GGF raises concerns after Carillion collapse

Following the collapse of Carillion last week, Phil Pluck, Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) group chief executive raised his concerns.

“As the assessment of the true damage continues following the collapse of Carillion, it does raise some fundamental issues in terms of protecting both smaller companies caught up in the collapsing supply chains and the jobs that may be lost as a result.

The GGF has sympathy with local government and other bodies tasked with delivering major build projects on ever decreasing Government funding. This creates a race to the bottom in terms of procurement practice in that more and more major contracts are awarded based on the lowest price.

A knee-jerk reaction comprised of Government rescue packages to selected companies is of no reassurance to GGF Member companies and does not allow them to plan for long term sustainability. A lasting negative effect on Government tax revenue would be the result.

I urge the Government to assess the long-term damage that short term cost savings creates and to take heed that Carillion may not be the last company to collapse as a result. There are other major supply chains also operating at near impossible margins.”

The post GGF raises concerns after Carillion collapse appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Picture above: James Lee, GGF Director of Group Marketing

The Glass and Glazing Federation is delighted to announce that Regalead and Jackloc have signed up to join the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2018.

Both are high quality companies and are welcome additions to the UK Pavilion.

Regalead been supplying bevels throughout the world for 20 years and continue to refine and expand our range each year to provide customers with the optimum product selection and the highest quality, The company is currently Europe’s market leaders in the design and development of bevels for glass overlay.

Guy Hubble – Joint Managing Director, RegaLead commented, “We’re proud to be part of the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2018. Europe is an important market for RegaLead and we’ve exhibited at Fensterbau before, but it’ll be a pleasure to join the best of the UK window industry in the Pavilion as we showcase our cutting edge ColorSpray Aqua glass and PVC-U paint technology. We’re looking forward to being part of it.”

Jackloc are the Queen’s Award-winning original cable restrictor specialists. Their full range of universal window and door restrictors safeguard thousands of lives every day worldwide, by dramatically reducing the risk of falls from windows. Jacklocs can be found across the world in both residential and commercial applications including hotels, hospitals and in education.

Emma Wells, Jackloc Company Director commented, “We are delighted to be bringing our range of British-made restrictors to Fensterbau as part of the UK Pavilion. As we celebrate 15 years of improving safety, the UK Pavilion provides a great opportunity to grow our brand in more international markets and reach out to new customers and distributors. We will be showcasing the complete Jackloc range which has set the benchmark for window safety worldwide, and carries a fifteen year irrefutable track record of absolutely no fatalities – a claim no other cable-based window restrictor can make.”

James Lee, GGF Director of Group Marketing added.

“As hosts of the UK Pavilion the GGF is delighted to welcome both Regalead and Jackloc on board. Both companies have great products and reputations in the industry. They will certainly add even more quality to the excellent range of products on show on the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau.”

Fensterbau Frontale 2018 takes place in Nuremberg on 21-24 March and reflects the worldwide innovations in windows, doors and facades. Architects, carpenters, window and facade manufacturers, and the specialist trade will update on the latest profile systems, glass in architecture, fixing equipment, hardware, safety equipment, machines, installations and many more products.

In 2016, the GGF set up and organised the UK Pavilion within the Fensterbau Frontale exhibition. For 2018, the GGF has more than doubled the size of the Pavilion with 200m² reserved to provide a designated area for 12 British companies to co-exhibit and reach a huge international market in excess of 110,000 trade visitors.

If you intend the visit Fensterbau Frontale in March, the UK Pavilion is in Hall 4A stand number 405. Feel free to visit the UK Pavilion to meet the 12 UK companies exhibiting on this exclusive space at the window industry’s largest show.

To find out more about Fensterbau Frontale please visit www.frontale.de/en

Swisspacer Symposium reveals that smart solutions are the future for window and façade industry. Windows Active takes a closer look

Digitalisation and the ‘Internet of Things’ is rapidly gaining in importance, becoming the touchstone for the future viability of many companies in the window and façade building industry. What radical changes are already happening? That was the subject for several experts’ discussions at Swisspacer’s fenestra-vision: smart windows, façades and innovative materials. With the Symposium in its third year, Swisspacer invited leading industry experts to Salzburg including window and façades builders, window systems companies, planners and scientists to discuss the looming changes to the industry. All agreed that digitalisation is inevitable. Keynote speaker Dr. Eckhard Keill, Chairman of the Board of Roto Frank AG, discussed the technology behind the latest smart homes, and the potential obstacles and risks. According to a recent study by Gartner, the demand for smart homes and the public perception and understanding of them is approaching its peak – yet the market will not be ready for new developments for another five years.

Particular emphasis was placed on the abilities of the individuals involved along the ‘value chain’, all the way down to the window installer. Experts at the Symposium were all in agreement that new, attractive professions will be created in this new era, such as System Integrators. Andreas Bittis, Product Manager at Saint-Gobain Building Glass, outlined an exciting scenario in terms of intelligent products and processes during his presentation. The focus is not only on smart solutions, such as switchable glass, but primarily on communication between components, disciplines and users, as well as the availability of more information resulting from this. An intelligent RFID chip, for example, makes seamless documentation of the process possible – from the production of a window, to user behaviour, maintenance cycles, all the way to disposal. Based on this information, Andreas is convinced that new business models can be created. “The window industry will not be able to enjoy the stability of recent years for much longer,” warned Jochen Wilms, founder of W Ventures. He highlighted just how quickly a market can turn: within five years, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and more have replaced industry heavyweights like Shell or Texaco as the most valuable companies in the world. The window and façades industry will take on special responsibility here as it could control buildings via the building envelope. Jochen encouraged the construction industry to form a ‘Star Alliance’ to adequately address the pending upheavals.

Maarten Verhezen, Manager at Nest, the smart thermostat, highlighted the shift in perspective his company has experienced. The brand, which belongs to the Google parent company, alphabet, has taken a user-centric point of view as the focus of its business model. People should feel at home – with home automation products that simply work and are visually attractive. Some 1,000 engineers work on smart home solutions at Nest, across sectors such as energy, online or retail. He claimed “Nest wants to create a construction industry network.” Schüco, an aluminium window systems manufacturer, has already made one giant leap towards digitalisation by launching Schüco Digital as an independent business unit that bundles all these activities. Prof. Winfrid Heusler, Senior Vice President Global Building Excellence at Schüco stressed the following in his presentation: “Components across various sectors are needed to successfully tackle interdisciplinary challenges. Combining the real and virtual world will have a disruptive impact on the construction industry.”

The benefits of a ‘digital twin’ were highlighted by Prof. Klaus Sedlbauer, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics. ‘Digital twins’ can be used as a basis for planning, to simulate aspects of use and coordinate technical construction solutions that can mimic the reaction of external conditions. Prof. Klaus Peter Sedlbauer introduced the topic of smart building materials. Building envelopes of the future will manage functions like a human body, and it will be the façade that controls the building. Intelligent components, such as textile façades, will also make a contribution here.

The final panel of experts, moderated by Prof. Sieberath, Head of the ift Rosenheim Institute, discussed possible developments in relation to PVC-U as a profile material. There was a strong consensus that this is one material that will not be replaced even in the coming decades. Arno Bender, Head of System Support at Aluplast, comments: “The benefits of recyclability are great – ultimately, all PVC-U frames removed can be recycled in full.” The experts also came together to cast a first glance towards the Fensterbau Frontale trade show, where there are new developments in adhesive technology and new BIM solutions from Aluplast, as well as 76 and 88mm systems from Profine that provide a better solution with components.

The post Smart windows, façades and innovative materials appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

North East installation company, Pennine Home Improvements prepares to open its newest showroom in the heart of Durham.

Its latest retail space, which will be situated in Dragonville Retail Park, is set to be Pennine’s largest showroom to date, and will feature seven stylish conservatories and orangeries, a window and door gallery, as well as a state-of-the-art virtual reality design station.

Pennine Home Improvements has been operating for over 40 years and now makes up one third of the newly-formed Conservatory Outlet Group.

Mark Tinnion, Managing Director at Pennine Home Improvements, said: “It is a really exciting time for the Company as we prepare for the next stage of our expansion plan as part of the Conservatory Outlet Group.

“The new Durham showroom comes as the result of numerous additions and advances within our product range, along with developments in cutting edge technology that calls for the addition of a virtual reality station. This will allow our customers to experience their desired living spaces, as part of our innovative and advanced design process, before building work even begins.

“With Conservatory Outlet Group’s expertise, we’re certain this showroom will be one of the best in the country. “

The Durham site is Pennine’s fifth showroom in the North East. The company will open the new showroom on 22 January with a major launch event to follow on Saturday 10 February from 4pm to 8pm.

Greg Kane, CEO of Conservatory Outlet Group said: “The Durham showroom not only features the latest technology in the industry allowing homeowners to step inside their personalised installation before it is built, but also brings together research from outside the home improvement industry in terms of enhanced buyer experience, and customer service in order to ensure maximum conversion rates.

“This new showroom takes Pennine, and the Conservatory Outlet Group to the next level, setting the way for the rest of the CO Network and the home improvement industry.”

For more information about the new showroom please visit: www.penninehome.co.uk/showrooms/durham-showroom

Edgetech has become one of the first big-name brands to sign up to VISIT Glass, the exciting new show-within-a-show set to take place as part of FIT Show 2019.

The first time in over a decade that glass manufacturing, processing and installation will be given a national platform, VISIT Glass was launched after 40% of FIT Show attendees expressed interest in seeing more focus on glass and glass technology at future events.

The show will combine key exhibitors representing leading brands with thought-provoking seminars on the hottest topics in glass and glazing.

Edgetech Head of Marketing Charlotte Davies commented:

“We’ve always hugely valued the FIT Show, and have exhibited every year since it first launched. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to make new contacts, connect with potential customers and collaborators, and spread awareness of the many benefits of Super Spacer while building the Edgetech brand.

“That’s why when we were approached about the new area, we were keen to be involved once more. The new area will offer a focal point for visitors interested in our segment of the market and we hope will draw a more targeted audience for us. We’re looking forward to attending what we hope will become a regular fixture in the glazing calendar.”

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

High security is a crucial attribute of modern, high-performance windows – and especially so on new build sites, where properties remain extra vulnerable to break-ins and thefts prior to occupation.

Fitting doors and windows as early as possible in the build programme – so securing the structure – can pay huge dividends in preventing the loss of tools, materials, valuable metals and, in extremis, even kitchens and appliances.

Never was this better graphically illustrated than on an unnamed site where specialist new build partner Nationwide Windows & Doors had recently installed Secured By Design windows and doors manufactured from Eurocell profiles. As the pictures show, even some quite determined burglars were successfully thwarted by the combination of quality products and a quality fit!

www.eurocell.co.uk

When fitting replacement windows, each job is different and presents installers with unique challenges to overcome. This was certainly true of a series of PVC-U window installations in Jersey, where experienced installer Alan Gicquel needed to swap his van for a boat in order to replace the timber framed windows for three remote island properties.

Les Ecrehous is a small archipelago of islets located six miles off the north east coast of Jersey, and just eight miles from mainland France. Declared a RAMSAR site in 2005 to protect the habitat of the many species of birds and marine life that live there, the islands themselves are also home to a handful of houses.

The island houses are former fishermen’s cottages now used as holiday homes, but their unforgiving sea location means that maintaining the properties throughout the year can be challenging.

Over the last 15 years, Jersey installer Alan Gicquel has replaced the windows in all but one of the properties that stand on Les Ecrehous, changing the old timber frames for new PVC-U alternatives from REHAU.

Alan has been fitting REHAU PVC-U windows since 1983, so when the residents from Les Ecrehous approached him about upgrading their windows to something which would be cost effective, easy to maintain and hard wearing against the elements, he knew he had a good product to fit the bill.

Alan said: “We started on one of the smaller houses first, just replacing three windows and a door, and this led to a bigger assignment working on the adjacent house to replace 12 windows. A few years later, we were then called back to the islands to do a third property. By this time, REHAU had launched its TOTAL70 profile, which is an easy swap for old timber frames because of the 70mm width.”

The challenge of replacing the windows wasn’t so much with the properties themselves, more getting to them. Alan and his team needed to get a boat to the islands, balancing the material load securely and then getting the profiles and the glass up the stony beach and rocks to the houses.

Alan said: “The glass, sealed units were the biggest challenge as we couldn’t put them down anywhere until we got into the house. We also needed to plan the job really carefully, making sure we hadn’t forgotten anything because for the larger jobs, we had to stay on the island while we completed the job over a number of days.

Mark Collins, Area Sales Manager, from REHAU said: “We understand that no two jobs are the same, which is why we have developed a portfolio of products to ensure that installers always have a selection of profiles and options to hand to meet their customers’ individual needs. However, with the Les Ecrehous installations, the choice of profile was probably the most straightforward element of the whole job! Hat’s off to Alan and his team for going the extra mile to bring REHAU’s high quality windows to even the most remote of customers.”

For more information visit www.rehau.uk/windows

Products that meet the highest standards and comply with the latest regulations are vital. It’s something that Universal Trade Frames take very seriously. Duncan Saunders, Universal’s General Manager, said: “Our customers depend on the quality and compliance of our products and we don’t let them down. It’s why every single combination of all products in our portfolio has undergone extensive testing at Wintech Testing & Certification.”

The certifications that Universal’s products have include PAS 24:2016, which can also be used to demonstrate compliance with Approved Document Q, BS 6375-1 for weathertightness and BS 6375-2 and BS EN 1191 for operation and strength testing.

Duncan commented: “It’s very important to us to offer our customers the highest standards. We could have cascaded certifications but that isn’t the Universal way. We wanted full certification with every product. Not every product passed first time and when one didn’t, we upgraded the specification so it could pass fully.”

Mark Swanborough at Wintech commented: “As an independent UKAS accredited testing laboratory and certification body we were impressed by Universal’s commitment to offering full certification on their entire portfolio and feel sure it will offer their customers a high level of reassurance of the quality on offer.”

www.utfl.co.uk

Wooden Windows in-house team has created a unique online WindowBuilder tool to enable customers to design their ideal timber windows in 3D.

In addition to the online tools that have been created for customers, Wooden Windows directors have also developed their own software platform to improve business performance. This software takes the order from the initial web or telephone enquiry through to planning, picking of the parts, design, production and delivery.

MD Mark Winter comments: “Our designers use the latest 3D technology to create new styles and concepts so that our customers’ wants and needs are catered for, and our programming department converts CadCam drawings from the sales process into useable manufacturing instructions.

“Our software platform works out which jobs to produce together in order to maximise the use of material and to reduce waste. It measures the number of jobs per team member, the number of remedial works required and automatically loads time and allocates processes to team members and production equipment.”

The WindowBuilder has been developed even further and it can now be applied to sliding sash windows too.

Often, many heritage buildings are in need of new windows and the sash windows are a popular option as they suit the style of the traditional property. This is the same for listed or conservation buildings which have regulations to say the windows need to remain in keeping with the building’s legacy. By creating the Sliding Sash WindowBuilder for customers, Wooden Windows has made the process easier for joiners and builders or even homebuilders to buy the right window for their project.

The team has provided a full range of advice and information guides on the website to help with the window build.

For more information visit: www.woodenwindows.com

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