KÖMMERLING TO MAKE A NEW PRODUCT PACKED, FIT DEBUT

KÖMMERLING will bring a number of new developments to stand number F30 in hall 6 at the FIT Show, that will include products from the new 76mm platform, proCoverTec surface technology, an innovative Pergola for outdoor living and the global debut of the first ever soft close technology in a PVCu glazing system.

The stand will be packed with innovation from KÖMMERLING and the new 76mm platform will be represented with a 6m x 2.5m, lift and slide PremiDoor 76 in the two sash format. The door theme continues with a French door combination, again in the System 76 variant with proCoverTec, which also features a clever tilt option for ventilation.

One of the other main door systems on show will be a 4-pane, Secured by Design 5m x 2.5m PremiLine Pro patio door, highlighting the patented multi-point locking system at the interlock. This is believed to be the first PVCu patio door in the industry to achieve PAS 24, without plunge bolts, carry Secured by Design and that can meet the needs of the Lifetime Homes criteria.

Window systems are also well represented on the stand with a System 76 AluClip Pro variant, creating a PVCu/aluminium hybrid design, which offers a flush aluminium external appearance, with options for Passivhaus levels of performance. Also on show will be the window derivative of the PremiFold system, which is a unique slide, swing and folding system.

The FIT Show will also be the platform for the launch of proCoverTec, a unique surface finish technology that offers full colour through the rebate, or alternatively coloured on one side, that also offers proven dirt and water repellent properties.

The new Pergola will be used as a canopy for a hospitality area and represents the first product launched from a new division within the profine Group. The Pergola is a product purely aimed at the outdoor living market, which is projected to emerge as a strong growth market in the years to come.

Kevin Warner, head of sales and marketing commented: ‘It’s our first FIT Show and we’re genuinely thrilled with the number of new products on show, as we continue to lead in terms of innovation in the UK market for PVCu window and doors systems. There will also be the chance to experience the first ever soft close technology for PVCu systems seen globally, which should cause quite a stir with stand visitors.’

For KÖMMERLING information on becoming a manufacturing partner, approved installer or as a building specifier, call 01543 444900, e-mail enquiries@profine-group.com or visit www.kommerling.co.uk. You can also follow them on Twitter @kommerling_uk. Please visit stand F30 in hall 6 at the FIT Show.

The Window Company (Contracts) liked the previous FIT Shows so much that, this time around, it has booked its own stand.

The specialist commercial installer, twice winner of the Installer of the Year title at the G-Awards, is inviting many of its most valued clients from the commercial sector to visit the show and see the very best that the window and door industry has to offer.

Unusually, the company’s own stand won’t feature any products. Instead, it will be designed primarily as a hub where clients can join The Window Company (Contracts)’ team for VIP tours of the show’s highlights.

Chairman David Thornton said: “This industry has transformed itself in recent years and we’re incredibly proud to be a part of that. We want our clients in the new build, public sector and social housing sectors to see the scale of the industry for themselves and share our excitement about some of the latest innovations which are on the way.

“We’ll be aiming to identify the products which we think are the real stars of the show in advance and then arranging stand tours for our clients. We plan to introduce them to our key suppliers including Emplas, Glazerite, Polyframe, Rehau, Veka, and potential new contacts as well.

“On our own stand hub, we’ll be serving drinks and snacks and letting our invited clients recharge their batteries with charging points for phones and laptops and space to sit and relax.”

www.thewinco.co.uk

The world’s first verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) calculated through the new BRE LINA tool was unveiled at Ecobuild on 7th March 2017. British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and Wood Window Alliance member Mumford & Wood’s Conservation Casement Window became the first product to receive a verified EPD, with the Stormsure Timber Casement Window by JELD-WEN due to follow shortly.

Speakers at the launch (pictured left to right) included Dr Shamir Ghumra, director at the BRE Centre for Sustainable Products, Beatrix Richards, head of corporate stewardship (sustainable commodities) at WWF-UK, and BWF Chief Executive Iain McIlwee.

BWF is the first customer worldwide for BRE LINA. This allows them to produce life cycle assessment results for its members’ products which are then uploaded into the BRE Hub so that a third party verified BRE Global EPD can be produced. The results can also inform assessments for ISO 14001, EN 15804 (the European standard for the sustainability of construction products) and other environmental management systems, and can feed into BIM (Building Information Modelling).

Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the BWF, said at the launch: “LINA is a revolution, it puts the calculator in our hands and enables us to work with members to produce LCAs in EPD format, but also to turn the various dials and consider the whats and the what ifs.  Today sees the first EPD verified through the system and I am grateful to Mumford and Wood for their support and patience in bringing us to this point.  We have another that should be completed by JELD-WEN by the end of the week and then the floodgates can open – in the form of EPDs staircases, doorsets, flooring, roofing.

“What is more as we start to develop our understanding we can assess consequences of our decisions and start to look at how we can optimise and benchmark our products and processes.  It has also opened our eyes to other forms of measurement and we have already started sharing data with the Cradle to Cradle assessors to look at materials health, another vital piece of the jigsaw.

“The complexity is gone and that seemingly insurmountable pile of pound signs and zeroes has gone.  We can now produce LCAs in EPD format and the verification process with BRE is simple, transparent and at a price accessible to all.   This is the wood industry measuring carbon and I lay down the gauntlet to other materials to do the same – it is complicated, but it is also possible – we are doing it.

“So my message today is that LINA is a game changer, it puts the power in industry’s and removes cost hurdles.  So today let’s put complex behind us, let’s stop worrying about what and how and start focussing on why and when – the timber industry is open for EPD business!”

Beatrix Richards, head of corporate stewardship (sustainable commodities) at WWF-UK also spoke at the launch at Ecobuild. She says: “Government figures suggest we may need to build a million new houses by 2020.  As we seek to ensure that this construction, and indeed the on-going repair and restoration of the existing housing stock, has the lowest possible environmental impact, it is critical that we understand the full life time costs of all the products we use.  This applies to everything – cement, bricks, doors, windows etc.

“Tools exist to help architects, builders, suppliers and consumers to understand the true, full costs, from sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, life time use and disposal, so that decisions can be made on the best possible information. Life cycle assessments are one such way of capturing this information and WWF welcomes the British Woodworking Federation’s lead in adopting this approach.”

Further information on Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations can be found at: www.bwf.org.uk/toolkit/environmental-waste-management/what-is-a-life-cycle-assessment

Here you can view the EPD for Mumford and Wood’s Conservation Casement window.

After the success of last year’s FIT Show Apeer are already gearing up for the next with grand plans to showcase fantastic new additions to the award winning Lumi range, alongside the latest offering from the ever-popular collection of Apeer composite doors.

‘The last show had such a positive impact that we were never in any doubt about returning again for 2017. Since the successful launch of Lumi we’ve continued looking at ways to further develop our products and expand the range in response to the feedback we received. It became clear that customers see Lumi as a great choice for new build applications but we really want to raise its profile as an equally suitable product for refurbishment projects. Apeer plan to drive that message forward at the upcoming show as well as unveiling our exciting new products,’ said Linda Tomb, Marketing Manager.

At the forefront of these developments are a striking new Lumi door as well as two fresh and innovative versions of the Lumi French door, all of which are set to wow visitors with their signature quality and good looks. The beautiful three pane triple track Lumi Lift & Slide door will also take a prime spot on the stand as it is offered up to Apeer trade customers, both old and new.

It is not all about Lumi, however. Apeer composite doors are also ready to share the spotlight as six of them have been supplied for the door category of the Master Fitter Challenge, which Apeer are also sponsoring. This is set to be a great platform for customers to see the benefits of their double rebated fibreglass and high density polyurethane foam core design, whilst displaying the versatile range of spray and foil colour combinations, triple glazing options and examples of the bespoke glass designs produced by Apeer’s specialist in-house team.

If all this was not enough Apeer have also been busy behind the scenes upgrading their online presence and marketing support, including fresh websites, brochures and an improved customer showroom. So be sure to stop by stand K30 for a drink or two at the Apeer bar and, with their experienced staff at hand, discover for yourself what this company has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.

www.apeer.co.uk

Image Above: Russell Yates, Managing Director, AluK

AluK is at the FIT Show for the first time and will definitely be making its presence felt. As well as launching four brand new products, including a highly anticipated brand new bifold door, it is hosting its very own seminar series and sponsoring the popular Master Fitter Challenge.

Its message to visitors is that, if you’re at the show to look at aluminium, then AluK is the stand you can’t afford to miss.

Probably the most significant product launch is the Luminia F82 bi-fold door. Having dominated the retail bi-fold sector for so many years with its BSF70 model, AluK has developed a brand new door which sets a new benchmark for the industry. With improved U-Values, slimmer sight lines and availability in a range of popular colours, AluK says that it takes on the hybrid alternatives and reminds the market that, when it comes to bi-folds, there’s no need for imitations.

Also new on the AluK stand is a brand new SC156 sliding door in the same Luminia range, and a high end Infinium sliding door showcased at 3000mm (h) x 4000mm (w) with 21mm sight lines for true panoramic, wall to wall and floor to ceiling views.

An innovative new Pallazzo veranda system is the fourth new product being launched and gives fabricators and installers a potentially exciting new market opportunity targeting homeowners who want to create an outdoor living space which bridges the gap between house and garden.

Of course, visitors can see all of AluK’s most recent innovations on the stand as well, including the Optio BSC94S sliding door system with slimmer 45mm sightlines, and, in the tested, tried and trusted 58BW window, a French casement version which is the perfect replacement for steel windows in heritage applications.

In the lead up to the show, AluK has been showcasing its Experts in Aluminium and they will be taking centre stage on the stand, hosting a series of seminars in a specially created Expert Zone. This will open with a panel debate featuring leading industry figures looking at the state of the aluminium market, and will also include seminars tailored specifically for aluminium fabricators and installers on topics such as Approved Document Q, estimating software and training, and powder coating.

For AluK, the FIT Show is the perfect platform for what looks set to be its most exciting year yet, with the move to its impressive new factory scheduled for June and the opening of a brand new training academy in August.

Further details are on the AluK website at: www.aluk.co.uk

The thirst for new product development continues, as Prefix Systems look set to launch a number of new products at this year’s FIT Show, further enhancing their credentials as the most dynamic player in the extended living space market.

As we reach the NEC for the first time in the history of the FIT Show, Prefix Systems will have their largest ever exhibition stand at a UK trade show, with several new roofing developments and also residential glazing solutions. Their WARMroof is already widely regarded as the most configurable product in the solid, tiled roofing sector and will be featured in the stunning hybrid version, combining fixed triple glazed sections, within a tiled roof environment.

The OPUS aluminium/timber composite system will be showcased as fixed lights and as a sumptuous bi-folding door option and there will also be an aluminium patio door and bi-folding door from Smart Systems. Other residential glazing solutions include the Alitherm 47 heritage window, which is designed to replicate the sightlines of steel windows, boasting a slim back to front dimension of just 47mm.

The VS 600 vertical sliding window will also be presented and incorporates the traditional styling of sash windows with the advantages of modern thermal aluminium profiles and specific hardware developed by Calwell, as Prefix looks to offer one of the broadest ranges of aluminium doors and windows in the UK.

The popular Verandah system, which was previewed at the FIT Show in 2016, will also be on display as Prefix look to build their presence in the outdoor living market. The trend towards lantern roofs and Orangeries will also be satisfied, with an iX250 Orangery solution and ultraSKY lantern, featuring beautiful OPUS hardwood undercladding.

As a company with an unrivalled history in conservatory roofing, Prefix will also be launching their URBANroom at the show, which combines an Ultraframe aluminium roof, with a deep contemporary gutter shroud and internal pelmet detail. This is a product set for the modern conservatory market, who are inspired by contemporary living and the adoption of in vogue colours such as anthracite grey.

Prefix’s marketing co-ordinator, Hannah Gilrane commented: ‘It’s our biggest exhibition investment ever in terms of the stand and the products that we have invested in. There’s quite simply a product for everyone and we’ll also be looking to launch our new Product Directory.’

For further information, on Prefix Systems contact the head office on 01254 871800, visit www.prefixsystems.co.uk, e-mail enquiries@prefixsystems.co.uk or add to their considerable following on Twitter @prefixsystems. Visit them on stand R20 at the FIT Show in hall 8.

National Plastics has just announced it will now be supplying Safedoors’ composite doors throughout its nationwide trade counter network. Geoff Foster, Managing Director at National Plastics, commented: “Adding Safedoors’ composite doors to our range will enhance our USP as a one-stop shop for quality building products and more.”

Composite doors are the UK’s most popular choice of entrance door and National Plastics chose its range with care. Geoff said: “We wanted a door partner who could provide great choice and exceptional quality. Safedoors delivers that with its Diamond and Platinum ranges.”

The Safedoors’ Diamond range includes 21 doors in 13 colours and the Safedoors’ Platinum range includes 18 designs in 10 colours. Both ranges come with a range of glass and hardware options. The doors all comply with the latest building regulations and come with a ten year guarantee as standard. A Secured By Design option is available on request. Prices for a complete doorset offer great value for money, so all-in-all the new range is likely to prove very attractive to installers.

As Geoff says, National Plastics is renowned for being a one-stop shop when it comes to building products. The new composite doors will be part of a portfolio that also includes bathroom panels, guttering products, fascias and soffits, cladding, drainage products, roofing products, PVC-u windows, doors and conservatories, garden products, accessories and wall panels.

Alongside its product range, National Plastics is also renowned for its prices and the quality and knowledge of its people. It’s a winning combination that means it’s hardly surprising it’s become the go-to trade counter network!

www.nationalplastics.co.uk

Having an offering that reflects market trends is a fundamental requirement of a successful business and it’s something that aluminium systems company Exlabesa UK has got a reputation for doing. That reputation is being enhanced in its KLS patio door suite. Paul Benn, Exlabesa’s National Sales Manager, comments: “The trend at the moment is for large expanses of glass that give unrestricted views to the outside. In the KLS patio door suite you have a product that delivers what the homeowner wants and is also easy to install, so it delivers what installers need too.”

The KLS patio door suite has been designed to maximise the glazed area, giving the expansive views and slim sightlines that homeowners are looking for. The doors use the K Concept mechanical corner cleat system, a sliding mechanism that allows large panels of glass to move effortlessly, smoothly and quietly, something that makes them a pleasure to use. The system uses a multipoint locking system and is internally beaded to ensure high security levels. Single and dual colour options complete a door suite that offers considerable homeowner appeal.

While the benefits of the KLS patio door system for homeowners are clear, the benefits for fabricators and installers are also numerous. Doors up to 3,300mm x 3,200mm are available, meaning the system is suitable for use in the largest of glazed areas. The system integrates with Exlabesa’s KWS Window Systems, and Curtain Walling System which means it can be specified as part of a total glazed solution. It’s a thermally broken system that meets and exceeds current building regulations. It uses a mechanical corner joint for easy fabrication and features an innovative gasket design for easy glazing. And it’s easy to install too, so it’s a welcome addition to any installers’ portfolio. What’s more, because it’s an Exlabesa system, fabricators and installers will benefit from the company’s strong technical support and customer-focused approach.

Having a portfolio that attracts your target market is vital to the success of your business. By partnering with Exlabesa, not only do you get products that meet market demand you also get the support of one of the country’s most experienced and reliable aluminium systems companies.

www.exlabesa.co.uk

The newly launched Bowater by Birtley range from Birtley Group will be on display for all to see at this year’s bigger and better FIT Show at the NEC. The new comprehensive door range includes composite, fire, flood and steel doors but the focus at FIT will be on the composite range.

Kevin Kiernan of Birtley Group says: “We’re thrilled to be attending this year’s FIT Show and especially pleased we’re attending with something genuinely new to show the market. Our composite door range alone offers more choice than most with both 44mm and 68mm available, a range of doors to suit all budgets from commodity to high end and a wide range of colours thanks to our in-house paint line. The range combines the best of Bowater Doors and Birtley Group with superb aesthetics, security and energy performance.

“Visitors to our stand (F20) will not only be able to see first-hand the excellent quality of our range, they will also be able to quiz our team of experts about why we’re different and what to expect from Bowater by Birtley in terms of product and service. Bowater by Birtley is a new force to be reckoned with in composite doors and we’re looking forward to showing fabricators and installers why at FIT 2017.”

If you want to find out more about Bowater by Birtley and see the complete new range, call us today on 0191 410 6631.