Skills gap ‘bigger threat than Brexit’ says glass industry forum

The skills gap represents the major challenge for the glass processing and glazing sectors as increasing automation of process and generational change creates a deficit in traditional skills.

The warning was made last week at a special industry forum, held in London and organised by Bohle, to discuss the key issues shaping the glass processing and glazing sector.

The skills deficit and limited training and development opportunities for new entrants to the sector were highlighted as the single biggest challenge for glass processors and glaziers.

1st Glass & Mirror’s David Simberg, warning that quality remained a challenge for the industry because of the erosion of traditional skills sets as a generation of glass processors moved out of the industry.

This was echoed by Vince McDonnell, Glass Designs, who attributed the decline to the increasing automation of process. He argued the focus on volume production had accelerated this trend.

Paul Rogers, Express Glazing, also picked up on the theme. He said: “We need a consistent and standardised training programme, raising the skills set right across the industry. This would give businesses the confidence to invest because everyone is investing – you aren’t simply training people for someone else”.

Philip Pinnington, Glass & Glazing Federation, said the GGF was working with training providers to align training programmes to industry requirements. He picked up on a point also raised by other members that the industry was also struggling to attract new blood, suggesting it should be targeting ‘career-switchers’ as well as school and college leavers.

Despite this, those attending said that they were nonetheless, confident about the industry’s future, citing Brexit as a not necessarily welcome but far more a ‘bump in the road’ than anything catastrophic.

Glass Design’s Billy Perry, reporting that delays to major London commercial and new build contracts meant that order books remained healthy. He added: “What’s also been happening recently is that we are being asked by existing customers who we have worked with inside London to tender on projects outside of it, for example Manchester.”

The forecast slowdown in foreign investment in London had also not materialised, with many central London developments being sold almost entirely to overseas investors.

Nonetheless, those attending the forum said that they expected the toughening of economic conditions that had accompanied Brexit to continue for the foreseeable future. This had led to a ‘turning down of the temperature of the London market”, according to Rogers.

Putting Brexit to one side, continuing innovation in glass technology was seen as a key driver of future growth including multi-laminates, security, acoustic and painted glass.

The integrity of the supply chain was also seen as important. The Glass Wipeboard Company’s Aaron Dewhurst, suggesting that corporate and commercial clients were increasingly expecting their supply chain to deliver ‘green credentials’.

“One of the things we believe we’re going to see more of, is bigger commercial clients and end users expecting their suppliers to be able to demonstrate what they’re doing to minimise the impact of their business on the environment.

“For example, we’re currently working to reduce our CO2 footprint and collating figures on waste and recycling rates because the companies we’re working with are asking for it and it’s going to be key to winning future business.”

Commenting on the event, Bohle’s Dave Broxton, said there was clear and continuing confidence amongst glass processors.

He said: “The mood still very positive. London continues to provide wide-ranging opportunities and well organised and run businesses are continuing to take advantage of them.

“What is, however, clear is that the industry needs to do more to address the skills gap that increasing automation of process and generational change has created.

“This isn’t unique to our industry and is something which can only be delivered through effective partnership between business, the industry’s representative bodies and government.”

www.bohle-group.com/en-gb

The post Skills gap ‘bigger threat than Brexit’ says glass industry forum appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

‘Joinery manufacturers having to think on their feet as sales volumes rise but costs continue to increase‘

The British Woodworking Federation’s Joinery State of Trade Survey Q2 2017 has indicated that although rising raw materials costs and labour availability are exerting pressure on joinery manufacturers, the industry is optimistic over sales figures and product investment opportunities.

BWF Policy and Communications Executive Matt Mahony commented on the state of the joinery industry: “With optimism over sales volumes and with order books holding up well, our survey paints a picture of an industry working hard to protect its margins against significant cost rises. It has been a theme of recent months that the joinery industry is having to think on its feet and diversify its offering. We know from the Q2 survey that investment in product improvement has been rising, and anecdotal evidence suggests that companies are taking on more of the burden of design and specification on account of knowledge gaps within the supply chain.

“Broader construction industry information supports our findings. The Construction Products Association (CPA) has reported that UK construction product manufacturers are experiencing continued growth in activity but high input costs and uncertainty have dampened expectations for the near future. Our story is more positive. After a mixed start to 2017 for joinery, 42% of respondents noted an increase in sales from the previous quarter with almost two-thirds expecting improved sales volumes for Q3. There are challenges out there. Labour availability remains a factor with skills shortages within the sector contributing to increased wage bills. In addition to this almost all BWF members noted that raw material costs are now a significant inflationary factor for unit costs. Joiners, not least BWF members, are natural problem solvers both on site and off and we will be working hard with members to ensure that they are capable of addressing these challenges.”

Key points from the BWF Joinery State of Trade Survey Q2 2017 include:

– A balance of 42% of respondents reported an increase in sales volumes over the last quarter, with 52% reporting an increase over the last year. This corresponds with the 14% of respondents reporting a quarterly increase in the previous survey.

– Manufacturers felt that sales volumes would improve in the next quarter, with a balance of 61% predicting an increase for Q3 2017 and a balance of 60% predicting an increase over the next year.

– 42% of companies reported a current order book of future work extending beyond 3 months – up 13% from the previous quarter – with 41% saying that their order book extended from between 1 and 3 months.

– ‘Labour Availability’ was listed as the most likely constraint on output by 27% of respondents. ‘Demand’ and ‘Capacity’ came next, with 25% and 20% of respondents feeling that they were most likely to constrain output.

– 38% of respondents on balance reported increasing their labour force in the last year, with 50% of respondents anticipating an increased labour force over the next year.

– Raw material costs were noted as an inflationary factor for unit costs for 97% of respondents, with wages & salary increases pushing up unit costs for 76% of respondents on balance.

– Exchange rates were a factor in inflating unit costs for 63% of respondents.

– Over the previous year a balance of 64% of respondents had invested in improving their products with 60% investing in their plant/equipment.

– Investment in in product improvement was set for the highest capital investment over the next year, with a balance of 70% planning to invest and with 60% set to invest in plant/equipment.

As a benefit of membership, British Woodworking Federation members can view the full BWF State of Trade Survey plus the latest economic reports produced by the Construction Products Association industry forecasting team.

The post BWF State of Trade Survey released appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

London and South East Region
£Salary dependent on experience,
Company Car
Performance related benefits.

The Folding Sliding Door Company is a rapidly expanding and thriving organisation, leading the way in innovation and quality in the world of bi-folding doors. We now seek to appoint an energetic, driven, sales professional, to join our highly successful commercial sales team.

This role centres on the active sale, of our comprehensive product range, across the trade, commercial and contracting sector. You will build new, and extend existing, relationships with clients, identifying and reviewing their specific requirements for folding sliding (bi-fold) door systems. You will offer and sell the appropriate products from our range, which are in line with the client’s project brief.

You will create, manage and maintain, a portfolio of significant accounts and provide any necessary technical support to clients where needed.

Comprehensive training on our full range of products will be given.

Summary Person Specification-

• Self-motivated ,target driven and ambitious individual with a high level of adaptability.
• Proven track record of sales achievement, in the window and door industry, especially to trade.
• Advantage Current knowledge of the fenestration hardware market.
• Advantage “Hands –on,” technical experience of hardware systems for timber, aluminium and uPVC profiles.
• Able to identify potential new business opportunities, through current networked contacts in the industry.
• Experience in the contracting and tendering field.
• Knowledge and experience of technical, specification sales to the commercial building and construction industry, including New Build.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.

Apply, by sending your full CV, to:

Annette Emanuel, Human Resources Manager
annette.emanuel@foldingslidngdoors.com

The post Regional Field Sales Manager appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

I read somewhere that the latest Insight Data market report didn’t show anything paradigm shifting (I’m paraphrasing), but I disagree. There’s plenty to chew over when you look at the finer details. I have already covered two of the areas on DGB last week:

It might appear on the surface that the report doesn’t give us any overwhelming good news. Indeed, the report shows that in a lot of areas of fabrication, the industry is on the decline in a big way. More consolidation than anything else. Too many companies for the levels of demand out there. And that the major growth markets are probably now peaking and starting to find an acceptable level.

And one of the biggest disruptors in the marketplace right now are trade counters and their changing of how the industry physically buys it’s windows, doors and other fenestration related products.

But I think if there was any doubt that the industry had also grown in the past few years, then the installer numbers highlighted by this report should dispel that. Take a look at these figures from 2008 to 2017:

To be clear, and as the title already alludes to, this is a rise of 3050 installers in just nine years. That’s nearly a third in less than a decade. I see this as proof that there are still opportunities to be had in places in this industry, and installation is one of them.

The report then goes on to give a breakdown as to the levels of business, or rather frames per week these companies install:

Note the rise in the number of installers with showrooms. I’ll focus on that little detail in another post. But on the FPW front, nearly two thirds are installing 1-25 frames per week. Small levels in reality, but lots of little makes a lot.

Where are these installers coming from though? And what does their future look like in these increasingly uncertain times?

The Insight report suggest that some of these new smaller installers are those going it alone, leaving bigger companies and setting up their own businesses. Many will be OMBs and micro-installers, hoping to expand and gain traction in their own localities.

It feels as though there has been a big push towards this kind of business in the last few years, across all industries and not just our own. We are being told the virtues of being our own boss, running our own companies and driving production forward. I see this attitude reflected in the sharp rise in the number of small installers we are now seeing.

The road ahead though is not tricky. This perhaps isn’t the easiest time to set up on your own. Rising material costs, a market flooded with new products, fabrication struggling to keep up with the pace of evolution. There are a lot of reasons to make running your own company more stressful than there were just a few years ago.

Add to that the uncertainty around the UK economy and Brexit. Every week it becomes less and less certain that the UK and the EU are going to come to any sort of arrangement. Any sort of uncertainty is bad for business, and as the UK economy starts to show signs of slowing and the disparity between wage growth and inflation growing, SME’s in in our face a balancing act to try and make it through this period unscathed.

All in all though I think this paints a pretty positive picture from an installer perspective. Whilst fabrication seems to continue to consolidate to meet changing demand, there is enough business out there for more and more installers and new companies to believe there is money to be made out there.

UPVC Maintenance Supplies are delighted to reveal that we’re now open on Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

The third branch opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday 4^th October, bringing 25 years of industry expertise to the window and door repair market of Gateshead and the surrounding area. “We were keen to expand the business based on our loyal customers in Leeds and Rotherham. Choosing the North East made sense as we’ve customers in the region, we’re well on the way to developing new relationships and we feel we’ve a lot to offer the marketplace” says owner and Managing Director David Earnshaw. The first two weeks have been positive and we look forward to many more to come.

The three branches are supported by a hard copy catalogue, a comprehensive online shopping experience where customers can order 24/7 and a free technical helpline available in office hours. However it is these branches that really respond to customer demand “the ability for customers to come in wielding the broken or damaged part and be able to rely on our staff to provide the correct replacement is a key feature of our service. The fact that in virtually every case they get it there and then is an added bonus” David adds.

The new branch will be headed up by Michael Savage – why not pop in and say hello? You can find us at Unit B9, Eleventh Avenue North, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, NE11 0NJ. You can find our main stock inventory online – www.upvcmaintenance.co.uk – or if you prefer we’re more than happy to send you a copy of our latest catalogue: call us on 0191 731 9770 to request yours now.

Leading PVC-U systems house Liniar has announced the appointment of Robert Thiroff to the new post of International Sales Director. The Liniar range has grown substantially within the UK and Ireland since its launch in 2008 – and the next step in its growth strategy is to develop the Liniar and Alumina brands internationally, utilising the strengths and contacts of parent company Quanex. Robert is ideally placed to help take these innovative brands forward worldwide. He has a wealth of experience and a background within the construction industry; of which 25 years have been within PVC-U window and door extrusion. Spending the last 9 years with the profine International Group (Kommerling), Robert held roles as Chief Sales Officer Worldwide, Regional Director and Managing Director UK/IRE. Prior to that, he spent 16 years at Plastmo Profiles.

Robert says: “I have the utmost respect and admiration for Roger Hartshorn, and have followed his many achievements within our industry over many years. I have seen the Liniar brand develop from its inception into the leading PVC-U window and door profile in the UK – and having worked with Roger and the HL Plastics team in recent years, I believe the company ethos fits perfectly with my own vision and values. “With the support of the vastly experienced Liniar team, I am excited to explore the development of our brands into new countries, together with the opportunities this brings for existing Liniar fabricators. I see many positives for the group and our innovative product range, especially with the realisation of Brexit and the export opportunities our currency brings.”

Group CEO Roger Hartshorn commented: “I’m delighted Robert is joining the Liniar team – his experience in the global fenestration market will enable us to develop new overseas relationships and mark the next stage in Liniar’s evolution.”

The post Robert Thiroff, International Sales Director at Liniar appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

When Secured by Design accreditation is specified in a sliding patio contract, PatioMaster Secure is the answer because it provides a PatioMaster door that meets this most demanding of standards.

Secured by Design is the official UK Police flagship initiative that combines the principles of ‘designing out crime’ with physical security. Secured by Design accredited PatioMaster doors have five enhanced security features that mean they can meet the stringent requirements of Secured by Design and provide the peace of mind that’s needed.

Interlock bolts lock the sliding panel to the fixed one and ensure the two cannot be forced apart. A full width security head rail runs across the top of the opening panel to prevent it being lifted from the track. A full height security keep rail supports the sliding door at each corner. A PAS24 handle is designed to withstand sustained manual attack and has an enhanced back-plate for even greater security levels. Finally, an anti-bump cylinder prevents the lock cylinder being bumped. These five features sit alongside standard features such as the internal sliding door sash, the inbuilt ‘anti-jacking’ feature and the six point locking system.

The Secured by Design accreditation is just one example of the many benefits that PatioMaster doors offer. Secured by Design accredited doors are available in 24 and 28mm glazing options and two and four pane configurations, making it perfect for domestic and commercial applications. The 70mm outerframe provides a clean design that is compatible with 70mm Epwin accessories while a 28 shade colour range allows extensive personalisation. And each door is precision engineered by expert fabricators to ensure quality from start to finish.

PatioMaster is the UK’s favourite patio door and it is value-added features such as the Secured by Design option that demonstrate why.

www.patiomaster.co.uk

CentralRPL, one of the Midlands largest, trade fabricators, has just switched to fabricating Profile 22’s Optima system. Gary Morton, Central’s MD, commented: “Moving to Optima is a natural step for us. In terms of delivering products, marketing support and sales aids for our customers, Profile 22 are unsurpassed.” Clare O’ Hara, Divisional Managing Director of Epwin, added: “We are delighted to have CentralRPL on board. They are a proactive, customer-focused company and in Optima they have found a system that matches their desire to offer the very best.”

CentralRPL is manufacturing the Optima Sculptured system and feedback from Central’s customers so far has been extremely positive. Profile 22 held an Open Day for Central’s customers in May and the decision to switch was met with universal approval, confirming Optima’s status as the next generation window system that offers the best of everything. Gary said: “Our customers thoroughly enjoyed the day and all that Profile 22 has to offer. In particular they were really taken by the new Excellence as Standard (EAS) programme.” CentralRPL switched to Optima in July in a process that was as seamless as existing Profile 22 customers would have expected. Clare said: “When we launched Optima last year we moved nearly 100 Profile 22 fabricators over to it in nine months. Our process is so detailed, finely tuned and proactive that it is possible to finish with one system on the Friday and begin with Optima on the Monday, as we demonstrated once again with CentralRPL.”

Central is a company committed to offering a quality product, outstanding service, unrivalled support and a fast turnaround. It manufactures over a thousand frames a week from its 39,000 square foot premises in West Bromwich and supplies installers and trade suppliers nationwide. CentralRPL was founded as a result of a merger between Central CRC, which was founded in 1992, and RPL Tradeframes (Reliant Products Ltd), which was founded in 1982. Martyn Elwell, Central’s Sales and Marketing Director, attributes the company’s success to its philosophy of “reinvestment to progress” and says the company always seeks to exceed customer expectations. Martyn adds: “Moving to Optima together with the services offered by Profile 22 such as the commercial support programme and marketing with the EAS programme will further help us excel with our customers. Our strategy has a strong flavour for finding products for our customers, rather than customers for our products. Optima delivers on this element of our strategy remarkably well.”

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