GET READY GATESHEAD! UPVC MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES ARE COMING…!

UPVC Maintenance Supplies are delighted to reveal that we’re now open on Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

The third branch opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday 4th October, bringing 25 years of industry expertise to the window and door repair market of Gateshead and the surrounding area. “We were keen to expand the business based on our loyal customers in Leeds and Rotherham. Choosing the North East made sense as we’ve customers in the region, we’re well on the way to developing new relationships and we feel we’ve a lot to offer the marketplace” says owner and Managing Director David Earnshaw. The first two weeks have been positive and we look forward to many more to come.

The three branches are supported by a hard copy catalogue, a comprehensive online shopping experience where customers can order 24/7 and a free technical helpline available in office hours. However it is these branches that really respond to customer demand “the ability for customers to come in wielding the broken or damaged part and be able to rely on our staff to provide the correct replacement is a key feature of our service. The fact that in virtually every case they get it there and then is an added bonus” David adds.

The new branch will be headed up by Michael Savage – why not pop in and say hello? You can find us at Unit B9, Eleventh Avenue North, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, NE11 0NJ. You can find our main stock inventory online – www.upvcmaintenance.co.uk – or if you prefer we’re more than happy to send you a copy of our latest catalogue: call us on 0191 731 9770 to request yours now.

Robert Thiroff, International Sales Director at Liniar

Leading PVC-U systems house Liniar has announced the appointment of Robert Thiroff to the new post of International Sales Director. The Liniar range has grown substantially within the UK and Ireland since its launch in 2008 – and the next step in its growth strategy is to develop the Liniar and Alumina brands internationally, utilising the strengths and contacts of parent company Quanex. Robert is ideally placed to help take these innovative brands forward worldwide. He has a wealth of experience and a background within the construction industry; of which 25 years have been within PVC-U window and door extrusion. Spending the last 9 years with the profine International Group (Kommerling), Robert held roles as Chief Sales Officer Worldwide, Regional Director and Managing Director UK/IRE. Prior to that, he spent 16 years at Plastmo Profiles.

Robert says: “I have the utmost respect and admiration for Roger Hartshorn, and have followed his many achievements within our industry over many years. I have seen the Liniar brand develop from its inception into the leading PVC-U window and door profile in the UK – and having worked with Roger and the HL Plastics team in recent years, I believe the company ethos fits perfectly with my own vision and values. “With the support of the vastly experienced Liniar team, I am excited to explore the development of our brands into new countries, together with the opportunities this brings for existing Liniar fabricators. I see many positives for the group and our innovative product range, especially with the realisation of Brexit and the export opportunities our currency brings.”

Group CEO Roger Hartshorn commented: “I’m delighted Robert is joining the Liniar team – his experience in the global fenestration market will enable us to develop new overseas relationships and mark the next stage in Liniar’s evolution.”

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Patiomaster Secure Opens Up Opportunities In Secured By Design Contracts

When Secured by Design accreditation is specified in a sliding patio contract, PatioMaster Secure is the answer because it provides a PatioMaster door that meets this most demanding of standards.

Secured by Design is the official UK Police flagship initiative that combines the principles of ‘designing out crime’ with physical security. Secured by Design accredited PatioMaster doors have five enhanced security features that mean they can meet the stringent requirements of Secured by Design and provide the peace of mind that’s needed.

Interlock bolts lock the sliding panel to the fixed one and ensure the two cannot be forced apart. A full width security head rail runs across the top of the opening panel to prevent it being lifted from the track. A full height security keep rail supports the sliding door at each corner. A PAS24 handle is designed to withstand sustained manual attack and has an enhanced back-plate for even greater security levels. Finally, an anti-bump cylinder prevents the lock cylinder being bumped. These five features sit alongside standard features such as the internal sliding door sash, the inbuilt ‘anti-jacking’ feature and the six point locking system.

The Secured by Design accreditation is just one example of the many benefits that PatioMaster doors offer. Secured by Design accredited doors are available in 24 and 28mm glazing options and two and four pane configurations, making it perfect for domestic and commercial applications. The 70mm outerframe provides a clean design that is compatible with 70mm Epwin accessories while a 28 shade colour range allows extensive personalisation. And each door is precision engineered by expert fabricators to ensure quality from start to finish.

PatioMaster is the UK’s favourite patio door and it is value-added features such as the Secured by Design option that demonstrate why.

www.patiomaster.co.uk

CentralRPL switches to fabricating the Optima system from Profile 22

CentralRPL, one of the Midlands largest, trade fabricators, has just switched to fabricating Profile 22’s Optima system. Gary Morton, Central’s MD, commented: “Moving to Optima is a natural step for us. In terms of delivering products, marketing support and sales aids for our customers, Profile 22 are unsurpassed.” Clare O’ Hara, Divisional Managing Director of Epwin, added: “We are delighted to have CentralRPL on board. They are a proactive, customer-focused company and in Optima they have found a system that matches their desire to offer the very best.”

CentralRPL is manufacturing the Optima Sculptured system and feedback from Central’s customers so far has been extremely positive. Profile 22 held an Open Day for Central’s customers in May and the decision to switch was met with universal approval, confirming Optima’s status as the next generation window system that offers the best of everything. Gary said: “Our customers thoroughly enjoyed the day and all that Profile 22 has to offer. In particular they were really taken by the new Excellence as Standard (EAS) programme.” CentralRPL switched to Optima in July in a process that was as seamless as existing Profile 22 customers would have expected. Clare said: “When we launched Optima last year we moved nearly 100 Profile 22 fabricators over to it in nine months. Our process is so detailed, finely tuned and proactive that it is possible to finish with one system on the Friday and begin with Optima on the Monday, as we demonstrated once again with CentralRPL.”

Central is a company committed to offering a quality product, outstanding service, unrivalled support and a fast turnaround. It manufactures over a thousand frames a week from its 39,000 square foot premises in West Bromwich and supplies installers and trade suppliers nationwide. CentralRPL was founded as a result of a merger between Central CRC, which was founded in 1992, and RPL Tradeframes (Reliant Products Ltd), which was founded in 1982. Martyn Elwell, Central’s Sales and Marketing Director, attributes the company’s success to its philosophy of “reinvestment to progress” and says the company always seeks to exceed customer expectations. Martyn adds: “Moving to Optima together with the services offered by Profile 22 such as the commercial support programme and marketing with the EAS programme will further help us excel with our customers. Our strategy has a strong flavour for finding products for our customers, rather than customers for our products. Optima delivers on this element of our strategy remarkably well.”

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Western European Window Market: Clear Upward Trend

The mixing machines are hot again in Europe and thus are also boosting the window market. The window market in Western Europe increased its sales by 2.9% to 59.8 million window units sold due to the increase in new construction activity last year. By 2020, a moderate increase (+ 3.2% per year, + 4.2% in value per year) is expected for the industry, as Interconnection Consulting shows in a new study.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland Benefit from Immigration

Sales in all regions of Western Europe are increasing. Growth in Germany, Austria and Switzerland was strongest at 4.0%. According to Interconnection, this German-speaking region (4.5% / year) along with the Nordic countries (+ 3.8% / year), which show the greatest growth, should also reach the forecast horizon by 2020. In the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) the number one market driver is the housing shortage in the conurbations. The rising immigration intensifies the pressure on housing construction. The government reacts, especially in Germany, to special depreciation on the promotion of housing. For example, a look at the completion of construction shows a clear recovery in German residential construction (2016 + 13.1%).

Brexit Is Showing its Teeth

The window market in other regions also shows positive development. The Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland) were able to increase their sales by 3.1% in 2016. In France and the Benelux countries, sales in 2016 rose by 2.6% and in Great Britain and Ireland by 2.5%. However, sales in Great Britain did not increase due to the decline of the pound. And for this year, sales in this region have also been stagnating for the first time for a long time. The region with the lowest sales growth was the south of Europe (Italy, Spain, and Portugal) with a growth of 1.5%. This result is all the more remarkable because it is the first increase in the sector since the start of the debt crisis.

New Construction Is the Market Driver

As far as residential construction is concerned, the new construction sector is the market driver, however, the renovation segment still dominates all five submarkets examined. In Southern Europe, renovations account for 72.5% of the total market. In Northern Europe, 63.7%, the UK & Ireland 63.2%, France & Benelux 61.9% and the DACH region 52.9%. The construction of buildings, on the other hand, is only gradually under way. Due to steady market uncertainties and debt, its growth is smaller than that of the residential sector.

Plastic for Low-priced Housing Construction

4 of 10 windows are made of plastic (42.8%). The main profiteers of growth in residential construction are manufacturers of plastic windows. “Housing projects are often price-driven, which is why cost-effective PVC windows are used,” explains Laszlo Barla, author of the study. Residential building projects in conurbations are price-driven, which is why providers from Eastern Europe are usually awarded the contract. PVC will be therefore gaining market shares over the next few years. Metal (25.8%), on the other hand, is slightly declining as the non-residential construction is slow. Combinations are the biggest winners. Wood-aluminum is highly valued in Scandinavia, but design plays a major role in Southern Europe, concluded Barla.

E-mail: info@interconnectionconsulting.com

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GLAZERITE GROWS AGAIN WITH DEDICATED ‘SPECIALS’ FACTORY

The Glazerite UK Group has completed the latest phase of its ambitious expansion programme with a major step-up to a 30,000 sq ft Special Products plant, with plans already underway for the next phase.

The company’s acclaimed Vertical Sliders, Residence Collection products and the VEKA Imagine bi-fold, patio and flush doors will all be made in the purpose-equipped factory by a specially-trained fabrication team with its own dedicated management and Quality Control systems.

The new unit, close to Glazerite’s Wellingborough HQ, is more than twice the size of its original Specials factory opened in 2014 and gives further capacity for the group’s ever-growing range of niche, premium and specialist windows and doors.

“These are all specialist products,” said Group Director Jason Thompson, “So they deserve specialist attention, both in the technology of the manufacturing processes and in the skills of the people involved at all levels.

“The fact that we have outgrown the original Specials factory in less than three years shows how not only the range but also the volume of demand for these products has grown in that short time. By adding this very spacious new factory, we are not only showing our commitment to the future growth of these products but also adding ample capacity to give the same attention to whatever future trends have yet to emerge.”

The launch of the new unit also gives Glazerite a fourth specific production centre, along with Halo fabrication at Glazerite East, the former City Beads factory in Peterborough acquired by the Group last year, and its mainstream VEKA production at Wellingborough and Bolton.

Jason explained the philosophy behind the move: “We offer one of the most comprehensive product ranges available anywhere but our customers deserve more than just a Jack-of-all-trades. On the other hand, some specialist fabricators have a very limited product offering. Now, with the three separate centres, each with its own dedicated skills and production lines, we can offer three distinct centres of expertise all from a single buying point.”

The second phase of development at the Wellingborough site, which will include a showroom and training facility as well as a trade counter to serve its local customer base, is due to be completed early in 2018.

The Glazerite UK Group is VEKA’s largest trade fabricator in the UK and a long-standing Network VEKA member. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants, Peterborough and Greater Manchester as well as its South West distribution hub in Bristol serving South Wales and The West of England.

www.glazeritewindows.co.uk