ProVia Promotes Hershberger to VP of Customer Experience

Image Above: Tony Craggs, Managing Director, Virtuoso Doors,

Crafted precision is set to be the buzz word for 2018 as Virtuoso Doors – previously known as WB Group – makes its rise to fame.

Virtuoso Doors has kicked-off the New Year with a major re-launch to strengthen its position as a leading manufacturer of high end composite doors and PVCu door panels. Under the launch, the company has unveiled a bold new identity to capture the unique craftsmanship and precision engineering that goes into making every single Virtuoso door.

The move heralds the next exciting phase of rapid growth for Virtuoso Doors, which is part of the new Customade Group.

Tony Craggs, managing director of Virtuoso Doors, explains: “Virtuoso Doors will be the name on everyone’s lips in 2018. We have a new name and we have a new look, but what we stand for remains the same. We create doors with ‘crafted precision’ and our team of experienced craftsmen and craftswomen use cutting edge machinery to make the best quality doors with an attention to detail that only a human eye can give.

“Virtuoso Doors isn’t like any other door manufacturer. With a reputation for manufacturing superior quality doors and providing unrivalled personal service, we have a genuine passion for perfection in everything we do. Making doors is a real labour of love for us.

“It’s been a phenomenal year for Virtuoso since we joined Customade Group. We’ve already launched Virtu-AL – our ground-breaking aluminium effect composite door – and there are more exciting innovations to come in 2018. We’ll be taking Virtuoso, and the industry, to the next level – watch this space!”

Based at an 80,000-square foot site in Birtley, County Durham, Virtuoso Doors recently invested £750,000 in new specialist machinery and IT systems. The move has boosted Virtuoso Doors’ capabilities and created additional capacity for future growth and development. Now, with nationwide distribution and a sales team serving the whole of the UK, Virtuoso Doors is set to extend its reach and significantly increase market share.

To find out more about Virtuoso Doors call 0191 410 9333, visit www.virtuoso-doors.co.uk or follow @virtuosodoors on Twitter.

Yale has announced the introduction of Rapide into its window hardware portfolio. Formally known as Blade, Yale says the redeveloped window locking system offers the highest standard of strength and security for fabricators, installers and consumers.

According to Yale, the new Rapide has ‘fast to fit’ features, requires as little as six screws, and due to the long curvature of the lock, removes the need to line up the keeps as you would with a standard espagnolette lock.

Grant Stratford, technical director for Window Hardware, commented: “We have worked closely alongside our fabricator partners to produce a window lock that improves the fabrication and installation process, while maintaining the high standard of security Yale is known for. Following feedback, we redeveloped the keeps on Rapide to improve aesthetics and offer compression adjustment.”

The Rapide lock is said require fewer fixings than most industry standard window locks and offers greater engagement for additional security as it connects along the full length of the keep.

Grant continued: “Whilst developing this lock we carried out comprehensive time and motion studies, enabling our fabricator customers to clearly assess how much money they would be saving in the manufacturing process when using Yale Rapide. The reaction to the product has been extremely positive and we’re excited to showcase the new design to our customers.”

Made from aluminium, Yale claims that the Rapide has three times the locking surface area of a standard, multi-point or shoot-bolt window lock. The lock can reportedly withhold ‘huge weight’ and has been mechanically tested to withstand 4,500 newtons of force. In addition, Yale says it has been tested for corrosion resistance for 480 hours and exceeds 30,000 cycles.

Yale Rapide features a unique fully retractable lock, allowing it to sit flush within the Eurogroove. This is said to create a ‘modern, sleek and discreet’ aesthetic that has proved to be popular amongst homeowners in consumer research and in actual sales.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the UK, Yale Rapide has also been independently tested to far exceed British security standard PAS24:2016 and is Secured by Design

www.yale.co.uk

The post A Rapide solution appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Warwickshire based, MWBC, have been building bespoke homes since 1989. MWBC pride themselves on offering a one-stop solution. Design and concepts begin with their architectural team and are consolidated by a range of talented in-house teams, from building, plastering, joinery, plumbing, electrical plus all the other services required to bring each project to a successful completion. Managing Director, Mark Webster commented, “We offer a total building solution – each element of the build is completed by one of our in-house teams, and that process gives us total control over our resources and project timelines”.

MWBC have heavily re-invested profits back into the business continually over the years. They have recruited a strong workforce enabling them to build a solid reputation for excellence in their bespoke building projects.

Mark added, “Stratford-Upon-Avon is an affluent area and my aim for MWBC is to become the ‘go to’ company within a 10mile radius for people that want to build a bespoke home. We also buy land/developments locally to build beautiful high-end homes to sell on – nearly all of our referrals coming through or from our existing large customer base. April 2018 will also see us open our own shop attached to the new architectural office where customers will be able to come and discuss their requirements/choose their products for all aspects of the proposed project”.

All MWBC properties have a requirement for bespoke joinery work. This is completed in their joinery workshop. Quest supplies all consumables to the workshop, with a sales rep visiting regularly to discuss any upcoming requirements. Mark commented, “Our joinery team find Quest very helpful and friendly, we have built up a great relationship since trading with them. Consumable orders are topped up by contacting our Quest representative and all orders are sent from stock on a next day delivery, delivered by a Quest driver”.

Daniel Wells, director at Quest commented, “As the business grows and develops, we adapt our offering to suit their needs for consumables, hardware, power tools and other solutions, making sure we always keep up to date with MWBC’s requirements”.

MWBC have continuous plans to expand their joinery workshop to cater for their increasing requirements for kitchens, furniture, staircases, windows and doors. Mark added, “It’s not only important to have satisfied customers, it’s also really important to take your employees and suppliers with you as you grow. I am passionate about my employee’s and their individual success. Whether it be a supplier, a staff member or associate in general I want all individuals to be successful by association with myself and MWBC. We invest in people, and work closely with our suppliers, which helps us make sure we have everything we need to continue to achieve consistent and rapid growth year on year – a full team effort with staff and managers empowered to make their own decisions”.

During 2017 MWBC have also successfully started their own inhouse spray/paint shop. This is an exciting addition and compliments the joinery shop so all aspects of furniture can truly be finished by MWBC before going to site. Another example of Mark Webster’s drive to become a ‘one stop shop’.

www.questhardware.co.uk

The family of our late friend and colleague Jon Skinner, have announced his funeral arrangements.

A service to celebrate the life of Jon is to be held at Cookhill Village Hall, Alcester B49 5JS on 18th January at 12.30pm. Followed by refreshments and the opportunity to reflect with the family at Redditch Golf Club, Redditch B97 5PJ.

Family flowers only.

Donations, if desired, to Doctors Without Borders and Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Jon Bednall

Chief Executive Officer

Epwin Group Plc

The UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2018, hosted by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) will have five new co-exhibitors joining the six original companies at the world’s largest international trade fair for the window industry.

After debuting the UK Pavilion within Fensterbau Frontale for 2016, the GGF says it has more than doubled the size of the Pavilion for 2018, with 200m² reserved to provide a designated area for 12 British companies to co-exhibit.

The five new co-exhibitors who have signed up to be part of the UK Pavilion include:

• Hoppe (UK)
• Made for Trade
• Reddiplex
• Roseview Windows
• Window Ware

James Lee, GGF director of group marketing, said: “We are delighted to welcome the five new co-exhibitors on board. We received a lot of interest after the event in 2016 so planned for a greater presence in 2018.

“Each of the five ‘new’ companies joining us, will add more to the UK Pavilion with a greater range of products and demonstrations on show.”

Fensterbau Frontale 2018 takes place in Nuremberg on 21-24 March.

The post High Five appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Prefix Systems have just made a significant investment in a new state of the art colouring facility, which includes a mix on demand paint system, at their head office in Blackburn and it will form part of their sales strategy for 2018 and beyond.

While much of the window and door industry have been talking colour for the last 18 months, Prefix are now supporting this 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 embraced by the company, with stocks of black and anthracite grey being held across several product ranges.

For conservatories and glazed extensions, Prefix can colour any extrusion, injection moulding, or vac formed product. Greater quality control, consistency of supply and new sales opportunities have been the rationale for this important investment.

It’s also very much a project inspired by customer demand as co-director Chris Cooke points out: ‘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.

He continued: ‘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.’

For further information on Prefix Systems visit www.prefixsystems.co.uk, or call the head office on 01254 871800. You can also add to their considerable following on Twitter @prefixsystems.

Image Above: Neil Baker, Senior Engineer

As a business with innovation and technical excellence at the centre of its ethos, REHAU places great importance on having first class technical experts in-house to support with the ongoing development of its product range.

With a traditional background in engineering and product design Neil Baker is one of REHAU‘s technical team. Having worked for the company for nearly 20 years Senior Engineer Neil has been part of the launch team for many projects – including the fire rated products, the AGILA fire door and the RAUFERNO fire window. 

He said: “I have been in the industry for a number of years working across a wide range of areas. Prior to joining REHAU my experience included working for a hardware manufacturer within the windows industry. My experience on the design of hardware underpins my understanding of hardware implications within the industry – something that is particularly critical with fire rated products.”

Another area that is a key consideration to Neil is product accreditation, design and engineering of a product that will meet the necessary legal requirements and industry standards. 

“When it comes to design there is a compromise between theoretical design and practicality,” said Neil. “Simplest is often best, although not always the most obvious, and this is where we really place our customers at the centre of the design equation.”

Neil’s role also sees him liaising with customers to provide advice and support regarding the specification and installation of a system. His expertise in practical engineering enables him to empathise with the customers position, whether this is providing advice for a fabricator manufacturing the product or for local authorities via the REHAU network at the specification stage of a project.

Another side to Neil’s experience is demonstrated through his work on REHAU‘s fire rated products, firstly the RAUFERNO window, and now the AGILA Fire Door. This was one of many projects that the technical team saw through from design and development, to manufacturing, culminating in product roll out and training. 

“My background means that I was able to both theoretically design the fire door, as well as practically build the final product. This is helpful when it comes to the manufacture of the product and the training stage for our  customers. 

“As with all our products there are requirements for security, performance and appearance, but the fire doors have an additional purpose of being essential to the safety of residents – often in larger multiple occupancy buildings. The fire door differs at the assembly stage to a standard door or window with a dedicated package including additional fire protection components. This added complexity makes it critical to understand the full process. My experience and skill set lend themselve well to this.” 

The expertise of REHAU staff, such as Neil, enables the business to continue pushing for further innovation in key product areas and provides first class, industry rated solutions that tick all the boxes for the fabricator, installer, developer, authorities and the end user. 

To watch our fire door safety video or for more information about REHAU’s AGILA Fire Door visit www.rehau.uk/agila