Suzanne Nicholl, Business Development Manager of Aperture Solutions

Aperture Solutions LTD, part of the global home improvement products manufacturer, ODL Europe and exclusive reseller of the Capstone Door Slab, has recently appointed Suzanne Nicholl to the role of Business Development Manager.

Suzanne, known to many from her previous role at Polyframe, has the responsibility for heading up sales across the whole of the UK, from the company’s head office in Bootle, Merseyside and has already won orders from a number of new customers during her short time in the role.

Managing Director, Nathan Barr commented, we are delighted that Suzanne has joined the Aperture Solutions team, it’s a great time for the business and she is making excellent progress in creating awareness amongst customers of the relatively new Aperture Solutions brand, this with our recent investment in manufacturing equipment and expansion at our Bootle site means we are starting 2018 in a great position to grow, Suzanne has made a great start and we wish her every success in the role.”

Suzanne is no stranger to the sector, having over twenty-two years of industry experience to call on, she started selling hardware from her late teens and has developed her skills and experience across several roles to the present day.

Suzanne comments, “I am looking forward to meeting as many customers as possible over the next few months, I have received a very warm welcome in the role and it’s been great to be demonstrating the many features and benefits of the Capstone slab, to both existing and new fabricators and installers. I really enjoy meeting up with customers and as my role is mainly field based, I get the opportunity to see first hand how our range of products can make a difference. I would encourage any potential customers to contact me if they would like to discuss any potential requirements.”

Outside of work, Suzanne is keen on running and keep fit, with a daughter involved in dancing and theatre productions, she follows her daughter’s career and enjoys attending the many shows in which she performs, that have taken her to many foreign locations.

If you would like any further information on the Aperture Solutions product range or Capstone Door slabs, Suzanne can be contacted on 0151 933 0299, or via the aperture solutions website at www.aperturesolutions.co.uk

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First Job: I started work aged 16 as a commercial trainee at Rehau, working at their Amlwch plant on Anglesey.

When did you join current company: I joined AluK in March 2016 as Head of Marketing and was appointed Marketing Director in July 2017.

Most useful/favourite gadget: I love everything about my iPhone, but couldn’t live without the Deezer music streaming app.

Favourite/most useful website: I’m such an online shopper, the days of having the luxury of shopping on the High Street are definitely over for me, so all my favourite clothes brand sites are crucial. I’d be lost without them.

Business person you admire: That’s a tough one – I can appreciate the achievements of some of the big names obviously, but my real admiration is for those people who I know and whose journey I can see from their perspective. On the recent Paddle2Pedal challenge for instance, I was in awe of the stories of so many of the women taking part and how they had got to where they are in business. One stood out for me though and that was Tina Moorhouse, MD of Oakland Glass. She really is a true inspiration for all women and she deserves a medal!

Recommended hotel for business: I’m a regular visitor at AluK’s London Design Studio and use the Hub by Premier Inn. These are hard to fault – great value and just smart in terms of their approach and understanding the needs of business travel.

Favourite UK restaurant: I’ve been lucky enough to eat at some wonderful places but, as it’s my local, I have to say The Angel at Abergavenny. This is an award-winning restaurant in my home town and they’ve worked so hard and invested a lot to make their mark in the UK restaurant and hospitality sector.

Best business decision: Repositioning AluK in the trade/residential market with a clear product strategy, and then launching that at the FIT Show. I’m thoroughly enjoying being part of and having input into AluK’s journey of development and growth.

Other interests: Having just completed the GM Fundraising Paddle2Pedal challenge, I’m hooked on road cycling now.

Working Day: If I’m not out visiting customers, I like to be in the office between 7.30 and 8. I work with the rest of the marketing team on a whole range of strategic projects and it’s my job to make sure those are kept on track. With AluK launching so many new products at the moment, as well as a brand new Select Partner scheme, it’s exceptionally busy and I have to work hard to reduce the time I spend in meetings and maximise the amount of time I can spend on strategic planning. I usually leave fairly promptly at around 6 to make sure I spend time with my family in the evening, but the laptop does often go on again.

Working Location: AluK moved this year to its new 350,000 ft2 home in Chepstow, which for me is a perfect 30 minute commute. My office is right in the heart of the action, in the new purpose built offices which sit alongside the vast production facility. The whole building is fabulous and showcases lots of AluK’s windows, doors and curtain walling systems, not just in the newly opened Design Studio but in the structure itself. We literally live and breathe our products and are very proud of our new offices!

AluK made a very significant strategic decision this year to clearly position ourselves in the trade and residential markets. We redefined our product offering, focused on the expertise of our team and committed ourselves to a new level of partnership with our customers. At the FIT Show, AluK made a very big statement about our commitment to this market and our ‘Experts in Aluminium’ campaign which ran from January to June was deliberately created to reinforce that. All this coincided of course with our move to new 350,000 ft2 premises in Chepstow and a huge investment in the UK market by the AluK group. We now have an ISO9001 accredited facility. We are also the only systems company in the world to have an online pre-anodised vertical Polyester Powder Coat paint line, which will be fully commissioned early next year. At a time when the aluminium sector is already outstripping the rest of the market, with growth in 2016 of 24%, AluK now has the capacity and resources to maximise the huge opportunity which undoubtedly exists for us and for our customers in the years ahead.

The latest Palmer report that has been released predicts that the overall glazing market will struggle until at least 2020. However, it also stated that the outlook for aluminium is very much brighter, with further growth of 20% forecast by 2021, driven initially by bi-fold doors and then increasingly by windows. Arguably, there has never been a more exciting time to be in this sector and certainly there has never been a more exciting time to be at AluK. In marketing and product terms, we introduced three clearly defined new product tiers at this year’s FIT Show. These are – Optio for our mainstream products, Luminia for our premium range and Infinium for our high-end retail offering. This strategy means our customers now understand exactly which products fit their customer profile and, more importantly, can access products from across our portfolio to suit any type of project. We are focused not just on closing any gaps in our range which might have previously been filled by our competitors, but also on giving our customers additional new products which can deliver stronger and more sustainable margins.

Our aim is to take our customers along with us on what promises to be an enjoyable and very rewarding journey. Our plan is not simply to go on adding more fabricators to our customer base. Rather, we want to work with existing customers – giving them the products, service and sales and marketing support they need to grow with us and increase the number of installers buying from them. And, for that reason, we took the significant step of launching our Select Partner scheme this month, appointing partners for our Infinium and Luminia products. These will be those fabricators who have demonstrated a real commitment to AluK over the years and where we believe there is potential for us to really add value to their businesses and their showrooms and drive future growth together. We’ll be backing these partners with technical, sales and marketing support and helping them to reach those installers and developers who are so critical to our success in both the home improvement and new-build sectors. For instance, we have launched the Infinium panoramic slider specifically to enable those customers targeting high-end Grand Designs type properties to supply a UK manufactured AluK product with full local support, rather than having to turn to suppliers based in Europe. Similarly, we’ve just launched the Luminia Veranda system to give customers a great new add-on or retrofit sales opportunity on every bi-fold or sliding door installation they complete.

And, at the end of October, we launch what we believe will be a game-changing product in the bi-fold market – our Luminia F82. This features symmetrical all-round rebates of just 97mm to provide larger glazing panels and fantastic thermal performance U-values of just 1.34 W/m2K when double glazed – a first for any aluminium bi-fold. It is unashamedly targeted at the premium end of the bi-fold market where demand remains very robust, yet it is quicker and easier to fabricate than existing doors in our range. It will be released only to our Luminia Select Partners, giving them a real point of differentiation in the market and helping them to increase their share of the predicted 28% growth in bi-folds over the next five years. It really does represent an attractive proposition.

Our product development doesn’t stop there though – we’ll also be rolling out the brand new Luminia SC156 sliding door shortly. Looking even further ahead, the next stage in our marketing plan is to increase our targeting of the all-important consumer market. That won’t come from a big press or TV campaign because our budgets simply don’t run to that. But, it will certainly involve clever but cost-effective digital marketing, and will work hand in hand with our customers in the form of printed and digital marketing information and of course showroom branding. One key element for targeting consumers is the new AluK Design Studios. We opened our first in London’s design quarter last year and have just opened the second at our Chepstow HQ. These showcase full-size versions of virtually our entire product range and provide a fantastic venue for presentations and events. Our original intention was to use the London Design Studio to target architects and specifiers working in the commercial sector and certainly it’s proving ideal for that. But, it is also a facility which our customers can use for hosting their own events or simply directing prospective customers towards to view our full-size products. It is certainly proving very successful for that and we are seeing upwards of 40 homeowners a week visiting to look at products for themselves before they place orders with customers, further justifying our investment. There’s lots more to come from AluK throughout the rest of this year and into 2018 and beyond. We have a fantastic brand, underpinned by exceptional products and are now, I believe, perfectly placed to make the most of the rising demand for aluminium from across the trade and residential sector and, more importantly, to help our customers to make the most of that too.

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Image Above: Kieran Buchan receiving his Level 2 NVQ from a member of North Lancs Training Group.

Sealed unit and integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing has extended its apprenticeship programme with the help of North Lancs Training Group.

The company’s first apprentice Kieran Buchan completed his NVQ Level 2 in Glass Processing last year and has now progressed to the higher Level 3. He says: “After my GCSEs I tried Sixth Form, but it just wasn’t for me. I was ready to be given more responsibility and I realised I would do better at something more vocational.

“At Morley there is always something new to learn, all the managers and supervisors are willing to share their skills and it’s really given me confidence in my abilities. Doing an NVQ has really helped me understand my job a lot better and I’ll definitely consider moving onto Level 4.”

Elsewhere in the business, two other members of the Morley team have now embarked on NVQs in Business Administration. Last month, Nathan Hall and Kevin Murphy started Level 2 and Level 4 of the NVQ respectively and will study topics such as team supervision and project management as well as providing opportunities for research, analysis and original thought.

Previously a sales assistant at BHS, Nathan now works in Morley’s sales department, advising customers and handling orders. Having joined Morley is 2016 he is enjoying the chance to earn an additional qualification, which includes a visit from a GQA approved North Lancs Training Group tutor every four to six weeks. Meanwhile, after 17 years with the business Morley general manager Kevin Murphy is looking forward to using the opportunity to grow and develop

“This is my first time studying since my school days, but it hasn’t taken long to get back into the swing of it,” says Kevin, continuing: “I feel very fortunate to have seen the business grow over the years and have the opportunity to grow alongside it. I can already see how the skills I’ll learn over the next 18 months can be applied to my job role here at Morley.”

Ian Short, managing director at Morley Glass & Glazing which employs more than 70 people said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for the team to gain new skills, qualifications and a greater understanding of the business. I’m sure the business will benefit from the new ideas, as well as from a more motivated and inspired team. Hats off to Kieran, Kevin and Nathan who are committed to investing in their personal development and the future growth of the business.”

By offering real life work experience with a qualification alongside, apprenticeships and traineeships offer an ideal route for those looking to start out and progress within a company, with over 250,000 workplaces in the UK currently offering such schemes.

With Pioneer continuing to supply conservatories to a French home improvement specialist based near Paris at a rate of two articulated truck loads a month, the company say Brexit will not present any barrier to sales, say both supplier and customer.

Sales of Pioneer’s ‘English Conservatories’ continue to grow to several International customers, including those located in countries as diverse as Japan and France.

Danny Williams, managing director of Pioneer, and a committed Brexit supporter, said that none of his customers see any issues with business continuing as usual after the March 2019 exit date for Britain to leave the EU. He said: “If anything trade with Japan might even get easier but our French customer, who has been taking around 150 conservatories a year from us for the past six years, says that unless huge barriers are imposed, they don’t see why anything should change.

“We addressed the issue again more recently, now that we are just a year away from leaving the EU. They tell us that unless ridiculous tariffs and physical barriers are imposed they see no reasons to change, which is exactly our position. Our customers are entirely pragmatic about the political situation, and our French customer especially is continuing to enjoy growing sales of our conservatories to their customers, who buy them in standard sizes and install them themselves.”

The post No Brexit barrier appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

The new 2018 exclusive door collection is now available from Force 8. The new brochure features 64 pages of their extensive door portfolio, plus three new designs in the Decadence door range, giving an even wider selection to choose from. Force 8’s range of Decadence doors is a unique collection which is now available in a smooth finish as well as the standard woodgrain effect. Each of the 14 Decadence doors have their own intricately etched designs on the outside of the door, giving them a distinctive and individual look. With the fashion for composite doors moving more towards contemporary designs, the new smooth finish adds a whole new dimension.The advantages of the Decadence Smooth door range are that the style combines the look of an aluminium door along with the thermal advantage of a composite door. If you were to purchase an aluminium door with the same design, this could cost five times more than an exclusive composite smooth door from Force 8. Force 8 is one of the leading companies involved in the manufacturing of composite doors in the industry. For over 25 years, Manchester-based Force 8 has led the way with new ideas and innovations, and their new brochure is no exception.

To further enhance the appeal of their doors, Force 8 allows you the option of their Urban cassette which is available in aluminium or their colour-matching finish and there is also the option of the TriSys moulded cassette. Alongside the new designs in the Decadence range, there are also new additions to the contemporary door range which are now available with the smooth finish as well as the woodgrain effect texture which features on both sides of the doors. All of Force 8’s doors are available in standard and premium colours with an additional 210 RAL colours available.

As one of the UK’s leading companies in profile bending, combining their unique arched composite door systems with their one-piece bend frames shows how committed the company is to continually improving their products. Force 8’s arched frames are available on most of their composite doors, enhancing the overall appeal of your home. The new brochure also includes Force 8’s high standard security systems; all doors are fitted with this system and are available with traditional or contemporary hardware. Force 8 never releases a new brochure unless there are new door designs to be promoted. The new brochure will allow people to see why doors from Force 8 are revolutionary.

The post New 2018 exclusive door collection introduced in new Force 8 brochure appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

The exhibition pairing of Holz-Handwerk and Fensterbau Frontale achieved record numbers for visitors and countries of origin this year: a combined total of 1,329 exhibitors from 42 countries presented the latest trends from the wood processing industry and the fields of window, door and facade construction.

Between 21 and 24 March 2018 the combined exhibition event once again attracted more than 110,000 international experts from the wood and window industries from 123 countries.

A total of 814 exhibitors (up from 2016, which had 794), and about half from outside Germany, made use of more than 64,000 square metres of exhibition space.

Both the exhibitors’ stands and the supporting programme covered key topics such as digitalisation, Smart Home and automation, energy efficiency, sustainability and design.

With the shows not even a week over, the focus now turns to the next show. The next exhibition pairing in the series will take place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 18 to 21 March 2020.

The post Perfect pairing appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Yale Door and Window Solutions has extended its offering of BBA certified window products.

The Yale Shootbolt and Yale Encloser window locks, along with the Yale Revolution window hinge have passed the BBA certification – a symbol of product quality.

Grant Stratford, Technical Director for Yale Door and Window Solutions, comments: “We are proud to be able to offer our customers a range of steadfast high-security window hardware solutions that are backed by the BBA certification.

“We are thrilled to have obtained the certification for the Yale Shootbolt, Yale Encloser and Yale Revolution Window Hinge as well. These products go alongside the Defender and Defender Egress hinges, Yale Hinge and Virage Handle, for which we already hold the certification.

“Unlike the BBA assessment reports, where the products are assessed once and then no further evaluation is conducted for 5 years, the certification scheme inspects the product and factory on an annual basis. This proves the ongoing consistency of the product’s performance and the manufacturing process – giving the end user added peace of mind and confidence in the product’s reliability and longevity.”

The BBA certification is an industry recognised symbol of product quality and is distinctive in that all certified products are not only subject to a QA assessment, but also have to pass a full product and manufacturing process audit every year. This testing includes laboratory-based testing, online evaluation, product inspections, life expectancy assessment, quality management review and training review, which all need to be passed to a high standard.

Paul Atkinson, Sales Director for Yale Door and Window Solutions, adds: “The BBA certification is a recognised guarantee of product performance, letting our customers know that not only have the products been independently tested to ensure they conform to the required standards, but that our factory is regularly inspected too.”

For more information please visit www.yaledws.co.uk or alternatively call 01902 366800.

Edgetech, the world’s leading warm-edge spacer manufacturer, has become the latest big-name sponsor to sign up to the Glazing Summit, a major new conference for the leading lights of UK fenestration.

Coming to the St John’s Exhibition Centre in Solihull on May 22nd, the landmark event will bring together senior figures from throughout the industry to discuss new product developments, emerging opportunities, and the future of the sector in the wake of Brexit.

Coventry-based Edgetech is renowned for its pioneering role in the development of warm-edge technology. However, it’s also widely respected for its willingness to tackle the biggest issues affecting glass and glazing, and as one of the driving forces behind the popularisation of Window Energy Ratings.

Given its keen interest in the future of the industry, it was inevitable the firm would play a

key role in the Glazing Summit, as company director Chris Alderson explains:

“Edgetech has always been involved in the big debates shaping UK glass and glazing. We strongly believe that we’ve got a responsibility to help drive the industry forward as a whole.

“In the past, we’ve done that with our Energy Efficiency in Focus conferences, a crucial milestone on the road to the market adopting Window Energy Ratings beginning back in 2006, and our Triple Glazing Question event in 2014.

“Now, we’re thrilled to be supporting what looks set to be another landmark moment timely discussion on the development in glass and glazing, and to be able to take part in conversations that could shape the industry for years to come.”

The Summit will take place at St Johns Hotel and Conference Centre, Solihull, 5 minutes from the M42 motorway, from 9 am to 3 pm on Tuesday 22nd May 2018.

Tickets are available at www.glazingsummit.co.uk/tickets

For more information call 02476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk