20 not out

Morley Glass & Glazing specialises in manufacturing Uni-Blind sealed units with ScreenLine integral blinds inside. 2017 saw not only the launch of Morley’s updated website but the opening of its new showroom as well as growth of its delivery fleet, including four new vans.

The business also recently introduced several new additions to its product range, including SmartMotion, a new home automation interface that allows installers to quickly and easily incorporate motorised integral blinds into home automation systems.

Ian Short, managing director at Morley Glass & Glazing, said: “As demand continues to increase for our Uni-Blind sealed units with ScreenLine blinds inside, we’re regularly increasing our production capacity to ensure we can continue to give the quality service we’re known for, and last year alone we invested £700,000 in a second IGU production line. Our plans for 2018 include continued growth and even more product diversity, including the launch of our exclusive SL16C blind, all while maintaining the fastest lead times in the industry.”

The post 20 not out appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

When developing within conservation areas ensuring an aesthetic that is appropriate for the surroundings of the building is key. The preservation of original window features in listed buildings and those within conservation areas is closely monitored by local authorities – and planning regulations often stipulate the like-for-like repair, refurbishment or replacement of timber frames.

Once there may have been a school of thought that only timber frames could achieve this appearance. But thanks to advancements in the design of PVC-U windows, particularly vertical sliders, councils are slowly coming around to the idea of allowing alternative materials to be used.

Here, Kevin O‘Neill from REHAU talks about a recent installation in a conservation area in Bristol which has set a precedent for the city:

There are currently 33 conservation areas in Bristol, each one with a special character and appearance that the local council aims to preserve or enhance for future generations. To the north west of the city is one such conversation area; Sneyd Park, a leafy suburb bordering the Downs. The area features an array of beautiful Victorian buildings, many of which have been divided into flats.

Four years ago, Sneyd Park resident Mr Hall approached local installation company Panoramic Windows about replacing the windows in his top floor flat. The period property had single glazed timber windows which were draughty and lost considerable amounts of heat, and due to the exposed position of the house by the Downs, the flat was very cold in the winter.

Mr Hall was keen to upgrade his windows to improve his comfort levels and reduce heating costs. He didn’t want wooden windows again, but hadn’t seen any PVC-U windows that he liked either. The varying shapes of window in the property (angled, arched and square) further complicated the customer’s requirements.

Panoramic Windows invited Mr Hall to its showroom to see the company’s vertical sliders offer made by fabricator Roseview Windows, using REHAU HERITAGE profiles. HERITAGE sash window profiles have all the sight-lines of a traditional timber box sash window – in 42mm, 52mm and 62mm sashes – with a deep heritage bottom rail. The exteriors of the windows have putty-line aesthetics to enhance the authentic design, and the windows are available in a range of finishes.

The customer loved the HERITAGE profiles, and Rosewood Windows were confident they could make them to the unusual specification of Mr Hall’s property, ensuring the aesthetics of the building would be maintained. So an order was placed for 16 windows with a white woodgrain foil finish.

As the property was in a conservation area, Mr Hall diligently applied for permission to replace his windows, which he thought would be approved within a few months. Unfortunately, it took much longer to get the planning application approved, as the local council and residents‘ group were adamant that wooden replacements should be specified to maintain the character of the property.

The application was initially refused but approved on appeal after an independent inspector was satisfied that replacement PVC-U windows would not adversely affect the appearance of the conservation area. In fact, he assured the council they would appear almost identical to the existing timber windows and advised them to see a sample window for themselves, which Panoramic were happy to provide.

The windows have since been fitted and the results are a credit to both the fabricators Roseview Windows, and the installers Panoramic Windows. The customer is delighted with the end result and the windows are in keeping with the original period features of the property.

This installation is certainly a lesson for future conservation area projects and reminds us all that installers can be bold and offer PVC-U alternatives, even where there are planning restrictions in place.

REHAU’s HERITAGE window system was developed in consultation with conservation bodies to smooth the planning process and offer the most authentic design and styling on the market. This way, period window features can be preserved and customers can have all the benefits of PVC-U.

www.rehau.com

One of the biggest concerns in the industry at the moment is the impending skills gap. It’s a concern Epwin Window Systems is acutely aware of, but Sharn Samra, the company’s Marketing Director, says it is taking steps to tackle the issue. “We know that fabricators and installers are concerned about finding skilled workers and it’s something that Excellence as Standard, our groundbreaking new membership programme, addresses. The programme aims to drive quality at every stage of the business and a core part of that is in having a skilled workforce.”

A cornerstone of EAS is the Excellence Academy, which offers two routes to creating a skilled workforce. The first is a heavily discounted NVQ training and the second is apprenticeships. Managed by The Vocational College (TVC), the largest provider of glass related qualifications in the UK, there are qualifications for window, door and conservatory installers, installers of roof line products, glaziers, curtain walling installers, window, door and conservatory fabricators, glass processors, stores and warehouse persons, photovoltaic panel installers and trade counter staff. Also available are qualifications in ILM management, customer service, business administration, team leading, IOSH Working Safely and IOSH Managing Safely (Managers & Supervisors).

Paul Gray, Business Development Manager at TVC, comments: “Training in the form of NVQs and apprenticeships offers three key benefits. It demonstrates your commitment to a qualified workforce, improving retention. It leads to more efficient practices and greater competence, meaning less waste and a better bottom line. And it improves Health & Safety, so there are fewer accidents and days off work.”

The Excellence Academy is just one element of the Excellence as Standard programme because members also benefit from the quality products available from Profile 22, Spectus and Swish, strong marketing support, partner benefits and business support.

Excellence as Standard is widely being seen as blazing a trail in the industry and in the Excellence Academy it’s clear to see why.

The post Excellence as Standard’s NVQ support helps boost skills training appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

The conservatory market is changing rapidly and fabricators need to make sure they’re offering the products that installers need to compete in the new landscape. Rhys Hoddinott, Director of LEKA Systems says: “If you’re a fabricator looking to support your installer customers in the changing conservatory market, look no further than the LEKA Orangery Roof and the LEKA Warm Roof to add more value.”

In recent years there has been a big shift away from standard white box conservatories to higher value spaces that deliver homeowners greater flexibility. In particular, orangery and orangery-hybrid installations are seeing incredible growth – up 38% in 2016.

Blazing a trail in this new landscape are the LEKA Orangery Roof and the LEKA Warm Roof. They’re taking the market by storm because they meet the demand for the new style of space. In other words, they give fabricators a way to grow their business by giving their installer customers added value to their sale to the homeowner.

LEKA products are such an attractive offering because they deliver real benefits to fabricators, installers and homeowners.

They’re easy to add to a fabrication set up, with limited cost, so they add value to fabricators quickly. LEKA also provides full marketing and technical training support so fabricators can support their installer customers to secure more sales.

The products are great for installers because they’re jhai-approved, all materials are pre-cut to exact specifications and there are fewer elements to install than on a traditional solid conservatory roof, so on-site installations typically only take between one and three days.

The portfolio is growing too – the LEKA Orangery Roof and the LEKA Warm Roof will be joined shortly by another product that looks set to have the same seismic effect on the market.

So if you’re a fabricator looking to grow your business by adding value to your installer customers’ businesses, LEKA Systems has the answer.

www.lekasystems.co.uk

Bennett Architectural Design Technician Mitchell Pritchard has been awarded the AMI Manufacturing Apprentice award for February.

The awards launched my marketing agency AMI earlier this year recognise employees of manufacturing companies who have been employed through apprentice schemes and excelled in their field.

As part of the announcement Mitchell has also won £100 of shopping vouchers and will be entered into an end of year awards to recognise the AMI Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year.

Lionel Grant, Managing Director at Bennett Architectural, “We’re delighted that Mitchell has received such a prestigious award, which re-affirms the great work he has done here at Bennett Architectural since coming to the company as an apprentice.

“People make the difference here and through our apprentice schemes in Design and Fabrication we have a proven track record for development of young people and showing that you can be your very best working at our company.”

Mitchell Pritchard added, “I enjoy the fact that every day presents different challenges which means my job never gets boring. “It also helps that we have a fantastic team who get on with each other and are willing to work together effectively.”

To find out more about the AMI Manufacturing Apprentice Awards visit www.amiweb.co.uk/ami-uk-manufacturing-apprentice-2018/

To find out more about Bennett Architectural Aluminium please visit www.baasl.co.uk or call 01782 566512.