Exit Planning and Succession I – A Successful Exit

In its biggest ever distribution deal, Composite Wood Company has joined forces with Eurocell to put its timber alternative decking, fencing and balustrade into all of Eurocell’s 170 trade counters covering the UK.

“Composite Wood decking and fencing is an exciting addition to Eurocell trade counters.  For installers, it’s fast and easy to fit, and homeowners love having a natural wood feel without the hassle of maintaining it,” says Lee Robinson, Senior Product Category Manager at Eurocell.

“Composite Wood Company has invested heavily to develop the right range and maintains a consistently high level of stock. That means Eurocell customers get quality products, when they need them.

“We see huge potential for Eurocell customers to win business with this range.  Composite Wood Company has already demonstrated impressive demand from homeowners with a G Award-winning retail campaign.  There are already more than 13,000 fans on the Composite Wood Company Facebook page.”

Eurocell and Composite Wood Company kicked off the partnership at FIT Show 2017, where the two companies’ stands were opposite each other.  Visitors saw the stunning Composite Wood products that can be ordered now at Eurocell trade counters.

To help customers make the most of the boom in outdoor living using Composite Wood, Eurocell’s comprehensive sales and marketing tools were also on display.  New POS material includes a Composite Wood sample board and brochure, so customers can easily select the components they need for each job.  Materials will be delivered direct to site within seven days of ordering.

Composite Wood Company is running a series of training sessions for Eurocell, covering the whole of the UK.  Lee says: “Branch staff will be able to show Eurocell customers how easy the decking, fencing and balustrades are to fit together, and to help with enquiries about the range.”

Tony Pratt, Sales Director at Composite Wood Company, adds: “Offering Composite Wood products through Eurocell Trade Counters is a fantastic opportunity to further develop our supply to the trade.  The Composite Wood Company team is looking forward to developing great working relationships with all Eurocell branches.”

www.compositewoodcompany.co.uk

Saint-Gobain Building Glass looked on proudly last month as a £27.5m university building it helped to design and create was opened by the University of Huddersfield to provide a new home for its Law School and the School of Music, Humanities and Media.

The prestigious new Oastler Building was officially opened by The Duke of York on Monday 24 April at a VIP ceremony that celebrated the success of apprentices and trainees, via numerous sub-contractors and manufacturers, that were involved in the project.

Occupying a prominent site on the Shorehead side of the campus, the six-storey building is BREEAM Outstanding rated thanks to the use of SGG COOL-LITE SKN 165 II collar control glass in its curved frontage and a 3.5m cantilever. This dramatic design feature helps to self-shade the building’s glass façade to reduce solar gain and energy costs for cooling.

During the project, Saint-Gobain Building Glass worked closely with commercial sealed unit manufacturer Dual Seal Glass to ensure the correct technical glazing specification was provided and ensure that project deadlines and demands were met on time and in full with an excellent quality finished product.

Nigel Meredith, Managing Director of Dual Seal Glass, commented that the project was a success thanks to the collaborative effort between Dual Seal Glass and Saint-Gobain Building Glass “The partnership created between our two businesses is invaluable and it helps to ensure that we can meet the ever increasing demands in the commercial building sector.”

Adrian Adams, facades market manager at Saint-Gobain Building Glass, commented: “The team at Saint-Gobain Building Glass is proud to have been part of a project that was made possible by the involvement of many fantastic local businesses. It has been incredibly inspiring to see this project take shape and we look forward to seeing it become an established part of the Huddersfield skyline.”

The new building is a tribute to Richard Oastler, the 19th century reformer who campaigned to curb child labour and improve conditions for all workers in the new factories of the Industrial Revolution.

www.saint-gobain.com

www.saint-gobain-glass.com

Internationally acclaimed spacer bar manufacturer Edgetech, a Quanex company, is bringing the ‘science of warm edge’ to the upcoming FIT Show.

Since 1985, when it first launched the ground-breaking Super Spacer flexible foam spacer product, Edgetech has led the market in driving energy efficiency and improving productivity.

Edgetech’s interactive science-themed FIT Show stand will give visitors a glimpse of the scientific rigour it has brought to product development and testing over the last thirty years. Practical demonstrations of Edgetech’s entry-level manual application equipment will show how quick, easy and cost effective it is to manufacture insulated glass units with Super Spacer and is always a popular feature at exhibitions.

“It’s our dedication to intensive research, extensive testing and innovation that’s always stood Edgetech out from the competition,” commented Head of Marketing, Charlotte Davies. “We take a scientific approach to everything we do to ensure that our product quality is second to none. It’s that ethos we’ll be looking to showcase at the NEC later this month. We have absolute confidence in the performance of our product, not only from laboratory testing but also as it’s been tried and tested in the field for over 30 years. The FIT Show gives us the opportunity to let visitors conduct experiments themselves to experience Super Spacer’s outstanding performance first hand.

“We’ve appeared at every FIT Show since the event began, and this year it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. We can’t wait to head to Birmingham and show the industry what we can do. Whether you’re an installer looking to ensure the components in your windows will stand the test of time, a fabricator looking for a cost-effective way to begin manufacturing IG or an IGU manufacturer looking to partner with a company you can trust, we encourage you all to join us on stand E12.”

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 and its wide range of products visit www.edgetechig.co.uk

The Flamstead Group, led by Group CEO Roger Hartshorn, has announced the divestment of fabricator Vintage Windows, in a sale to its Managing Director Alan Cooke.

Originally set up as an independent fabricator, Vintage Windows then became the testing and development facility for the Liniar system. As part of the Flamstead Group, the company was formerly a sister company to HL Plastics, owners of the Liniar brand, and Avantek Machinery.

Over the years the company has fabricated small quantities of windows for local installers, as well as helping out Liniar fabricators with high volume requirements. Vintage Windows UPVC will continue to supply Liniar’s customers where required directly on identical commercial terms.

Roger Hartshorn announced the divestment today, commenting:

“In line with our overall strategy and our commitment not to compete with our fabricator customers, we have decided to divest the Vintage business. The company has now become a stand-alone Liniar fabricator on a long term supply agreement, with immediate effect.

“Contrary to current industry trends of running with the hare and the hounds, we believe our resources are better directed at helping our valued fabricators to expand their own businesses.

“This move will enable the core Liniar team to focus on value-added activities such as customer service and new product development, which will benefit our whole customer base without the conflict of competition from their supplier.

“We wish Alan and the team at Vintage Windows UPVC the very best with their future plans and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship as supplier and customer.”

Please note Vintage Windows will have new contact details from the end of May – telephone 01773 603923 and email info@vintagewindowsupvc.co.uk.

Hot on the heels of its recent launch of three new products, Hueck UK has added an innovative new system to its aluminium range.

Lambda SA (silent air) is a modular soundproofing system based on Hueck’s Lambda 090 window system.

Thanks to an ingenious design, Lambda SA can reduce noise pollution by up to 39dB, even when the window sash is open in the tilted position.

Lambda SA is ideal for use in new-build and refurbishment projects where the requirements for soundproofing are high, such as densely populated areas and homes near airports and railway lines.

Different combinations of soundproofing system components mean different demands for soundproofing, economic viability and the possible width of the tilted position opening can be achieved.

For example, a fanlight for rush airing can be combined with a special bottom light window for sound-proof continuous ventilation. And Lambda SA can also be used with windows that do not have a bottom light window.

Leon Friend, Director at Hueck, comments: “Windows are only sound-proof when they’re closed but the requirement for quietness conflicts with people’s need for natural ventilation.

“Lambda SA allows end users to have the best of both worlds, offering a comfortable room climate, energy efficient ventilation and an increased quality of life. It’s a new product to the window market and we’re excited to be launching it to our UK customers.”

For more information please email leon.friend@hueck.com or visit www.hueck.com

Liniar has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Recognition of ‘outstanding achievement’ in the Innovation category, has been bestowed upon the Liniar ModLok bi-folding door.

According to Liniar, 1,357 companies have been awarded the Innovation accolade since it was launched 51 years ago, with Liniar among around 50 firms adding to that list this year.

Liniar CEO, Roger Hartshorn, said: “The Queen’s Award is the ultimate tribute for a business. So to win, particularly for innovation, is a massive honour.

“I’m delighted that the Liniar ModLok bi-fold has been recognised for its revolutionary design. It’s a great reflection on the exceptional team we have here and the high standards of the products we have created.

“Not only is this award great news for us as a company, but it’s also fantastic for our customers who will benefit from the prestige that this will bring by underlining the outstanding quality of the ModLok bi-fold to homeowners.”

“Winning this award comes in the same year we’ll officially open our impressive new 178,000ft² warehouse and showroom facility, further cementing our commitment to expansion and improvement.”

The prestigious annual awards, announced on the Queen’s birthday, are reportedly made on the advice of the Prime Minister, after examination of applications by an advisory committee, composed of ‘leading individuals’ from industry, commerce, trade unions and government.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are said to be ‘the highest official UK awards for British businesses’ and were established by Royal Warrant in 1965.

Roger has been invited to attend a reception held by Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace, and Liniar will be visited during the year by a Royal representative to present the a crystal chalice and scroll.

www.liniar.co.uk/doors/pvcu-bifold/modlok-bi-fold

The post ModLok bi-fold earns Liniar a Queen’s Award appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Glow heated glass is the latest innovative technology to take the glazing industry by storm. This pioneering product has be showcased exclusively at this year’s Grand Designs live show, with over 20 years manufacturing experience and continuous research and development within the glass industry Tuff X are able to combine the very latest technology with consumer’s expectation to become the UK’s first company to offer heated glass for Bi-folding doors. Glow heated glass is electrically heated which converts electric power into heat and are thermostatically controlled with a temperatures up 35-40c.

MD Graham Price commented the consumer reaction to the GLOW brand has been overwhelming with a strategic planned growth now being implemented. We are now actively seeking a select number of trade partners to be part of this exciting new product.

Key features:

•          Thermostatically controlled

•          Surface Temperatures up to 40 c

•          1.1 U-value

•          Toughened Safety Glass

•          Flexible warm edge spacer bar

•          Argon gas

For further information Email  sales@glowheatedglass.co.uk

Contact 0345 3400 200

For partnerships email grahamp@txpro.co.uk