Welcoming your Window Widget superhero

Window Widgets has launched a campaign to encourage fabricators and installers to look at the various everyday superheroes from within their expansive range of solution-led products for PVC-U window and door systems, that are all fully tested, and many products are BBA accredited and CE Marked.

The new campaign has been designed to communicate the key benefits of several product developments, including the structural universal coupler range, for inline connections, corners, bays, bows and conservatories.

John Fairhurst, trade sales executive of Window Widgets commented: “For over a decade, Window Widgets has been the go to brand for clever product solutions, that have been fully tested and certified. We very much view them as superheroes for our customers and so this campaign seems pertinent in raising the awareness for each range, and also the importance of CE Marking and thorough testing for all such products.”

The post Welcoming your Window Widget superhero appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

South-Devon based Fab Frames are looking to further develop sales of their manufactured Solidor, with the introduction of a new dedicated unit for composite door manufacturing.

For the last 6 years Fab Frames have been manufacturing their own Solidor composite doors with the exact same components as the solid core composite door pioneer including an Avantis multi-point lock, KÖMMERLING outer frame and the 3 Star Kitemarked Ultion cylinder as standard. The commissioning of the new dedicated unit will increase capacity to 100 doors a week, serving the South West of the UK with regular deliveries and direct support.

As well as providing the trade with a high performance composite door solution, backed with unrivalled marketing support, Fab Frames also supplies Cornwall Council and Housing 21 with entrance doorsets, as they look to build on their success in the trade sector with further commercial and new build opportunities.

Mike Taylor, managing director of Fab Frames commented: ‘We’ve had a wonderful relationship with Solidor for the past 6 years and have been able to build a very successful division within the business. With a new dedicated facility, we hope to build our volumes up to 100 doors per week by the end of the year.’

For information on Fab Frames please visit www.fabframes.net, e-mail sales@fabframes.net, or call 01626 333713. For further information about the benefits of becoming a Solidor partner, call 01782 847300 or e-mail enquiries@solidor.co.uk. You can also find out further information at www.solidor.co.uk and add to their considerable following on Twitter @solidor.

18-year old Robbie Logan is the newest member of the team at Business Micros’ Penpont head office, joining as a Junior Support Technician.

Robbie will be answering technical queries from customers, supporting them with updates and helping to ensure that they always get a fast and responsive service.

As a young college leaver, he will benefit from the comprehensive workplace training programme which is in place at Business Micros to help him develop his IT career.

Robbie already looks like a great fit for Business Micros, sharing the company wide passion for golf. As the local Thornhill Junior Captain playing off a handicap of 10, he looks set to be a major challenger at this year’s golf day.

In recent years, Business Micros has increasingly focused on training its own staff like Robbie, both as a way of addressing the industry wide skills shortage and of embedding the company’s ethical culture right across the business.

Further details are at: www.businessmicros.co.uk

Launched this month by Surrey balustrading specialists Balconette, the new SG12 is a fully frameless balustrading system.

Particularly suitable for balconies, this versatile system is also ideal for outdoor applications, such as providing a protective barrier for a decking area or mezzanine. 

The SG12 fully frameless system creates an almost invisible barrier between the viewer and the view – allowing for 100% uninterrupted views without the need for any posts or handrails. 

Four design options are offered and there are no limitations on the lengths of balustrading required.The fully frameless system can be fitted either above or below finished floor level. Alternatively, an elegantly-designed elliptical handrail can be added on top of the glass panels.

The fully frameless system uses 21.5mm laminated and toughened glass panels. When fitted above floor level, the glass sits securely within a robust base track, which is finished with an attractive anodised aluminium cover plate, available in either a silver or Royal Chrome finish.

For a truly seamless appearance, the fully frameless system can be installed below finished floor level with the supporting base track hidden from view. This creates the illusion of an almost invisible barrier with just glass rising from the floor.

Balconette expects their latest balustrading product will be in demand from both the domestic and commercial markets and through architects, specifiers and designers seeking a unique, minimalist and low-maintenance solution.

“For purchasers whose requirement to preserve clear views is absolutely imperative, then our SG12 fully frameless glass balustrades fit the bill perfectly,” says Balconette’s CEO Effi Wolff. 

He adds: “As well as requiring very little maintenance, they allow more light to pass through, create a sense of space and their simple design will enhance any architectural or design feature. It’s a ‘win’ all round!”

For further information on Balconette’s range of balustrading products, contact 01342 410411 or email sales@balconette.co.uk.

http://www.balconette.co.uk

VBH, the largest hardware distributor in Europe, will have products on several stands at Fensterbau Frontale, 21^st-24^th March, Nuremberg, Germany. The exhibition is established as the leading in Europe for innovative door and fenestration products.

VBH’s unique greenteQ Invisifold system will be present on a number of stands including Veka (Stand 6-253), Kommerling-Profine (Stand 7-453) and Schueco (Stand 7-403).

Invisifold is a unique slide and fold system for both doors and windows, allowing each sash to be moved individually for a full opening, or positioned to give controlled ventilation. VBH’s greenteQ door hardware is PAS24 and BSI approved, providing fabricators and installers with Document Q compliancy. No visible hinges or hardware, and no limits to the number of panels equals a streamlined and contemporary design.

Simon Monks, MD at VBH (GB) comments: “Fensterbau Frontale is one of the largest European industry events, so it’s great to see that our own innovative greenteQ Invisifold system will be on the stands of so many leading systems companies. Invisifold has been designed to enable slide and fold windows and doors to be manufactured using standard window and door profiles, so it’s a real boon for fabricators. It’s been successfully tested on systems by Veka, Halo, Rehau, Kommerling, Deceuninck, Selecta and Schueco. I’m looking forward to seeing greenteQ Invisifold in action at the show.”

VBH’s greenteQ range is a growing suite of window and door furniture, colour-matched for a seamless and integrated look. For more information, call 01634 263300 or www.vbhgb.com.

www.frontale.de for more information on the show.

BS EN 1279 accreditation is the latest cause for celebration at Peterborough’s HiTECH Blinds Ltd, the fast-growing integral blind firm taking the market by storm.

Subjected to rigorous testing at BSi, HiTECH’s best-in-class products passed with flying colours. EN 1279 Part 2 requires glass units to have moisture penetration of less than 16%, but HiTECH’s product was found to have penetration of just 3%. What’s more, a member of test centre staff commented that the product’s fog test performance was the best he’d ever seen.

Founded in 2017 by Nigel Greening along with Mike Yerrell & Michelle Scotney of respected commercial aluminium fabricator AGF Ltd, HiTECH Blinds was established to bring reliable, hassle-free, outstanding-quality integral blinds to fabricators and installers throughout the UK, Ireland & the Channel Isles.

With the help of integrated blinds specialist Ian Woolley, the company has grown rapidly in its first twelve months, as customers switch suppliers in ever-increasing numbers.

Michelle commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to be EN 1279 accredited. We’ve come a very long way in our first year in business – and this is another important milestone on the road to becoming the biggest, best and most respected integrated blind supplier in the UK.”

Sales Director Ian Woolley added: “I’m extremely pleased our products fared so well in testing – but at the same time, I’m not surprised. The materials used and the staff we’ve trained are of the highest quality, and we’ve invested a huge amount of time and effort in developing the best-performing integrated blinds on the market today.

“Our Magnet-operated blinds are extremely easy to use, easy to install, and they come with a ten-year no-nonsense guarantee – twice as long as any of our competitors.

“If you’re interested in learning more about how HiTECH Blinds can help your business grow, get in touch today.”

For more information visit www.hitechblinds.co.uk or call 0330 6780 280

Complete building envelope specialist subcontractor Entec Design Services Ltd has recently installed Exlabesa Building Systems’ KSF Non Thermal Door system as part of a £3 million refurbishment of a 50,000 sq ft former BHS store in Middlesbrough which has reopened as a Flannels, USC and Sports Direct store.

The refurbishment of the BHS store is seen as a major step in the regeneration of the town centre, which makes the project a particularly prestigious one for Entec and Exlabesa.

Entec was awarded the contract by main contractor Vale UK and the company used Exlabesa’s KSF Non Thermal Door system on the project. The system maximises the glazed area, making it perfect for shop fronts. It has an intelligent design that is engineered for quality fabrication and ease of installation and uses high quality components to ensure the product’s durability.

Entec Design Services Ltd was established in 2004 and undertakes projects throughout the UK from its offices in Stockton. The company has an experienced team with a reputation of consistently providing a quality service which is delivered safely and on time. It is a CHAS accredited sub-contractor and all of its employees hold the appropriate level CSCS cards, which makes the company a safe pair of hands for high profile projects such as this one.

Entec’s Technical Director Alan Clayton has worked with Exlabesa for many years. He praises the company’s products and service, commenting: “We have a great relationship with Exlabesa. The team are very helpful and good at keeping in touch and offer great turnaround times, which really helps us.”

This refurbishment project is the perfect example of what can be achieved when a high quality contractor uses high quality products to create a high quality and high profile result.

www.exlabesa.co.uk

Well-respected industry figure and head of the GJB Holdings Group, Roy Frost has signed up to speak at the upcoming Glazing Summit.

Held in Birmingham in May, Roy will be speaking to industry professionals on the topic of mergers and acquisitions. He will be drawing on his own experience having recently bought not one, but two large-scale fabricators.

Essex-based fabricator GJB Window Systems was Roy’s first acquisition, taking over from retiring, long-time owner Ken Blackman. The South-East firm is one of the UK’s largest Eurocell fabricators with a dedicated customer base across the region. Soon after, an opportunity arose to purchase prominent Stoke-based fabricator Listers Central. The two companies have now come together under Roy’s leadership, to form GJB Holdings.

“With the purchase of these two industry stalwarts, and a number of discussions taking place on further buy-outs, I have first-hand experience of the advantages and the opportunities of growing by acquisition,” Roy explains. “I am looking forward to sharing my advice and insights at the Glazing Summit later this year.”

“I’m also keen in my speech to draw attention to the wider benefits of acquisitions. They are not only a chance to develop your own business, but to gain an experienced workforce, safeguard jobs and protect the future of the industry. Acquisition has allowed us to deliver an even greater service to our trade customers across the UK, with faster turnarounds, wider choice and stronger manufacturing and logistical capabilities.”

For more information visit: www.glazingsummit.co.uk

Veka Group has been shortlisted for three major accolades in the Red Rose Awards, hosted by Lancashire Business View.

2018 sees Veka Group shortlisted for: ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’, ‘Employer of the Year’ and the new ‘In-House Training’ award.

Gabriela Hammond, Head of HR for Veka, said: “We’re very pleased to have been shortlisted for not just one, but three Red Rose Awards. We were proud to have won the award for best Large Business in 2017 and we’re hopeful that our efforts will be rewarded in another category this year.

“The entry process is quite in depth as these awards are hotly contested! We’ll be up against the ‘cream of the crop’ of Lancashire businesses.

“Putting the different award submissions together was a great opportunity to reflect on all the hard work that goes on at VEKA and the diverse ways in which the team have supported the local community recently. Together, we’ve raised more than £40,000 for regional charities in the last three years, and our community work has seen staff members mentoring students from local schools during partnership programmes that have proved to be mutually beneficial.”

The post Three cheers for Veka nominations appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Early in 2017, Dessian Scotland initiated industry accredited training for its workforce. Dessian Scotland, which has a reputation with customers for delivering a quality product and for excellent customer service, is committed to training and enhancing the work environment for all employees.

Cumbernauld-based Dessian Scotland, a trading division of Dessian Products Limited, is a fabricator, distributor, glazer and installer of REHAU windows, working with a cross-section of customers from local authorities and trade installers to home builders and DIY customers. Last year, the company went into partnership with local training organisation RT Resource, to deliver SVQ certified study programmes to upskill its glazier and fitting teams.

Dessian Scotland’s team of four factory based glaziers have almost 100 years of experience between them coming in to the industry straight from school; however none previously held an industry-recognised qualification. Over the last year, the glaziers have worked towards a level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in the Fabrication of Glass Supporting Systems, which has furthered their understanding of the technical information behind the processes they are familiar with and given them additional confidence in their own abilities.

All the training was carried out on site, within working hours, so it didn’t encroach on the employees’ work or personal time. The courses were fully funded too, so there was no expense to the workers, just the benefits of holding a qualification to recognise their skills and further their technical expertise.

As well as training for the glaziers, Dessian Scotland also arranged for their fitting teams to study towards an SVQ level 3 in Fenestration Installation and Surveying. With so many changes happening in the industry, keeping up to date with the latest regulations and best practice is imperative thereby ensuring that the company continues to deliver a faultless service to customers.

Training programmes were also introduced last year for Dessian Scotland’s new recruits, taken on as part of a North Lanarkshire Council initiative to get young people into work. Through the Routes to Work programme, they have been able to learn on the job and work towards a Modern Apprenticeship in Business and Administration.

John McDermott, general manager at Dessian Scotland, said: “We are committed to the training and development of our staff, and over the last year we have been able to offer them the opportunity to earn a nationally recognised qualification for their skills while they work. For our more experienced glaziers and fitters, much of the information in the study programmes was familiar to them, but they all got a lot out of finding out more about the science and mechanics behind the processes they’ve done every day for years.

“We believe this training initiative has not only ensured our staff feel valued and invested in at Dessian, but we have also ensured they have a well-rounded practical and theoretical knowledge of our products so are better placed to help our customers with any queries they might have.”

Hormoz Nouri from REHAU said: “Dessian Scotland is leading the field in Scotland when it comes to a commitment to training and developing its staff and it’s a value that REHAU certainly shares with the company. We offer training throughout the UK and Ireland via the REHAU Academy, because we too understand the importance of knowledge to remain compliant, competitive and continuously improve the products and services. Training can take place either at the REHAU premises or at a customer’s location”

Dessian Scotland has been in business for 18 years establishing an excellent reputation for its high standard products and services. The company is a trading division of Belfast based Dessian Products Ltd who have been delivering REHAU uPVC window and door frames for over 30 years.

For further information, visit www.dessian.co.uk.