SIMON CLARKE JOINS GLOBAL GLASS

Simon Clarke has been confirmed as the new General Manager of Global Glass, overseeing daily operations at their four UK based sites.

Previously of Glass Systems Group, Simon joins the glass company owned by Synseal Group to replace Mark Cerrone, who has taken up a Director role at The Glass Machinery Company Ltd.

In Simon’s role as General Manager, he will oversee the company’s four glass production facilities in Nottinghamshire, Blackburn, Wigan and Essex, reporting to Glass Managing Director Derren Gittins, who joined Global Glass last April. Since then, glass orders have increased by 40%, filling the additional capacity gained in the purchase of Global Glass Essex in December 2016.

With more than 28 years’ experience in glass processing, Simon started his career as a plant engineer before spending two decades in domestic IGU manufacture as both an Operations Manager and General Manager at various businesses within Pilkington. He has subsequently spent the last two years in the role of UK General Manager at Glass Systems Group.

Commenting on his appointment, Simon said: “I am delighted to be joining the Global Glass team at Synseal Group. This is an industry and customer base that I know very well and I’m looking forward to using the expertise gained from many years at Pilkington and Glass Systems Group to help improve Synseal Group’s already impressive glass business, with the aim of giving our customers the very best possible quality and service across the whole of the UK.”

Derren Gittins, Glass MD for Synseal Group, added: “Simon joins us at a very exciting time, following us winning Glass Company of the Year at the G17 Awards last year. He has a proven track record in the glass business of building and maintaining excellent operational standards and will help us in our campaign to become recognised as a world class manufacturer.”

Secondary glazing experts Incarnation are seeing surging interest in their top-end Deluxe product.

Launched last year, Deluxe is the highest-spec offering the firm has ever released, designed to emulate the classic stylings of a traditional sash window, and making it perfect for period properties and conservation areas.

Its glass panels can be latch-released and dropped down onto fully shackled stay arms equipped with a quick-release system, which lets users fully remove the sash panels. Once-tricky tasks like cleaning and lifting are therefore made considerably easier.

Capable of achieving heights up to 3m and incorporating 8.8mm acoustic glazing, the tilt-to-clean, vertical-sliding Deluxe is one of the most advanced and versatile secondary glazing products on the market.

Incarnation Director Paul Bygrave comments: “With Deluxe, we’re offering something completely unique. It’s not only a best-in-class product that excels in every respect, it’s the only SDG model on the market that offers fully removable sashes – maximising convenience for the installer, and allowing egress in emergencies.

“We’ve experienced rapid growth over the last twelve months – taking on several new employees to keep pace with demand – and given the massive interest we’re now seeing in Deluxe, that looks set to continue.”

Born an offshoot of sash window experts Roseview, but now a resoundingly successful business in its own right, Buckinghamshire-based Incarnation offers two complete secondary glazing suites – the Classic Collection, and the Optimum Collection.

The Classic Collection is aimed squarely at the domestic and heritage markets, featuring an extensive array of ultra-slim profiles to suit virtually any style. Optimum, meanwhile, has been designed for large-scale commercial projects.

For more information call 01234 240404, email paul@incarnationwindows.co.uk  or visit www.incarnationwindows.co.uk

The market for conservatory roof replacements is on a high says Prefix Systems and one of the latest jobs carried out by Stevenage-based Conserv-A-Tech, shows that consumers still yearn for the appeal of a glazed roof. As part of Prefix’s proven Refurbish My Conservatory scheme, Conserv-A-Tech have access to dedicated marketing materials, along with specific products for roof replacements. These products have been specially designed by Prefix for these types of applications and include Retro-Fix posts to carry the additional loading of glass or even solid roofs and Bi-Span to support the structural requirements for large openings.

With around 3 million existing conservatories installed in the UK and many first-generation ones glazed in tired polycarbonate, there’s an important market sector emerging. Over the last 10 years the market has also seen the rapid development of specialist solar control glass with u-values now down to 1.0W/(m2K) and so glass is now very much the dominant glazed material. Eric Knappett, owner and director of Conserv-A-Tech said: “Conservatory roof replacements are becoming more prevalent in terms of our sales opportunities. As a diligent company, it’s re-assuring to know that we have a supporting brand and product range specific to this sector which is boosted by the outstanding customer service levels from Prefix.”

Chris Cooke, co-director of Prefix Systems concluded: “Companies of the calibre of Conserv-A-Tech are a shining example of how the conservatory and glazed extension market is evolving. Replacements are becoming a more important part of the revenue stream for the sector, yet we must be mindful of the design considerations and structural loadings for each individual project, it’s a must for the sector to ensure the products installed are fully fit for purpose.”

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Virtuoso Doors claims it is set to take door manufacturing to a new level in 2018 and awaken the homeowner to the unique beauty of an individually designed and crafted Virtuoso door. Following a recent investment in additional cutting edge machinery and a radical re-launch to underline the crafted precision that goes into manufacturing every Virtuoso door, the team of expert craftsmen at Virtuoso will be bringing more Virtuoso doors to life.

Tony Craggs, managing director of Virtuoso Doors, explains: “This is going to be a very big year for Virtuoso Doors and the whole team is geared up to make it a massive success. Making doors is a real labour of love for us and we’ve worked hard to reinforce this passion with a perfect combination of craftsmanship and precision engineering. This crafted precision will help us take our standard of door manufacturing to the next level with accuracy and detailing that only machinery can achieve.

“These advances are not at the expense of the human eye though and our workshop is brimming with master craftsmen who are devoted to making the best doors possible. Their experienced hands make our doors with genuine love, care and attention at every stage – they literally bring our doors to life!”

This year, Virtuoso Doors will also be helping its rapidly growing network of customers to give their business a competitive advantage with the launch of a comprehensive new suite of marketing materials. As part of the re-vamp, Virtuoso Doors has unveiled a collection of distinctive and modern brochures. Created to help installers win new business, the brochures have been designed to appeal to the needs of the modern homeowner and champion the unique combination of craftsmanship and precision engineering that Virtuoso puts into creating every one of its doors.

Tony adds: “Our terrific suite of marketing materials will help installers to sell our highly crafted range of doors to the homeowner. These new brochures are the debut for our new name and our fresh new look, which is like nothing else in the industry. The look and feel of our doors are what sets them apart from everything else and these brochures are packed with truly stunning imagery of our collection, so homeowners can really see the Virtuoso difference.

“We’ve extended our presence nationally and are rapidly growing our brand as part of our ambitious 2018 strategy. These brochures are the first phase of our enviable support package and installers can expect us to enhance it with many more exciting resources – including full marketing and showroom support – during the year.”

To order copies of the new brochures or to find out more about Virtuoso Doors, call 0191 410 9333, visit www.virtuoso-doors.co.uk or follow @virtuosodoors on Twitter.

Consumers are looking for something more ‘room-like’ in terms of cosiness, solidity and thermal performance but a light bright space

Ultraframe has been making roofs for over three decades and with numbers of installed roofs edging towards 2 million across the UK, Ultraframe continues to go from strength to strength both in terms of its roof range with its strong ‘roof for every job’ proposition and its highly effective Ultra Installer scheme, which just this year has become the first and only Which? Trusted Traders Approved Service in the glass and glazing industry. There’s no question that being an Ultraframe installer is good for business with 2017 delivering record numbers of quality leads across the network. With the conservatory roof market evolving, Ultraframe has welcomed a ‘significant’ number of new installers in recent months looking for a reliable roof manufacturer that can supply a complete roof range – glass, lanterns, solid and orangeries. In this feature, Alex Hewitt, Ultraframe Marketing Director tells us why retailers are choosing now to take a fresh look at Ultraframe.

“If we look at the consumer demand for conservatories, it’s vastly different to even two years ago. Consumers are now looking for something more ‘room-like’ in terms of cosiness, solidity and thermal performance but they still want a light, bright space. With the growth of aluminium and large spans of bi-fold and sliding doors, homeowners are becoming much more discerning in terms of design too. There’s no question that the traditional conservatory has had a facelift, as homeowners demand the best of both worlds both and our existing network of retail installers have really grasped the potency of this opportunity. As a result, we’re seeing solid growth of enhancement products like cornice, internal pelmet and super-insulated columns, plus our integrated structural goalpost is a real hit too.

“This year we’ve also seen a vast number of retailers switch from other glass roofs to our Classic Roof system, either because they see Classic Roof as a stepping stone to our broader range, or for its reliability. At the FIT Show we talked to a lot of installers that have now become customers, and we learnt a great deal about the way they want to work with a supplier. We recognise that the speed of innovation, unless you’re involved day in, day out can be overwhelming to a new installer – which roof for which job? Does the ordering process change? Are the lead times different? Can I configure enhancement products with every roof; how do I make the best use of the marketing tools? We know that all these questions are front of mind for an installer, so we’ve developed a New Partner programme specifically designed to support new customers through the first few months of being ‘new’.

“From day one of being an Ultraframe customer, the installer is assigned a ‘New Partner’ team member; there are currently five people in that team. Their single focus is to guide the customer through the first few installations until they’re happy with the ordering process, the key contacts in Ultraframe for their future enquiries and so forth. For some customers this level of support might be for the first handful of jobs, for others venturing into solid roofs for the first time, might require this level of support for longer. The key point is that whatever level of support required, we’ve got the New Partner team geared up to make the transition to Ultraframe effortless. Similarly, this ‘greeting’ period allows a new customer to become familiar with all the other added-value benefits of being an Ultraframe installer. For many, the Classic Roof System will be a key component in their new offer. It’s designed to virtually mitigate all call-backs, and to deliver this level of quality there are some unique features, so the New Partner Programme enables us to visit you on site until your fitting teams are confident. This level of confidence should also translate through to your sales team – every roof is designed to meet the individual climate needs of the homeowner’s postcode giving the sales consultant the same level of confidence as the fitter. “2017 has never seen so many new customers to the business. The Which? Trusted Traders affiliation has contributed to this for sure and we’re keen to work with installers that want to adopt our roof systems. That said, there are certain areas in the UK that really do need greater coverage, the lead generation we’re seeing from both our own marketing and Which? Trusted Traders has grown considerably this year, so if you’re interested and want to take a fresh look at us, our New Partner team would be delighted to talk to you.”

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Sealant products from tremco illbruck are heading to Eurocell depots across the South West.

While thousands of installers across the UK still rely on silicone when fitting windows, more and more are turning towards a new generation of high-performance sealant products – of which tremco illbruck’s TP650 Trio is one of the most advanced.

TP650 Trio is a pre-compressed, multi-functional polyurethane tape that’s impregnated with flame retardant resin. Designed for new-build and replacement installations, it’s quick and simple to apply, and is vapour-permeable while still offering driving rain resistance of up to 600 Pa. 

What’s more, it’s fully compliant with BS8213-4:2016 CoP for the survey and installation of windows and external door sets, and the Glass and Glazing Federation’s Guide to Good Practice.

David Naylor, tremco illbruck Product Manager, comments: “We’re absolutely delighted that Eurocell, one of fenestration’s biggest and most respected brands, has decided to start offering TP650 Trio in its West Country depots. 

“We’re adamant there’s always going to be a place for silicone. We produce significant amounts of it ourselves. But we’ve also recognised the need for a new generation of sealing products, capable of offering the most outstanding weather resistance and thermal efficiency. And that’s why we’ve developed TP650 Trio, our best-in-class window installation tape.

“Trio has been designed and engineered to excel in every respect – offering outstanding thermal efficiency, sealing and protecting corner joints from mould and fungi, and significantly improving acoustic insulation.

“And, most importantly of all, it’s a breeze to fit. A lot of other non-silicone sealant solutions on the market are flawed. They’re incredibly difficult to align, or they crease around corners. Trio has none of these problems – and can be measured and applied in a matter of minutes.”

TP650 Trio is coming to Eurocell’s West Country branches and if it proves successful, will see the product rolled out across other areas of the UK.

For more information, contact tremco illbruck on 02476 855000 or visit www.tremco-illbruck.com. 

With one of the industry’s broadest product ranges, experienced fabricator Dekko Window Systems has a reputation for helping its customers grow and reach new markets. Looking to strengthen its offering, North-West installation specialists Droylsden Glass has become the latest firm to partner with Dekko. With ambitions to offer their customers the best of both, the business, which is celebrating 35 years of trading, has added not only Dekko’s standard Deceuninck PVC-U windows to its range but Infinity – their premium collection of seamless PVC-U windows.

“In today’s competitive marketplace, the best attribute any installer can have is a strong and diverse product range,” comments Kurt Greatrex, Sales Director at Dekko. “By offering both solutions, Droylsden can deliver a high-quality core product from Deceuninck with the fantastic upselling opportunity offered by our luxury Infinity Collection. Infinity makes such a great addition to Droylsden’s offering because of the variety of projects they complete. Infinity provides a high-performance solution for the many schools Droylsden refurbishes whilst still providing Mrs Smith with a fantastic, premium finish to her home. With the seamless, timber-like appearance achieved by our graf welder and one of our authentic woodgrain finishes, Infinity is even at home on older, heritage properties.”

Infinity is just one of Dekko’s premium lines, with Räum their luxury range of aluminium windows and doors, and all three high-performance solutions from The Residence Collection. To dovetail their premium product range and provide installers like Droylsden Glass with an opportunity to legitimise themselves with the customer, Dekko offers their Make It Yours marketing support package. Make It Yours combines high-impact brochures, powerful showroom support and online features all created by Dekko’s in-house design team to expertly match the installer’s branding.

“The Make It Yours marketing package was one of the key reasons we recently decided to switch trade suppliers over to Dekko – you simply can’t get this type of support from other fabricators,” comments Kevin Thackeray, Director of Droylsden Glass. “Make It Yours adds a huge amount of value – while my local competitors are relying on bland overprinted brochures to promote their business, I’ve now got access to high quality, bespoke marketing material.” Dekko Windows Systems was founded in 2008 by Gary Torr and Kurt Greatrex, and is one of the leading fabricators of high-end PVC-U and aluminium windows and doors. Based in Greater Manchester, Dekko was listed in the 2016 edition of the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. The report celebrates the fastest growing small and medium-sized businesses in the UK.

Tel: 0161 406 0055 or visit www.dekkowindows.com

Tel: 0161 292 1122 or visit www.droylsdenglass.co.uk

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Work has recently finished on the new Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh with fabricator Total Glass manufacturing 350 unique WarmCore windows to give the hotel a regal finish. Previously a Premier Inn site, the hotel was acquired by Leonardo Hotels, one of Europe’s fastest growing hotel groups, and given a €7m, 4* refurbishment across its 282 rooms. The WarmCore windows were installed by Reliant Windows and were finished in a bespoke pale silver metallic colour befitting of the hotel’s new name.

The hotel chain prides itself on designing each of its 80 hotels individually, so the specification for the project required something quite unique. WarmCore’s composite structure made it straightforward to manufacture the specialised colour requirements demanded by the project designers with no fuss, allowing the whole project to be delivered within seven weeks. Phill Cresswell, Sales and Marketing Manager at Total Glass, said: “We’ve worked closely with Reliant Windows on a number of projects and when we were approached about delivering aluminium windows for the Leonardo Royal Hotel, we knew that WarmCore was the only product for the job.

“WarmCore has revolutionised our aluminium supply chain and given us the capability to turn around dual colour and bespoke colour requests very quickly, allowing us to tender for a number of commercial projects like this one which we couldn’t have done with an alternative aluminium system, given the complexity of the specification and the time requirements. Specifiers love the guaranteed low u-values and easy maintenance that WarmCore offers – hands down it will be our product of choice for similar projects in the future.”

Tel: 0151 549 2339

www.totalglass.com

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