THREE ATLAS CHAMPIONS RAISE THE ROOF WITH STUNNING CREATIONS

The three latest Atlas Installation of the Month competition winners showed off enviable design talent in a contest where the standard of entries keeps getting better and better. The winners – QKS Home Improvements, Thames Valley Windows and John Knight Glass – are now in with a chance of being named overall winner at the upcoming Atlas Installation of the Year awards.

It was a ‘flat-out’ win for Lincolnshire-based QKS Home Improvements who scooped the Installation of the Month title for, not one, but two incredible Atlas Flat Rooflight installations. In its first winning project, QKS – the overall winner of the Atlas Installation of the Year competition in 2017 – designed an ultra-modern extension for a property in Stamford, which was topped with two different sized Atlas rooflights. The second winning installation by QKS married aluminium, glass and two Flat Rooflights to create an amazing space that’s a far cry from the tired and dated PVC conservatory it replaced.

Nick Clipston, owner at QKS, said: “It’s such a terrific result for us to be a double winner in just one month! Both of these installations are absolutely sensational and make an enormous impact on the properties. The spaces were designed to allow just the right amount of light in and the Atlas Flat Rooflight was the only product that could deliver the modern, clean and uncluttered look that both homeowners wanted – simple, but so effective. We always recommend the Atlas rooflight because we know that it makes a great design statement in settings that wouldn’t necessarily suit a lantern. It’s also a dream for our fitting teams to install and that’s a huge bonus because it not only helps us speed up our installation times but it also means that our customers can look forward to enjoying their new spaces that bit sooner.”

Proving hands-down that the Atlas lantern can deliver impeccable high-end designer style was Thames Valley Windows with a spectacular quadruple Atlas roof lantern installation on a £7 million mansion in Surrey. Thames Valley worked alongside the architect and the developer to design and specify each of the four lanterns to add to the sophisticated character of the new build property. The focal point is an impressive statement Atlas lantern which stands high above the grand hall.

Carly Butler, marketing manager at Thames Valley Windows, said: “This is an amazing installation that demanded the very best products to create a real sense of luxury and grandeur. The Atlas lantern is the only lantern we use because we know that it is the slimmest, the strongest, the warmest and the best looking – features that are essential on a project like this. The finished result is nothing short of magnificent and we are really proud to have won an award for it.”

John Knight Glass showed that the Atlas lantern is equally at home on a period or contemporary property with its winning installation on a 300-year old cottage in Parkgate on the Wirral. The Merseyside-based installer impressed the judges with a stunning yet sympathetic Atlas lantern installation that was all about bringing light into a traditional-styled kitchen extension. The clean, understated looks of the Atlas lantern made it the only roof system that would complement the style and proportions of the new extension.

Greg Knight, general manager at John Knight Glass, said: “The homeowners knew what they wanted to achieve to complement their historic property and the design and choice of materials was very important to them. The key here was to draw as much light into the extension as possible and the Atlas lantern was the perfect choice to achieve this without overwhelming the period architecture of the building. It is a lovely project and the homeowner is, quite rightly, delighted with the end result.”

To see more on the three latest winning installations, visit www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk/installation.

Every month, an installer will win a £200 Screwfix voucher and a £50 Majestic Wine voucher. There’s also trade industry PR and promotion through the Atlas website, as well as entry into the Atlas Installer of the Year award finals. All entries submitted with completed installation pictures will receive an Atlas thermal mug.

Entries can be submitted via Twitter to @Atlasroofjohn using the hashtag #AtlasShowOff or on email to marketing@atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

For further information, contact Atlas on 02838 327741 or visit www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

When Original Wooden Windows (OWW) set out to make its frame production quicker and more efficient with new machinery, director Gus Brazier said the name of Mighton Products needed no introduction.

Mighton did not expect OWW to make the choice on reputation alone, but was able to give Gus and the team hands-on experience of its Scribe-It end-scribing machine without leaving the factory, thanks to the Mighton Mobile Demonstration Vehicle.

“The rep gave us a full demo of the end-scribing machine so we were able to see for ourselves exactly what it can do,” he said.

“Installation was simple and didn’t cause any interruptions. Just from using the machine in the first couple of weeks the benefits have been clear to see. It has not only sped up production significantly but also gives exactly the same profile with every cut.”

Scribe-It is said to increase throughput by scribing the ends of timber profiles quickly, efficiently and consistently. It can complete a full cutting cycle in just 15 seconds and is compatible with any profile up to 45mm wide and 35mm deep. Using two cutters, Scribe-It allows for the shaping of the bead to be carried out in two halves, therefore safeguarding against issues such as the beads splitting or spelching at the ends.

www.mightonproducts.com

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The Government must learn from Carillion’s demise and assess its over-reliance on major contractors, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on yesterday’s announcement that Carillion is to enter compulsory liquidation, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Carillion’s liquidation is terrible news for all those who work for the company and it will have serious knock-on effects for the many smaller firms in its supply chain, some of which will be in serious financial danger as a result of Carillion’s demise.”

Berry concluded: “Carillion’s liquidation raises serious questions for the Government, not least about its over-reliance on major contractors. The Government needs to open up public sector construction contracts to small and micro firms by breaking larger contracts down into smaller lots. That way, it can spread its risk while also reaping the benefits that come from procuring a greater proportion of its work from a broad range of small companies. Construction SMEs train two-thirds of all apprentices and are a sure-fire way of spreading economic growth more evenly throughout the UK.”

www.fmb.org.uk

Warm edge pioneers Edgetech capped off a momentous year of milestones and international exhibition appearances by showcasing at India’s biggest fenestration event.

The fifteenth Zak Doors and Windows Expo came to Mumbai’s MMRDA Exhibition Centre in December, bringing together glazing experts from all around the world to discuss the future of fenestration, and see the latest products taking the sector by storm.

The gathering took place as India’s construction industry gears up for what looks set to be a historic boom, fuelled by extensive state investment. 

Hundreds of thousands of homes are scheduled to be built in the next few years as part of the government’s Housing for All by 2022 initiative, with the Indian economy set to almost double in size in that time.

What’s more, ongoing trends away from traditional wooden windows and towards more modern uPVC and aluminium alternatives present huge opportunities for component suppliers, as Edgetech MD Chris Alderson explains.

“It was fantastic to take part in Zak Doors and Windows. There’s a real sense that Indian fenestration is on the cusp of something huge, and as both government and consumers increasingly turn towards high-performance IGUs, we saw enormous interest in the benefits that Super Spacer can provide.

“It’s often suggested that in developing economies like India and China, companies could skip a whole step in the traditional evolution of manufacturing and jump straight from making window units by hand to full automation. Given the unparalleled efficiency of our Super Spacer automated lines, that’s another factor generating interest in Edgetech and our product range.

“It was great to meet manufacturers and others from all around the world, and we’re confident we were able to lay the foundations of what will become close, long-lasting partnerships in years to come.”

For more information about Edgetech please call 02476 639931 or visit: www.edgetechig.co.uk

Swisspacer has added four new sizes to its range of Georgian bar spacer bars. To meet growing demand for heritage-style windows, the company has developed new 12 x 18mm and 16 x 18mm bars specifically for the UK and Ireland.

The company has also introduced a new 14 x 24mm and 14 x 30mm size for the European market, bringing the full Georgian bar range to 13 sizes.

According to Swisspacer, its Georgian bar is ideal for premium looking flush sashes, and vertical sliders. Available in a range of colours, Swisspacer’s suite of Georgian bars now also feature improved bar crosses with an integrated anti-rattle plug and matching end caps.

John Cooper, Swisspacer’s commercial director (UK and Ireland), said: “Flush sash windows are taking the market by storm. Homeowners love the traditional look and see it as a way of adding character to their properties. But, homeowners also want windows that perform and save money on heating bills. We’ve responded to demand by developing a wider range of Georgian bar sizes. Our latest additions have been introduced specifically for the UK and Irish markets to fit the most popular sized windows. Together with Swisspacer’s top performing warm edge spacer bar, our Georgian bar gives flush sash and vertical sliding windows a seamless finish and outstanding energy efficiency.”

www.swisspacer.com

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Image Above: Philip Collard, CEO,  myConsole

The latest ONS statistics on UK productivity show construction is yet to turn around productivity levels in line with other sectors.

Last week, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) released the latest statistics on productivity. Across the economy as a whole output per hour increased by 0.8%, however the construction industry is yet to take advantage of improving technology and techniques to increase productivity alongside the rest of the economy. (See below Figure 2).

“There are many simple ways for construction to catch up with the other sectors, and the sooner the industry acts, the better. New technology offers a proven, cost effective way to create efficiencies. myConsole is specifically designed to improve productivity in work winning – creating both time and cost savings across the entire process,” says Phillip Collard, CEO myConsole.

Pressure has been mounting on the sector over the last few years to increase productivity. Analysis and reports, including the Farmer’s Review (October 2016), have led the government, through the Construction Leadership Council, to recently announce a deal in November aimed at transforming productivity.

“Time is running out, construction and pre-construction businesses need to step up and innovate. We estimate myConsole will increase efficiency and reduce workloads by 20%.

Early feedback from our clients confirms that using myConsole will save them a day a week per person in the work winning process compared to their old methods.” Says Philip Collard, CEO myConsole.

Contact myConsole to find out how to use the power of digital to streamline the procurement process and win more bids.

Sales figures are a vital way to understand how consumer trends are changing and PatioMaster South East has just released sales figures that show how trends are changing in the patio door market.

One particular area of interest is in the growth in colour – for example, the company has seen a 20% growth in grey patio doors.

Co-owner Simon Spiers explains the reasons behind the growth: “Colour is an increasingly important theme for consumers and grey is a particular favourite when it comes to patio doors. Our grey patio doors are available from stock, which means they’re available on a rapid lead time. It removes one of the biggest barriers to purchase and sales have risen as a result.”

Another notable sales trend is in four pane door designs – the company has seen a 15% growth in this configuration. Simon comments: “The trend is to have bigger glazed areas and more and more consumers are choosing wider patio doors as a result.”

PatioMaster South East is a family-owned company run by Simon and Suzanne Spiers and it’s been an approved PatioMaster dealer since 2002.

Simon says his customers appreciate the quality and ease of fit of the PatioMaster product. He also knows they appreciate the level of service. “We work very closely with our customers, so we understand how the market is changing and what they need from us to capitalise on trends.”

The PatioMaster South East story is the perfect demonstration of the PatioMaster network approach. It’s a national company that supplies market leading inline sliding patio doors that offer the highest construction and security specifications yet are still simple to install. At the same time, thanks to the network of highly experienced local dealers such as PatioMaster South East, installers and consumers can support a high quality local company.

www.patiomaster.co.uk

Prefix Systems has announced a ‘significant’ investment in a new state of the art colouring facility, which includes a mix on demand paint system, at its head office in Blackburn.

Prefix says it is responding to increased demand for colour, with a facility to manufacture conservatory and lantern roofs, along with Verandah glazing bars and end caps in ‘literally hundreds’ of different RAL colours. Heritage colours, urban influences and even one-off projects can now be offered by the company, with stocks of black and anthracite grey being held across several product ranges.

For conservatories and glazed extensions, Prefix says it can colour any extrusion, injection moulding, or vac formed product. It adds that greater quality control, consistency of supply and new sales opportunities have been the rationale for the investment.

Prefix co-director, Chris Cooke, said: “Colour is one of the biggest talking points in the glazing and fenestration sectors. The days of just a few woodgrains and colours are now long gone and we are now able to produce fully manufactured products in a vast array of colours and with a 10-year finish guarantee.

“Our new colouring facility will provide customers with consistent supply, quality finish and with a quick turnaround from all four branches. We have a reputation for customer excellence and so this latest investment will again be testament to our commitment to service.”

The post Colourful start to 2018 appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Tradelink Window Solutions has opened a new manufacturing facility and Windowcenter in Stoke-on-Trent. The Stoke site is Tradelink’s fourth Windowcenter in the UK.

The Windowcenter at Stoke-on-Trent is said to give installers in the Midlands ‘easy access’ to Tradelink’s range of aluminium and PVC-U windows and doors, conservatories and sealed units.

Jim Moody, managing director at Tradelink, said: “This fourth Windowcenter has been opened so that Midlands-based installers can take advantage of Tradelink’s product range and our top service.

“We have invested £450,000 in machinery for the new manufacturing facility in Stoke. The new premises brings our total to six sites across the UK. We produce a full range of windows and doors, including our own Regiment composite door range and the impressive Residence 7S window system.”

At a three day opening event in December, the Stoke Windowcenter ran a series of giveaways and competitions for customers including the Tradelink Wheel of Fortune game with free spins on every quote and order. Winners received a range of great prizes including windows and doors, tool boxes and a Dewalt radio.

The new Windowcenter is in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent and features a showroom with working examples of its range of products.

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