of real-life experience outside the laboratory.”

“As experts and pioneers of warm edge, it was great to come to the FIT Show and share the facts behind the technology through our fun, interactive stand. As veterans of the FIT Show, appearing every year since the event began, we can safely say it has been one of our most successful appearances in terms of quality leads. We were able to leave the NEC having established new relationships with installers looking to gain a greater understanding of the quality inside their products, fabricators who are looking to manufacture IG and leading, established IG manufacturers who want to use the best-in-class spacer bar. With such success, we are already looking forward to FIT Show 2019!”

Founded in 1989, and today forming part of global building products group Quanex, Edgetech revolutionised the industry with the introduction of the game-changing Super Spacer flexible warm edge spacer bar. Currently celebrating a decade of manufacturing at its Coventry headquarters, the company offers a comprehensive range of components for warm edge windows.

For more information on Edgetech call 02476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk

Integral blinds are the ideal partner for bi-folding doors and can help towards achieving energy efficiency homes.

Originally developed for the commercial sector integral blinds are a glazing alternative to internal or external blinds, shutters or traditional curtains. Sealed within the glazed unit, blinds are sealed from any ingress of dirt, dust or moisture offering an inexpensive and safe solution, with low maintenance and reduced sound intrusion and solar glare. Blinds can reduce air-conditioning and heating costs by providing greater insulation and light reflection minimizing the effect of direct sunlight, providing protection from overheating in the summer and thermal insulation in the winter months.

For homeowners, blinds are both a creative and practical solution for any home, adding elegance and style while at the same time offering a safe and low maintenance answer to providing light and privacy. The customer has a wide choice of stylish Venetian and fabric finishes including blackout options in a range of colours to complement the building’s designs. Although traditionally corded operated, blinds are being increasingly supplied motorised either powered by a battery unit on the glass or hard wired through to a central control box. Motorised blinds are the ultimate in safety and convenience, easily controlled by a hand held remote unit for up to 12 blinds or interfaced with a home automation systems such as Lutron or Control 4.

Italian-style quality, custom made

Italy’s leading designer and manufacturer of interstitial blinds, Sunbell, has created a range of high-quality, innovative and energy-efficient solutions. A well-established family business in Italy Sunbell has a good reputation for service and quality, manufacturing a wide range of traditional and integral blinds. Supplied in kit form, custom made, Sunbell can offer a wide choice of solutions and styles to suit every taste comprising of aluminium Venetian slats, pleated (Sunlight), duette (Sunveil) and blackout (Sunblock) including a new venetian finish ‘Charcoal Grey’ (that’s a close match to the ever popular grey RAL 7016) together with a choice of spacer bar, black or silver. 

Venetian blinds are designed to control the diffusion of light that offer varying degrees of privacy for all rooms. Simple to operate and adjust Sunbell’s venetian blinds provide a modern, sleek design that will enhance the look of any home. As a well-established leading designer and manufacturer of stylish blind solutions and electrical control systems; Sunbell offers a unique combination of Italian design, superb quality and engineering excellence.

The post Solar-shading solutions for bi-folding doors from Sunbell appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Stoke-on-Trent based fabricator, UK Window Systems has been acquired by external investors who have introduced a new management team to the business. The company has been trading since 2003 and was originally set-up by partners, Gary Beech and Richard Barlow. Gary remains in the business as Operations Director and will oversee the production and manufacturing of the company’s products. Michael Armstrong has been newly appointed as Managing Director and will take care of the day-to-day running of the organisation. The pair have also been joined by Nick Holloway, previous Sales Director at Hallmark Panels Doors.

Michael commented on the acquisition: “The new management team took over the company in November 2016. UK Window Systems manufacturers two of the industry’s leading profile systems Rehau and the Residence collection, along with a range of composite doors and the Ultraframe conservatory roofing system. The business has been totally understated for many years, an undiscovered gem and has a vast amount of potential. Year-on-year – since it’s setup, the company has grown steadily with little marketing and sales effort, an incredible achievement considering the industry’s austerity over previous years. With a new management structure in place, we are now quite excited with the prospect of developing the business, extending our market offering further by introducing new products and by servicing trade customers nationally.” Michael adds.

Nick Holloway also commented: “I already had a close relationship with Michael from my previous role as Sales Director at Hallmark, so when he approached me to join the company it was too good of an opportunity to pass-by. The company has already undergone a complete transformation since I arrived in November 2016.  It has been restructured to introduction new products, new resources to support the operational functions and seen a redesign of the manufacturing and trade-counter layout to offer more efficient supply for trade customers. I’m looking forward to being part of the company’s development and helping to take it to greater heights in the industry. With the current potential and open-mindedness of its investors, it is a great time for customers to get involved.” Nick concludes.

The post Newly Acquired UK Window Systems introduces new management team appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Changing system supplier can be a daunting challenge and industry statistics showing that less than 6% of fabricators change each year suggests the risks of delays and disruption stop many businesses from even considering it. But Lawson Price, Technical Manager at Profile 22, says changing needn’t be difficult – and he has the figures to prove it. “When we launched Optima last year, we successfully undertook a complete changeover of nearly 100 Profile 22 fabricators to Optima in just nine months. We’ve also brought on-board a significant number of new fabricators so far this year too.”

Lawson says the key to Profile 22’s ability to undertake a seamless changeover is thanks to a meticulously planned changeover system that minimises disruption and means a fabricator can finish one system on the Friday and start again on Monday morning with Optima.

Before the Profile 22 changeover team goes to the fabricator’s site to complete the changeover, all tooling is delivered to its Telford factory, before being trial fitted and checked by a dedicated field technician. Similarly, all set up materials are ordered and factory tested 10 days prior to setup.

Preparations at the fabricator’s premises include training for staff, putting everything in place and checking it before undertaking the changeover and running test profiles. Once this has happened successfully, ‘live’ orders are put through the fabricator’s systems. The Profile 22 team will also place orders with the customer’s production team to make sure everything works in a real world environment.

In short, the Profile 22 team takes full responsibility for the changeover and support the fabricator before, during and after the physical changeover.

Lawson comments: “Our procedures are tried and tested and 100 changeovers in nine months is evidence of how well they work.”

The impressiveness of Optima’s changeover process is only matched by the system itself. Available in sculptured and chamfered versions and with unrivalled versatility thanks to its range of ancillaries and add-ons, it holds the British Standard Kitemark and has Secured by Design approval. And as further evidence of the quality of the new system, it won the New Product of the Year category at the 2016 G Awards.

In conclusion, Optima is one of the most exciting systems on the market today and in its thorough planning and processes the Profile 22 team has removed the risks involved in changing systems. The case for switching system has rarely looked stronger

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Gardner Denver has released a new compressor guide, showing how window fabricators can improve reliability, efficiency and quality by switching to rotary vane technology.

Entitled ‘Hydrovane: one solution, all you need,’ the guide is available for free download from www.gardnerdenver.com/hydrovane-guide/  

It considers how different compressor technologies can impact on cost of ownership, and how choosing the right model can help businesses to ensure a reliable, high-quality supply of air.

Whether it’s powering air tools or supporting critical processes, a compressor will often be working for extended periods and needs to operate reliably to avoid any downtime and the inevitable delays this will create.

Most companies will default to using an existing compressor, perhaps an old piston or rotary screw model, without even realising that they’ve made a decision. Renowned for their durability and longevity, these machines are often inherited from a previous owner, or purchased second hand. They work day in and day out with little complaint, and as long as they produce sufficient quantities of air when required most small businesses won’t necessarily consider their overall cost of ownership or energy performance.

However, it is not uncommon to find businesses using a compressor first installed 30 or 40 years ago. When capital investment needs to be considered carefully a seemingly reliable machine is unlikely to be high on the list of equipment replacement priorities, even if it is not performing as well as it could be.

The new guide therefore examines some of the areas to consider when specifying a new machine, with the latest, rotary vane technology proposed as an ideal option.

The Hydrovane Air Solution is one such solution. Its rotatory vane technology comes complete with all the required ancillaries to produce clean, dry air – air receiver, dryer and filtration – in one compact unit, to save on installation time and cost.

Models are available from 4kW to 22kW in both fixed and regulated speeds, with automatic start/stop, low noise levels, dry air and filtration down to 0.01 micron. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the machine offers a market-leading 10-year extended warranty programme designed to deliver comprehensive warranty cover for up to 10 years or 48,000 operating hours.

Steve Downes, Hydrovane Sales Manager at Gardner Denver, said: “We have created this guide to provide practical advice to those whose businesses depend on reliable and efficient compressed air. The tips it offers on maintenance and spare parts could help prevent a small problem becoming a major cause of downtime, so companies can continue to get the best out of their compressor.

“To that end, we would encourage window fabricators to choose a compressor that best suits their level of demand. In the case of smaller business owners, we would advise they take a look at rotary vane technology, as it provides reliability, efficiency, and quality on a more appropriate scale to their needs.”

For more information on the Hydrovane Air Solution, Gardner Denver’s ‘plug-and-play’ rotary vane technology system, download the new guide for free at www.gardnerdenver.com/hydrovane-guide/

Epwin Window Systems launched its Excellence as Standard installer programme at FIT  2017 and the impressive sign up rate reflects the value it will give to member businesses. Over 100 businesses took the pledge before and at the show and the number has continued to increase in the time since.

Sharn Samra, Epwin Window Systems’ Marketing Director, said: “Excellence as Standard is so much more than a conventional registered installer programme and the reaction from both installers and fabricators shows that it is just what the industry needs.”

The programme encompasses Epwin Window Systems’ leading systems brands Spectus, Profile 22 and Swish and advocates excellence at every stage of the project from manufacturing through to installation in a consumer’s home.

In order to obtain and preserve EAS Chartered Installer status, installers will need to demonstrate that they adhere to a 12 point charter that shows they are committed to raising standards across the industry and delivering an outstanding customer experience.

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

The programme is being run in partnership with FENSA and members will receive a card branded with both FENSA and Excellence as Standard that demonstrates the connection.

Sharn concludes: “We believe Excellence as Standard will re-define the benchmark in the home improvement industry and the sign up rate to date proves there’s a real appetite for quality. I would urge any installer who shares our commitment to driving standards and success to take the pledge and join us today for the start of a very exciting journey.”