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FIT Show 2017 was a resounding success. Visitors, exhibitors, organisers, the media and even the NEC all thought so. And while there were many who had exhibited at a previous FIT Show there were also a large number of first timers in attendance this time around.

With a record number of attendees embarking on the NEC – 9,935 unique visitors, a number that rises to 13,285 when revisits are included – exhibitors were excited at the prospect of meeting new customers, valued current customers and showcasing new products. For those exhibiting at the FIT Show for the first time it was a whole new experience and one that they can’t wait to repeat in 2019.

“We had a good show and it all went without a hitch,” said Katie Wilson, Senior Administrator and Commercial Assistant for Profine UK Ltd, who were exhibiting for the first time at this year’s show. “We look forward to being back in 2019.”

The number of new exhibitors who took part at FIT Show 2017 was well over 100. These included: Sika, Fort Engineering Ltd, OnLevel Ltd, Lohmann Tapes, Hi Tech Blinds, RAICO UK, Addison Saws, Teal Products, Makita and Kolorbond to name but a few.

Brookvent’s Marketing Manager, Stephen O’Reilly, had some favourable things to say on the company’s debut experience. “FIT Show 2017 stood out as the best trade show experience I’ve had to date,” he explained. “I was extremely happy with the marketing and promotion prior to the show and the organisation and its support.”

Laura Morgan of AluK added: “We definitely made the right decision exhibiting at FIT Show 2017. The support during the show was fantastic. Whether it was throughout the build up or during the show, it made our experience as an exhibitor so enjoyable.”

It wasn’t just the experience that excited new exhibitors, the leads were pretty impressive also. “We got over 150 leads on the first day alone,” said James Peachey, Senior Sales Consultant at Hi-Finity.

While there are so many reasons to attend the FIT Show as a visitor there’s just as many reasons why it would be beneficial to exhibit. Interested? Contact Rik Henderson on rik@fitshow.co.uk or 07535 759892 for more information.

Tony Basile

Liniar claims its customers always have access to the most forward-thinking products in the industry – citing its conservatory roof range as a ‘perfect example’ of this.

Liniar roof kits have been designed to be energy efficient, weatherproof, secure and ‘exceptionally’ easy to fit, with features such as Glazing Stop, its patented glazing retainer, helping to keep the glass in place while fixing and preventing glazing slip throughout the life of the conservatory.

Liniar says it is constantly designing new elements and working on improving the roof kit based on customer feedback, to be certain of producing the very latest in technologically advanced conservatories.

Tony Basile, business development director at Liniar, said: “We’ve been working hard over the past few months to introduce a whole host of updates, improvements and innovations across the range.

“We’ve improved the aesthetics and function of our valley so that the valley wings can now be assembled onto the roof independently, reducing manual handling and making it much more fitter-friendly.

“The valley’s weather seal has been enhanced with bubble gasket internally and glazing trim externally. All of the PVC-U components, such as end caps, are now available in foiled finishes to compliment the rest of the roof.

“We’ve also adapted our jack rafter fixings, for both jack rafters and valley jacks, improving functionality and further simplifying assembly and adjustments. Our glazing retainers are now supplied with pre-cut drainage slots at 300mm intervals along the length of the profile to speed up production time for fabricators.

“Modifications have been made to the geometry of our wall pivot rail, meaning they can now provide the same internal roof dimensions as an eaves beam. There’s also been a change to the design of our XHD transom bar which enables us to increase the maximum span of roof bars, and therefore the size of the roofs available.

“Our recent partnership arrangement with drainage giant, Brett Martin, means that we can supply gutters and downpipes in a choice of colours, including the very popular 7016 grey. All Liniar conservatory roof kits are supplied with guttering included and cut to length.

“To compliment all of these advancements, all of the associated literature has been refreshed to reflect the changes. Each roof kit is supplied with a comprehensive installation guide, while new survey sheets and revised quotation sheets have been redesigned to make life easier for all concerned.

“We’ve also produced new roof display boards and sample cases as additional sales tools for installers to present to prospective customers.

“Bi-folding doors are an increasingly popular choice for conservatories. The fully reinforced eaves beams that we supply are designed to provide maximum support for the roof, particularly important when it’s a glass one, and an extra secure fixing for a bi-fold door.

“And, of course, our conservatory roofs are a perfect match with the rest of the Liniar window, door, roofline and building product ranges, providing home owners with a beautiful finish and a single point of guarantee.

“All roof profile is supplied with the branded Liniar logo protective tape, enhancing an installer’s professionalism by having all products fully matching on site.

“All in all, we’re very proud of the Liniar conservatory roof. We believe that it’s one of the best products available on the market, but that doesn’t stop us constantly looking at ways we can improve it. Watch this space!”

www.liniar.co.uk/conservatories

The post Liniar roof continues to evolve appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

As the government sets out its post-Brexit proposals for Northern Ireland, FSB’s UK ChairmanMike Cherry said:

“Avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is crucially important. Small businesses in Northern Ireland must be able to continue to have access to the workers and skills they need, including those who travel across the border for work every day. There must also be easy trade across the border, especially for goods which criss-cross it in the production process. This is in the interest of the UK economy as a whole.”

Wilfred Mitchell, FSB policy chair for Northern Ireland, added: 

“There is still a long way to go before agreement is reached with the EU. Businesses want some certainty as soon as possible, so we are pleased to see firm proposals as the negotiations move to the next stage, and where the Northern Ireland land border is firmly on the agenda”.

www.fsb.org.uk

Euroglaze is living up to its claim to be a true ‘One Stop Shop’ for REHAU products by adding the AGILA sliding door to its range.

The Barnsley based trade fabricator, which supplies installers and third party stockists across the UK, says the new AGILA door is the obvious addition to its product portfolio, giving customers an exciting new alternative to bi-fold doors.

Euroglaze’s Managing Director Martin Nettleton explains: “We pride ourselves on the fact that we fabricate probably the widest REHAU range in the UK – from vertical sliders to fire doors, and everything in between, ensuring that our customers don’t need to go anywhere else. As the AGILA sliding door increases in popularity, they now have the simplicity of being able to source this door alongside their other REHAU frames from a supplier they know and trust.

“Our team have been trained directly by REHAU on the fabrication of the door, so we can guarantee that it will come with all the Euroglaze trademarks of quality craftsmanship, outstanding customer service and prompt delivery.”

REHAU’s AGILA sliding door is targeted at the fast-growing sliding patio market and taps into the demand from both developers and homeowners for doors with slim sight lines which work in contemporary living spaces.

It is a flexible option available from Euroglaze in either a dual or a triple track configuration, with anything from 2 to 6 glazed panels. It can be used for openings of up to 5m wide and up to a maximum height of 2.4m.

The colour range include a choice of contemporary greys, alongside white, cream and more traditional Rosewood and Golden Oak.

In a competitive sliding door market, one of the key differentiators for the AGILA door is the bespoke hardware which includes a D handle in a choice of four different finishes with a TS007 3 star sold secure diamond cylinder as standard. There is also the option of a 12 point locking system which is PAS24 and SBD accredited to meet the demands of Approved Document Q.

Martin Nettleton adds: “I’m excited about this door because it has the potential to open up profitable new business for our customers, particularly in the commercial new build sector where it’s the ideal option for flats with balconies.

“Like the AGILA fire door and the AGILA multi-fold which we already manufacture, the AGILA sliding door has been easy to integrate into our existing manufacturing set up because all of the ancillaries are compatible with our REHAU TOTAL70 system.”

Further details are available at www.euroglaze.co.uk

From left to right – Gary Morton, CentralRPL, Nic Rossano, Epwin Window Systems

CentralRPL, reportedly one of the Midlands largest trade fabricators, has switched to fabricating Profile 22’s Optima system.

Gary Morton, central’s managing director, 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 and the process has been described as ‘seamless’. 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 manufactures over a thousand frames a week from its 39,000ft2premises in West Bromwich and supplies installers and trade suppliers nationwide. It 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. He said: “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.”

www.profile22.co.uk

The post CentralRPL makes the switch to Optima appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Tony Craggs

Enquiries have reportedly been ‘flooding in’ just days after the launch of a new composite door from Virtuoso.

Virtu-AL, which is reportedly the UK’s first aluminium textured, non-woodgrain finish composite door, was officially launched on 1 August. Since then, word has been rapidly spreading about how this new generation contemporary aluminium style door can help installers to advance into the fast-growing premium end of the market.

Tony Craggs, managing director of Virtuoso, explained: “It’s been a whirlwind since we launched our ultra-modern aluminium alternative composite door and the reaction from installers has been nothing short of amazing! There is very good reason for this because Virtu-AL is, quite simply, like nothing else out there. Everyone has been eager to hear about the three magic components of this door – its unique texture, its unique styles and its unique hardware.

“Aluminium is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our industry and it’s been recently reported by the Council for Aluminium Building (CAB) that the number of installers offering aluminium has risen by more than 40% in the last five years. The trio of magic ingredients that Virtu-AL has are what really make it special. These elements will help a growing band of installers to elevate their businesses and yield from a sector that’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.”

Virtu-AL combines the best attributes of an aluminium door with those of a composite door and it brings many unique features to those homeowners who want to achieve a high-end, individual look for their home.

At the heart of the Virtu-AL door are its unmatched looks and texture, which have been carefully engineered to create the look of a premium aluminium door.

Tony added: “Since its launch, installers have been lining up to touch the Virtu-AL door. It incorporates the crisp detailing you’d expect from an aluminium door and features a very tactile textured finish that looks and feels like a powdercoated aluminium door. People are so convinced by this door, which is way beyond a standard composite door, and they just can’t resist touching it.”

Virtu-AL delivers a greater variety of styles for homeowners who don’t want to be restricted in their choice of entrance door and is available in four contemporary designs, which are totally exclusive to Virtuoso. For what is described as a ‘truly premium look’, there is an option for anodised glazing cassettes too. And, for greater individuality, there is a choice of seven standard and 14 superior colours. Doors can also be sprayed to match any RAL colour in the Virtu-AL in-house spray booth.

The Virtu-AL collection is unmatched in the choice of hardware it offers, which includes a range of traditional or contemporary hardware from ERA Fab&Fix. Virtuoso was the first to adopt the sleek, ultra-modern new inline flat pull bar, which is available in a choice of 400, 900 and 1,600mm lengths.

Virtu-AL also utilises a range of locking systems which have achieved the three-star security standard. It includes the new Lock Lock security handle from Brisant Secure. The handle is used in conjunction with the 3* Ultion cylinder and has a patented design to withstand cylinder picking, bumping, drilling and snapping. It incorporates a unique spindle block which is activated to prevent the door from being opened from the outside, even if the cylinder is breached.

The Virtu-AL collection can be sourced through Virtuoso’s door designer software – Gateway. Gateway is a bespoke door designer package, which enables customers to design, order and price standard and bespoke composite doors. With the recently launched Gateway 2 package, homeowners can now design their own Virtu-AL door online.

www.virtuoso-doors.co.uk

The post Enquiries ‘flood in’ for Virtu-AL appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Specialist barn and farm buildings renovator Cheshire Barns Homes is committed to using traditional materials in keeping with the projects they typically undertake. The developer has a strong commitment to producing homes using traditional farm buildings that are energy efficient, a philosophy that is underpinned by the company’s founder and director, Rhys Nevett, who has a vision to restore buildings with heritage to create sustainable luxury, and a desire for absolute perfection.

The traditional style of the properties they renovate must be considered against the requirements of the Building Regulations and desire of the new owners for modern comfort and performance, a balance that can be difficult to achieve. But for one recent project undertaken by Cheshire Barns Homes such potential conflicts were resolved when the firm chose Halo FlushSash PVC-U windows, for a semi-detached property located in a rural location.

Nottingham-based Fearns of Carlton were chosen by the developer to supply eight Halo FlashSash windows produced in Balsalt Grey on white, after being impressed with the authentic appearance of the frames combined with the exceptional performance. The colour was selected from a range of 29 foils available on this highly popular traditionally styled window, with the frames manufactured by Glazerite UK Group at the company’s Peterborough factory.

Rhys Nevett of Cheshire Barns Homes is committed to maintaining the traditional appearance of the properties he renovates and was impressed with the Halo FlushSash windows chosen for this project: “We are usually committed to genuine timber windows but when we saw the Halo window and learned of the energy efficiency that they brought to the project, we had no hesitation in specifying them. They provide an impressive authentic appearance that is in keeping with this project.”

For the window supplier Fearns of Carlton Jak Fearn said: “Many of the projects I work on are with timber sash windows as they are listed buildings. Fortunately as this project wasn’t listed so it gave the developer and us the opportunity to specify the Halo FlushSash. It not only looks great but offers an “A” rating which is fantastic for a traditional property.”

Chris Thompson of Glazerite was delighted: “There is nothing I love more than to get a timber window installer onto PVC-U. We have also had a number of installations approved and passed by building control in conservation and listed buildings so even if a property is in such an area the installation of windows manufactured in modern materials should not be ruled out.”

www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

Thermoseal Group, manufacturer of high performance warm edge spacers and UK distributor of insulated glass components, has released new editions of both its trade and warm edge consumer videos. The adaptions of both videos reflect the international growth of the Group and its series of high-profile awards whilst showcasing the benefits of high performance warm edge spacer systems Thermobar and Thermoflex.  The videos, for use throughout the supply chain, are available to watch on the Thermoseal Group website: www.thermosealgroup.com news with multilingual versions to follow.

“Since the initial release of our trade video and our ‘Warm Comfortable Homes’ consumer video we have seen further growth and development and now supply to 22 countries in 5 continents. We have also won numerous prestigious accolades for our products, services and to recognise our international development”, says Samantha Hill, Head of Marketing and Communications.

“Alongside being announced as winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2017, Thermoseal Group has attained a multitude of other awards over the past year including: ‘Component Supplier of the Year’ at the glass and glazing industry G-Awards (for the second year in a row); ‘Amazon Growing Business Award – Export Champion of the Year’; ‘Wigan Business Award for Export’ and the EEF Future Manufacturing Award for the North West Region for Export. We are delighted with the recognition and endorsement that these awards represent.”

Thermobar and Thermoflex warm edge spacers have achieved Bundesverband Flachglas (BF) thermal ratings of 0.14W/mK and 0.135W/mK respectively and have available BF data sheet Psi values for windows and façade profiles.  Both products also achieve Passive House Institute phA+ ratings. All products are proven within Thermoseal Group’s own EN1279 test centre before being submitted and achieving highest-performance independent test results. We also manufacture a wide range of bespoke components in our in-house injection moulding division to flush-fit with our spacer systems.  All products are also tried and tested by customers and developed to suit current sealed unit manufacturing methods before they are officially launched for sale.

For more information or to watch the Thermoseal Group trade video or ‘Warm Comfortable Home’ visit www.thermosealgroup.com/news or you can visit www.thermobarwarmedge.com or www.thermoflexwarmedge.com for more information about our warm edge product ranges.

Thermoseal Group can be contacted about its comprehensive range of insulated glass components and machinery for glazing manufacture by calling +44(0)121 331 3950 or by emailing sales@thermosealgroup.com.