North East Windows Promotes Little to Director of Sales

‘Don’t compromise’ will be the message radiating from Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions’ stand (N20) at this year’s FIT Show.

The Atlas team will be on hand to show visitors the clean, minimalistic range of Atlas products and explain why they shouldn’t accept anything less when choosing their glazed roof or rooflight.

Claire Miller, marketing manager at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, explains: “The glazed roofing market is growing rapidly and there are lots of systems out there. The Atlas roof system is still however the best on the market, delivering the ultimate appearance of ‘more sky, less roof’. We’ll be showing our visitors that it is the strongest, best looking and most thermally efficient roof available and we’ll be telling them why they should accept no imitations.

“It’s not all business during the show though. We have a great rapport with our customers and this means that we’ll be bringing a light-hearted element to our stand too. Customers often talk about being part of the ‘Atlas family’ so we’re inviting them to come and have a bit of fun with us. I can’t reveal any details yet, but I can say that we will be giving them a rare birds-eye view of us!”

The Atlas stand will feature new innovations such as the Skyroom lean-to, plus industry-leading Atlas glazed lanterns and the ultimate Flat Rooflight.

The Atlas roof is a fully aluminium, slim-line, thermally broken system which delivers contemporary style, unrivalled aesthetics and outstanding thermal performance.Designed to give the homeowner supreme aerial views, the Atlas roof boasts low sightlines to ensure that it is unobtrusive from the outside, whilst maximising the sense of space and light on the inside.

Externally, it is the sleekest, low profile system available, which is 50% slimmer than its nearest competitor, claim the company. The roof can easily be adapted to accommodate varying roof pitches and there are no boss or hoods to intrude on the roof’s slim-line ridge. When double glazed, the roof rafter can achieve a U Value of 0.9 W/m2k.

On the inside, it features an internal ridge, said to be 60% slimmer than its nearest competitor and hips which are 38% slimmer. To maintain equal proportions, all internal bars are 40mm wide, unlike other systems which alter the width at the ridge. Hidden tie and rafter bars add to the roof’s simple, uncluttered design.

For further information, please contact Atlas on marketing@atlasroofsolutions.co.uk or phone 02838 327741.

PVC-U systems supplier, The Veka UK Group, has invested £35,000 in new machinery for the company’s workshop. The Burnley based firm has upgraded to a newer, more efficient Urban three-head welder to replace an older model.

The workshop is an area of the plant dedicated to development work, ensuring that The Veka UK Group can work alongside customers and hardware suppliers to partner on various ‘exciting’ projects, as well as continually testing and improving product ranges. It includes a host of test rigs and facilities to fabricate and assess all variants of Veka and Halo products and there are three full time members of staff working in this department.

The Burnley based company claims to have made capital investment well in excess of £20m in recent years and this latest investment of £35,000 takes the collective value of workshop machinery to around £500k.

MD of The Veka UK Group, Dave Jones, said: “The Veka UK Group is always proud to invest in technology for our plant, as it represents an investment in UK manufacturing and the ongoing partnerships we share with our customers. We’re committed to improving facilities wherever possible, including the workshop, and the new welder will make this department run even more efficiently; further improving the high levels of service we offer.”

www.vekauk.com

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Mark Austin

Hazlemere Commercial’s marketing director, Mark Austin, has become chairman of the GGF’s Windows and Doors Group.

‘Providing a voice for the fenestration industry’, the GGF exists to ‘advise policy makers, protect consumers, and represent the interests of the glass and glazing sector on a national scale’.

Members of the body’s Window and Door Group have met regularly since 1977 – and today, representatives from 225 UK manufacturers and installers gather four times a year to discuss mutual interests, concerns and the state of the industry more broadly.

Mark’s new role will see him chair two of these annual meets, while Phil Goult, chair of the GGF’s Conservatories Association, will oversee the remaining two.

Mark commented: “I was absolutely delighted to be elected chairman of the Windows and Doors Group. It’s a huge honour, and a fantastic platform to help further the interests of a sector I’m extremely passionate about.

“There’s been a revolution in fenestration over the last 10 years. It constantly amazes me how much technology goes into manufacturing modern windows, doors, conservatories and curtain walling, and how exceptionally the final products are. It’s a massively exciting time to be involved in glass and glazing – and I can’t wait to see how the sector will develop in the years ahead.”

Mark joined Hazlemere Commercial in 2008, following senior roles at an office design firm and Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers Football Clubs. He was appointed to the firm’s board of directors in February 2015.

www.hazlemerecommercial.co.uk

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Launched at the end of 2015, Alumen says its roof lights have become a ‘popular choice’ amongst installers thanks to their ‘simplicity’, ‘ease of installation’, and the ‘great after-sales service provided’.

Crystal Clear has been installing windows, doors and high-end conservatories in the Bristol area for nearly two decades and has recently added Alumen’s own brand of aluminium roof lights to its product portfolio.

James Mizen, MD of Crystal Clear explained why: “Our reputation is extremely important to us. We install everything ourselves, so as well as selecting good quality products, it is key that we are able to rely on our fabricators to provide us with a reliable service and clear communication, in order for us to meet our customers’ expectations every time.

“Initially we chose Alumen to supply us with a bespoke roof light for a unique project we were undertaking in Trowbridge. The price was good and the lead times they promised were fast for bespoke aluminium. They delivered on time and even helped us with the installation on-site as the roof light was so large that the glass had to be split with a transom. Once installed, the product looked very contemporary and the customer was delighted with the result.

“We have now taken delivery of, and installed a number of aluminium roof lights including walkovers. We particularly like the simplicity of the product and have found them easy to install. The service from Alumen has also been good. Their communication is clear and delivery well controlled, and the personal touch from Alan, Alumen’s MD, means I feel my business is valued and in safe hands.”

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The Master Fitter Challenge has been a key feature at every FIT Show so far and once again the competition will challenge the skills of some of Britain’s finest window, door and roof installers. Felt by many to define the FIT Show by highlighting the crucial aspects of installation, this year the event will be held in the biggest ever finals Pavilion with finalists skills being tested on the installation of bi folding doors (provided by ALUK), roof lanterns (from Atlas), residential composite doors (from Apeer) and casement windows (Epwin Window Systems). And to add a further twist Edgetech’s Trufit pre-compressed foam sealing tape is part of this year’s challenge. Appropriately, industry competent persons scheme FENSA is the overall sponsor of the Master Fitter Challenge.

The Master Fitter Challenge is a real test of installer skills but, says Mick Clayton of competition managers GQA, the skills being tested should be well within the capacity of every installer working in the industry today: “What finalists are being asked to do are tasks they will encounter on a daily basis,” explained Mick. “What we look for is just how skilfully, thoughtfully, thoroughly and safely they carry out those tasks because there is a chasm between a good and bad installation as we all know. But there is nothing here that should deter any professional installer from entering.”

Mick’s comments are the final rallying cry as entry for the 2017 Master Fitter Challenge closes at the end of March, with the next FIT Show not taking place for another two years.

The FIT Show’s Paul Godwin emphasised the rewards for what will amount to a just couple of days spent competing at the FIT Show and in the most exciting environment: “We have cash prizes totalling £10,000, £5,000 of which goes to the overall winner. We provide overnight accommodation for all finalists and they are our guests at the FIT Show Gala Dinner at which the winners are announced and presented with their cheques.

“But every winner so far has told us it was the pride that counted, that they had competed at what they do on a daily basis and shown they were the best amongst other great professionals that also made the effort to compete.”

The closing date for entries is March 31st. The process is very simple explained Mick Clayton: “Fill in the entry form on the FIT Show website to start the ball rolling. One of our assessors will call and ask some pre-qualifying questions. The next stage is we come and see you work on site during a normal installation; and after our assessors report their findings the lucky six then get to compete over two days at the FIT Show. Competing is simple; it’s how well you compete that is the difference.”

The Master Fitter Challenge is open to all professional window, door and roof installers subject to minimum professional requirements and competencies. Closing date is 31st March. Enter now at: http://www.fitshow.co.uk/master-fitter-challenge/application-form.

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