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The first in a series of Virtuoso customer experience days brought installers together to view the company’s wide range of composite and PVCu panels. Guests saw how Virtuoso’s doors are made and witnessed the scale, quality and precision of door manufacturing at the 80,000-square foot site at Birtley in County Durham.

The visit showcased some of the top-of-the-range machinery which Virtuoso has recently invested in to ensure that every single door is manufactured to the highest standards and with absolute accuracy.

Andy Farrington from Tamworth-based Bradley Scott Windows, had a first glimpse of the Virtu-AL door at the FIT Show. Seeing its potential for his business, he was eager to attend the customer day to find out more about the door and the manufacturing capabilities behind it.

Andy says: “I only work with quality products from established suppliers and I was keen to go along to Virtuoso to see what the company could do for my business. I was very impressed with the factory and was assured to see the high standards of manufacturing processes that happen there. The Virtuoso team is passionate about the business and that spirit filters down into the quality of the company’s products.

“The main attraction for me at the event was the Virtu-AL door and I was not disappointed with it at all. It has a distinctive, contemporary style and its really does look and feel just like an aluminium door. I’ve not seen anything else like it and no other manufacturer has anything similar so I know that this door will be a fantastic asset to my business,” he claims.

“I came away from the day knowing that this door will sell and ultimately differentiate me from my competitors. Within just a week of the event, I had sold five Virtu-AL doors and that was before our showroom door samples arrived. That was when I realised that it would be a definite game-changer for us!

“One of my customers is an architect who had originally specified a stylish contemporary entrance door for one of his projects. When he saw the Virtu-AL door, he was so impressed with it that he swapped from his original specification. Architects have notoriously high standards so that was all the proof I needed that I’d made a good decision to invest in this product.”

Tony Craggs, managing director of Virtuoso, said: “This day was absolutely fantastic and we were delighted to welcome existing customers and some who are planning to work with us soon. We are very proud of our factory, which marries good old-fashioned craftsmanship with state-of-the-art automation to deliver an exceptional, unmatched quality. Visitors saw how Virtuoso is leading innovation in the industry and heard all about our commitment to deliver a personal, customer-focused service for everyone.

“Virtu-AL was a natural draw to the day and our guests had the chance to see for themselves how it has really nailed the look of a high-end powder coated aluminium door. We’re already seeing how this door is yielding impressive sales for customers. The next stage is to bring more customers on board and help them to benefit from the exciting new revenue stream this door brings. We certainly have an exciting few months ahead!”

To find out when the next Virtuoso customer experience day is taking place, please contact marketing@virtuoso-doors.co.uk

Homeowners are more design conscious than ever. You only have to look down the street to see the different door designs, colours and finishing touches that homeowners go for. That’s why Shepley continues to add further design options to its Visage Composite Door Collection. The latest update sees new satin glass styles available to installers looking to offer more choice.

The new satin glass options include, traditional, contemporary and modern designs to suit any style Visage composite door. With a built-in degree of privacy, the satin glass designs turn heads, but give homeowners the privacy they want.

“Installers are driving the demand for quality, choice and even speed of delivery when it comes to composite doors,” says Tony Ball, Sales Director at Shepley.

“Because Shepley is one of the largest fabricators that manufacture both PVCu windows and composite doors, we understand how important it is for installers to be able to offer their customers plenty of design options, in a quick turnaround too. Shepley is always adding more choice to give installers the composite door options they need to attract new customers.”

The new satin glass range adds more choice to the 37 door styles, 17 colours and exclusive glass designs available on Visage composite doors.

There’s a dedicated Visage composite door designer on Shepley’s website.  To view all of Shepley’s new satin glass options, download the Visage Composite Door Collection brochure at www.shepley.com

Specialist building products extruder, Euroseal has reported high levels of demand at this year’s Interplas. Held 26^th to 28^th September at the NEC, this year’s plastics industry show pulled in more than 12,000 visitors over three days.  Returning to the expo, Euroseal reported high levels of interest in its range of rigid extrusions.  Chris Byers, Managing Director, Euroseal said: “We have been pleasantly surprised by the interest that we’ve received. We hadn’t expected to see quite so many people from across the building products sector, picking up some very positive leads from the event.

“What it’s established is that the demand for rigid extrusions remains high from a wide range of markets but particularly the building products sector as suppliers search out more flexible products and systems companies streamline operations and look to release additional capacity.”

With one of the UK’s most technically advanced extrusion facilities, Euroseal has extensive experience in the manufacture of a diverse range of thermoplastic extrusions, including rigid profile and co-extrusions in PVC, wood composite, HDPE, Polystyrene, Polypropylene and ABS.

With capacity to extrude profile from 40g to 6kg per metre and 0.7mm to 10mm thick, this includes construction products including curtain walling pressure plates, conservatory and window profiles, and cladding. It also manufactures electrical extrusions; automotive profiles; hygienic wall and ceiling profiles and garden decking.

It offers a complete extrusion service, from initial concept to delivery. This includes, design and CAD creation and manufacture of tooling, to extrusion, quality control, personalization and packaging, plus shipment either for own distribution or direct to customers. It also offers financial support to its customers to invest in tooling on larger volume runs.

“What’s interesting is that a toughening of market conditions in general, is generating a lot of new enquiries for us, as systems houses rationalize their offers. Some lines simply don’t justify their continuing investment or they simply don’t have the capacity in house”, said Byers.

“Offering a highly flexible service offer, we’re well-placed to pick up that work, while the demand for low-maintenance and plastic building products, remains high.”

Euroseal, providing a complete audit trail for every profile it extrudes. It also operates a strict quality control process including LAB metre, monitoring of colour and reversion testing of profiles.

As part of its continuing investment programme, it added a fifth twin screw line to its operation over the summer, it’s ninth in total, including five-twin and four single screw lines.

For more information call 0121 344 4100 email sales@euroseal.co.uk or visit www.euroseal.co.uk

The post Euroseal reports high levels of demand at Interplas appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

A celebrated Cambridgeshire installer has become the latest member of the Astraseal Commercial Installer Network (ACIN).

Huntingdon’s Surefit East Anglia is one of the South-East’s leading uPVC specialists – and now the company is benefitting from a stream of quality leads as part of Astraseal’s new initiative.

Founded earlier this year, ACIN is a nationwide network of commercial installers capable of handling contracts valued at anything from £50k to £500k.

Network members are not only provided with warm commercial leads, but support throughout the tendering process. Astraseal’s in-house Business Development Managers contact developers, work up specifications and draw up quotes on behalf of the installer, before handing them the supply side of the project – all free of charge.

Astraseal Sales Manager Zac Nedimovic commented: “We’re delighted to welcome such a respected firm into the network. It goes without saying: we only want the very best companies representing us out in the field – and with a business like Surefit East Anglia on our side, we can rest easy in our knowledge that our commercial clients will be receiving a fantastic service.

“Registering with ACIN is easy – just visit www.astraseal.co.uk, or speak to our commercial BDM team on 01933 227233!”

As the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) celebrated its 40th Anniversary at the annual GGF Members Day and the occasion proved extra special for two long-serving GGF Members

Brian Baker (former GGF President and interim Chief Executive) and Brian Waldron (Chairman of the GGF Standards Committee) have been recognised for Outstanding Service to the Glass and Glazing Federation.

Brian Baker started in the industry in 1979 with Solaglas and first engaged with the Federation in 1981. He has been intensively at the forefront of the GGF for the last 7 years and was arguably the most active GGF Member as Chairman on many specialist groups and committees. In one single year, Brian attended over 120 GGF meetings.

In 2009, Brian became a Member of the GGF Board and in 2014-15 was elected GGF President. In the second half of 2016, he was also acting President and Chairman of the GGF Board in preparation for the new President’s inauguration in 2017. Brian planned to retire at the end of 2016, but the GGF asked him to step in as interim Chief Executive until May 2017, when Phil Pluck was appointed the role. From major decisions as a Board Director to a having significant input into GGF technical publications such as the Safety and Security Glazing Good Practice Guide, Brian’s contribution across many facets of the GGF has been immense over the decades.

Brian Waldron’s commitment and service to the industry goes back almost 50 years to 1969 when he started with Pilkington Brothers Ltd in the Technical Sales Laboratory mainly on ‘glass strength’ testing and development of impact test methods. He was also involved in the ‘Mathews v Kember’ case. This started with testing safety products from all areas of the UK market. The objective being to ensure that the ANZI Z79.1 test methodology could be taken on for the classification of ‘flat safety glass and safety plastics’ in the UK market which became a British Standard in 1981.

Since then he has served on many GGF, British, European and International technical committees and is widely regarded as the global glass and glazing industry’s technical guru in particular on the safety glazing and standardisation.

Brian is the only individual in the GGF Membership who has been part of a GGF committee or specialist group since the Federation was formed 40 years ago. He has had an input into every GGF technical document that has ever been published and contributed to the very first GGF Glazing Manual in 1978. He is considered the foremost expert witness in the industry and is still going strong representing the GGF on international technical panels and chairing the GGF’s Standards Committee. Suffice to say that when he does decide to retire, he will be irreplaceable.

On receiving their awards both commented:   Brian Baker: “I had planned to retire a few years ago but when I am asked to help out, it seems I just can’t refuse. I would like to thank everyone for all their help over the years. I’m pleased to have played my part in the GGF and truly honoured to receive this award from the Federation.”

Brian Waldron: “I remember the GGF when it started in 1977, in small rented offices at Mount Row in Mayfair and I am pleased to have been part of its incredible success over the last 40 years. I will continue to be involved with the GGF as maintaining the highest technical standards is of paramount importance in our industry. I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of all those who have contributed to the GGF technical groups and committees.”

www.ggf.org.uk

The Glazerite UK Group have been named G-Awards finalists with nominations in both the Fabricator of the Year and Unsung Hero categories.

Director, Jason Thompson said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this year’s awards and it is an honour to have got to this stage. We are especially pleased to be up for Fabricator of the Year as it gives all of our staff some well-deserved recognition for their hard work which has helped put us in the running.

“Melanie Jacobs was nominated as our unsung hero, as she has been the driving force behind the success of our customer services department at our head office in Wellingborough since becoming sales office manager in 2010. Her passion, drive and propensity to go above and beyond allow Melanie to effectively lead her team year on year. All of which she does whilst managing the symptoms of rare auto-immune condition Myasthenia Gravismake. She sets a fantastic example to all of us.”

Jason concluded: “It will be interesting to see what happens on awards night as there is some strong competition. The Glazerite table has been booked and until then we’re all keeping our fingers crossed that between ourselves, suppliers and customers we win a few of them on the night.”

www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

The post Glazerite announced as G17 finalists appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Six-months on from its MBO, Sliders UK has reported record growth, driven by product development and rapidly growing share in the aluminium market.

According, to the door specialist, year-on-year sales were up 36% at the end of September on the same time last year, driven by increased sales in its Ultimate Evolution and ALUK aluminium bi-folding door ranges.

It comes following this April’s MBO and a significant restructure of the business, including six-figure investment in its manufacturing capability and the expansion of its product and service offer.

Ian Longbottom, Chairman, Sliders UK said: “The MBO in April allowed the new senior management team to take the brakes off the business and to set our ambitious growth strategy running.

“That’s included major investment in our aluminum offer, including the Ultimate Evolution adjustable jamb bi-fold and continuing investment in our established offer from ALUK.

“We have now been able to move this further forward with the launch of two new aluminium window systems, in addition to our PVC-U and composite door ranges, which have given our customers new reach into the higher margin aluminium sector.”

Completed at the end of April, the management buy-out, saw Longbottom continue in the role he assumed in 2016, as Sliders UK Chairman. Steve Mines also remaining in his existing post as Sales Director.

They were joined in a newly created senior management team by Sliders UK’s new Managing Director, Alex Murphy, previously Operations Director and Finance Director, Jonathan Foxcroft.

This followed a 10,000 sq ft expansion of Sliders UK’s manufacturing hub, housing a new purpose-built distribution facility, new lines and the expansion of its product offer.

This included the new Duraflex bi-folding door, which achieves a DER ‘A’ rating and u-values as low as 1.1Wm²/K, in addition to testablished PVC-U offers from Eurocell.

But it is its aluminium offer which has been the major foundation of the door specialist’s growth, including the Ultimate Evolution Aluminium Bi-folding door, launched late last year.

It’s USP is a highly innovative fully adjustable jamb option, which fitted to both sides of the door, makes squaring and setting faster – cutting installation time to as little as 45 minutes.

This was followed by the launch of the Ultimate Rooflite – an aluminium lantern roof – and the Evolution XT ultra-energy efficient aluminium window last month [Sept].  This delivers a Passive Haus equivalent standard of performance with u-values as low as 0.85 W/m²K.

“The market is in general challenging, which makes what we and our customers are achieving even more impressive”, continued Longbottom. “The investment that we have made in our infrastructure and our product ranges is now paying off for us – but most importantly, our customers.

“The growth we’re now seeing in our aluminium window and door ranges is a real testimony to that and we believe it puts them and us in a very strong position going forward”, he concluded.

According to the The Window, Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain, by Palmer, aluminium saw 24% growth in the last year, including 26% growth in volume terms and installed value by 28% in sales of aluminium windows.

For more information contact sales@sliders-uk.com  or visit the website at www.sliders-uk.com.

The DW3 Products Group is excited to have three of its brands, Solidor, Residence Collection and Window Widgets, reach the finals of this year’s G-Awards in no less than five categories.

Solidor, the timber core composite door manufacturer, is a finalist for Fabricator of the Year, Promotional Campaign of the Year – Retail, and the G17 Unsung Hero Award with logistics manager, Danny Barnett.

‘Pioneer’ of the timber-alternative flush sash window system, Residence Collection, is shortlisted for New Product of the Year with its ‘innovative’ Residence 7 (R7) window. Described as beautifully flush inside and out, R7 is experiencing fast and strong growth as its installers embrace the benefits of selling a premium collection.

Ancillary manufacturer, Window Widgets, is nominated for Component Supplier of the Year. Window Widgets produces high quality, universal ancillaries that are said to meet all the standards and make life easier for fabricators and installers.

DW3 says it puts ‘innovation, quality and design at the heart of everything it does’. Over the past two years, it has worked hard to turn manufacturing and operations into a service that more than meets customer expectations and future product requirements.

Building on reportedly ‘high service levels’, the Solidor Group, Residence Collection and Widgets are said to be achieving 100% OTIF (orders delivered on time, in full), meaning that customers get ‘service and satisfaction all the way along the supply chain’.

DW3 Products Group CEO, Gareth Mobley, said: “We’re thrilled to be shortlisted in five categories of the prestigious G17 awards. There has been a lot of effort across the Group to improve our range, manufacturing and service so we can be the best for our customers and help them do well too. Being a finalist across so many categories is recognition of our efforts”.

The black-tie ceremony takes place on 17th November at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London.

www.dw3.co.uk

The post Fab five for DW3 appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).