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Image Above: Ryan Lugg from Flair (left) pictured with Chris Bailey from Business Micros.

Midlands based Flair Windows has become the latest large-scale fabricator to switch software provider to Business Micros, in a move designed to ensure it stays at the very forefront of the trade market.

Company Director Ryan Lugg says Flair wanted a software partner which could not only provide innovative software products, but which could also guarantee a reliable and efficient support service.

He said: “Flair manufactures in Kommerling and Smarts and has a happy and loyal customer base across the UK, who are rightly very demanding of what we deliver. With Business Micros, we feel we will be in a position to provide an even better service to these customers, while at the same time having the reassurance of the best back up in the industry.”

Flair has opted for the full suite of Business Micros software – from Evolution for its ordering and manufacturing operation, right the way through to EvoNET for business management and EvoSatellite for generating customer quotes online. Since the installation in the Spring, the company has been very impressed.

Ryan adds: “Evolution is deceptively simple. It is easy enough for the trainees who have recently joined us to master, yet it is already improving the efficiency of our quotations and order processing so that customers are getting faster and more accurate information about their orders.

“Coupled with the EvoNET business management software, we now have barcode scanning stations set up throughout our highly automated factory, and we are able to generate live data about virtually every aspect of production and overall business performance. This gives us complete tracking and traceability of every order, which means we can also respond more quickly to customer queries once jobs are in production.

“For those customers who want to generate their own online quotes from us, the user friendly EvoSatellite option also allows them to do that quickly and easily, so that they can impress retail buyers with their speed of response.”

Business Micros’ Sales Manager Chris Bailey has spent a good deal of time at Flair setting up the system and Flair has seen real evidence of the customer support which Business Micros believes sets it apart from the competition.

Ryan continues: “We have seen just how responsive Chris and the rest of the team are throughout the installation process and now that the software is fully operational. We know that they will be there to help us make the most of our investment in the software moving forward and of course to help us out should anything go wrong.”

Chris Bailey adds: “We are delighted to have such a well known and respected industry name as Flair on board. They are typical of many companies who are joining us at the moment. As the trade sector gets ever more competitive, they are choosing their software partner on the basis of who they feel will give them the fast and reliable support they need, and we are proving time and again that we have the will and the resources to do just that.”

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

Image Above: SmartMotion makes home automation so simple it’s child’s play.

Uni-blinds® integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing has developed SmartMotion, a unique interface that helps installers quickly and easily incorporate its motorised integral blinds into home automation systems.

Ian Short, managing director of Morley Glass & Glazing said: “The global home automation market was valued at $4.41 billion in 2014 and is set to grow by 26.3% by 2020. Home automation systems integrate various domestic applications such as lighting, heating, safety and security, energy management, entertainment systems – and motorised integral blinds – and are growing in popularity in the UK, as the concept of “smart” homes takes off.

“An increasing number of our customers are being asked to incorporate our motorised Uni-blinds® integral blinds into electric-powered home automation systems – and in the past it has been a daunting and a complex task that could cause damage to the wiring of the blinds or the home automation system.

“This inspired us to commission the development of a unique interface called the SmartMotion which makes the process so simple it’s child’s play. In one easy step the operation of the blinds is smoothly integrated into the whole home automation system so that they can be controlled at the touch of a button, even when you’re not at home.”

The SmartMotion is exclusive to Morley Glass & Glazing and is compatible with the MB System of Uni-Blinds®, which operate using an electric brushless motor. It is supplied pre-wired and fully tested, making for a smooth, problem-free installation.

For more information, visit www.morleyglass.co.uk.

Image Above: Howard Wilson, Hurst’s composite manager.

Hurst Plastics is getting behind this year’s Fire Door Safety week and encouraging the industry to spread the message about the vital role of correctly specified and installed fire doors in saving lives and protecting property.

In the run-up to this year’s Fire Door Safety Week, which takes place between 25 September and 1 October, Hurst Plastics is inviting customers, specifiers and building owners to contact its resident fire door expert Howard Wilson to field any questions they may have surrounding fire doors.

Mark Atkinson, Hurst Plastics’ Sales Director, says: “There are around three million fire doors sold every year and sadly we know that many of them are not specified or installed correctly. Fire doors are instrumental to safeguarding lives and, in our commitment to best practice, we want to help inform people about the importance of specifying, installing, using and maintaining them properly. We’re urging anyone responsible for fire doors to get in touch with our Composite Manager Howard and ask any technical questions they may have.”

Composite fire doors are subject to more complex legal requirements than standard pedestrian doors and specifiers are responsible for ensuring that their specification is correct.

Hurst Plastics has a team of fire door specialists to help specifiers choose the most appropriate products to suit individual applications and meet industry standards.

Howard Wilson, Composite Manager, added: ”‘Our technical knowledge is at the heart of what we provide. Reducing the impact of fires starts with compliant products and an understanding of the legal requirements. The specifier has a legal responsibility to get their specification right and we are able to guide them through every stage of their composite door requirements. Our aim is to steer customers through the red tape, including current European legislation and building regulations, to give them complete confidence in their specification.”

Hurst has campaigned to educate specifiers about the importance of using the correct closing devices for composite fire doors. Concealed closers are widely specified, however some are not compliant to BS EN 1154 and as such are not suitable for all applications. It’s important to be aware of the requirements of Part B of Building Regulations to ensure that the correct closing device is specified. Hurst supplies a variety of closers for all applications and can provide advice on the most suitable products to satisfy requirements.

The range of Hurst composite fire doors includes FD30, FD30S and FDSBD. Each door has been audited and certified by Warrington Exova BM Trada – an independent third party which assures the quality, performance and traceability of every component of the fire door. The fire door range has been fire and smoke tested for up to 30 minutes by Warrington Exova and each door conforms to BS476: Part 22: 1987. An FD60 door is also available for more demanding applications.

The doors guarantee the highest levels of security and satisfy the requirements of the Q-Mark enhanced security scheme. The doors also comply with PAS023/PAS024 security accreditation and the requirements of Secured by Design.

The 44mm thick Hurst composite fire door leaf consists of a robust, high performance core, which incorporates fire retardant phenolic foam and a high-density hardwood perimeter to provide a full half hour fire rating. The core is faced in a GRP colour finished skin, which is outwardly indistinguishable from Hurst’s standard composite doors.

Howard Wilson can be contacted at Hurst Plastics by calling 01482 790790 or emailing howard.wilson@hurst-plastics.co.uk.

aïr, the range of bi-fold and lift & slide doors has added a new ultra-slim minimal frame sliding door to its product range – the aïr 20SL.

The new door meets demands from architects and homeowners alike, looking for ever-slimmer sightlines on doors but still wanting the extreme performance and security that aïr is known for. Launched at the Everglade Customer Conference 2017, it tied in perfectly with the trend report from top London architect Emily Osler from Granit Architects, who said that sliding doors were proving to be a great design feature for lots of their projects.

“We’ve seen the demand for more glass and less frame growing over the last few years,” explains Jay Patel, Brand Ambassador for aïr. “And it’s getting to the point now where savvy, design-conscious homeowners want to see minimal frames.”

“aïr 20SL, the minimal frame sliding door, offers the solution. The sightlines are an impressive 20mm. The profile has been specially designed so that the door can be hidden in the plaster line, giving a moveable glass wall and more room for captivating views.”

aïr 20SL offers the extreme performance you’d expect from aïr. U-values are as low as 1.3 W/m2K, panel sizes can be up to 1500mm wide and 2800mm high and it’s been tested for windload up to 2000pa and water tightness up to 300pa. The slimline sliding door also has high-security multipoint locking and the Sold-Secure, diamond-tested Ultion cylinder. Plus, there’s an impressive 10-year guarantee.

The door is available in lots of configurations, so that installers and architects can offer more choice in wide-span sliding doors for homeowners. There’s the option of a triple track system, so multiple panes can slide in the same direction, creating wider openings and it can also be used to create fixed lights.

Jay adds: “This new addition to the aïr range adds even more possibilities for progressive home improvement companies looking to offer something extra for homeowners. If you’re one of them we’d like to talk to you about our Accredited Retailer network.”

aïr is exclusively manufactured in the UK by Everglade Windows.

www.discoverair.co.uk

Endurance Doors says it has become one of the first door manufacturers in the UK to introduce the new Yale Conexis L1. This brings to market a Bluetooth enabled keyless smart door lock, that can be operated by a mobile device and that meets PAS 24.

This ‘revolutionary development’ by Yale, adopted by Endurance Doors, is said to represents ‘a new era in smart home technology’ in terms of security. As well as achieving PAS 24, the lock is also fully compatible with the existing Winkhaus Trulock multipoint locking system specified by Endurance.

The Yale Conexis L1 allows homeowners to configure, control and unlock their entrance door via any Android or Apple device through a secure Bluetooth, low energy app. It also enables the user to create and send mobile keys from around the world and also to keep track of everyone entering the property. This smart lock also benefits from a backup battery and a tamper alarm.

There is also a unique Twist and Go function, providing users with the option to turn their phone around 90º to unlock the door, in addition to other options of key tag, key card or phone tag. Through the Yale wireless module, there’s also the possibility to integrate the Yale smart home alarm or CCTV range through the app and additionally, connect to other smart home networks with the appropriate module.

Stephen Nadin, managing director of Endurance Doors, commented: “Smart lock technology has finally arrived for the entrance door market and we believe this is an important statement from us, in becoming early adopters for what is a fundamentally embryonic, yet important part of the sector. Entrance door keys are a legacy of decades gone by and whilst the humble key isn’t dead yet, this is an exciting move for us, the composite door market and Yale.”

www.endurancedoors.co.uk

The post Endurance goes keyless with Yale Conexis appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Jackloc, the Queen’s Award-winning window and door restrictor specialists were special guests at Buckingham Palace for a reception to celebrate winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2017.

The exclusive reception, which was hosted and attended by Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, brought together all the winners from the across the country to mark their achievements.

Emma Wells, founder and director of Leicestershire based Jackloc, said: “It’s always an incredible honour to attend Buckingham Palace, especially to celebrate with our fellow winners of the Queen’s Awards 2017.

“The event provided a great networking opportunity with over 170 winning businesses who were all represented. We were able to speak with many of those businesses and establish potential partnerships.”

“We were also able to speak with members of the Royal Family in attendance including Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and the Duke of Kent, which of course was a huge privilege.”

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation recognised the firm’s MK2 key-lockable window restrictor which is said to ‘safeguard thousands of lives everyday worldwide’. Reducing the risk of falls from windows, Jackloc restrictors can be found in homes, commercial buildings, sheltered accommodation and hotels across Europe, the Middle East and North America.

“Only a few months on from receiving this internationally recognised award, we are already seeing its benefits,” added Judith Burrows, fellow Jackloc director and sister to Emma. “There’s no doubt The Queen’s Award and its worldwide recognition has increased our visibility as the industry standard for window safety. We’ve also seen greater commercial success and growing interest from people looking to join our world-class business. It’s certainly exciting times at Jackloc!”

www.jackloc.com

The post A right royal reception for Jackloc appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Sliders UK has announced the launch of a new ultra-energy efficient aluminium window as part of the strategic expansion of its specialist product portfolio.

The 66mm Ultimate EVO XT window, is available in multiple sash options, accommodating double and triple-glazed insulated units of up to 48mm.

This, combined with its patented thermal break technologies, means that the Ultimate EVO XT achieves u-Values as low as 0.85 W/m²K – a Passive Haus equivalent standard of performance. It’s also fully tested to PAS24 and is part Q compliant.

Steve Mines, Sales Director, Sliders UK said: “The thermal performance that we’re able to achieve with a triple or even a double-glazed unit is incredibly impressive.

“We can do this because the Ultimate EVO XT features a very smart thermal breaking system and insulated foam core.

“This combined with slim sightlines, plus a wide choice of finishing options and purchase from list price, makes the case for adding the Evolution XT to your retail offer compelling.”

Exclusively available through the specialist manufacturer in the UK, the Evolution XT is tested to BS 6375 – 2: 2009 including air classification to 600pa; water tightness to 900pa and wind resistance to EA2400. It has also been fully tested to 20,000 opening and closing cycles.

Available in white or anthracite grey as standard, plus dual colour options and any RAL colour as special order, Ultimate Evolution XT windows from Sliders UK are polyester powder coated to a marine-grade finish and come with a 10-year guarantee.

The Ultimate Evo XT is also available in Golden Oak, Rosewood, Worn Ash, Teak, Cherry and Dark Oak, Decoral woodgrain options. Claimed by the company to be ‘far more hard-wearing and robust than PVC-U foils’, Decoral finishes also come with a 10-year guarantee.

The launch of the Ultimate Evolution XT sits within a wider programme off strategic product development set by Sliders UK last year and accelerated following April’s MBO.

It already includes the launch of the Ultimate Evolution bi-fold, which offers ultra-slim sightlines plus a highly innovative fully adjustable jamb option. This makes squaring and setting faster – cutting installation time to as little as 45 minutes.

Sliders UK has also recently added the new Ultimate Rooflite to its portfolio, which is based on the tried and tested BBA approved Ultraframe Classic roofing system and is suitable for installation as either part of a new build orangery or retro-fit to a flat-roof.

“As a specialist, we see it as in our customers’ and our own interests, to expand our product range, where see it will deliver opportunities for them”, continued Mines.

“The Evolution XT window is illustrative of this approach. The performance that it delivers is exceptional but as an aluminium system, and one which we’re combining with flexible finishing options, it delivers positive differentiation at a time when differentiation in window retail is thin on the ground.”

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

The GM Fundraising Paddle2Pedal (P2P) team has reportedly embarked on its final training weekend before the epic charity challenge, in aid of Hope House Childrens’ Hospice, gets underway on August 20.

The weekend began with a special visit to Hope House, where donations such as those made by the GMF team, are crucial to ensure it stays open. This was followed by some hard-core pedalling, as P2P member, Charlotte Davies, explained: “After an emotional but inspiring morning at Hope House, we did a really tough 12-mile cycle that included some serious climbs – 1,000ft in total – and a beautiful rest stop in Ironbridge – under the bridge one session, over it the next!

“On Saturday we covered 20.1 miles on the canoe (our furthest yet!) in the same time it took us to cover 12 miles two training sessions ago – showing just how far our team has come in such a short space of time. We got both soggy and sunburnt – I guess that’s Britain for you!”

On Sunday, the team was back on the bikes, covering 51 miles in its longest team ride yet, which came complete with ‘a few scrapes and bruises’ according to Charlotte.

The event takes place from 20-26 August 2017. To stay updated you can ‘like’ the GM Fundraising Facebook page or follow @gmfundraising on Twitter.

You can sponsor the team at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gmfp2p

For further information and links to sponsor individual team members, visit www.gmfundraising.co.uk/paddle2pedal

The post The ‘final push’ for Paddle2Pedal appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).