Blog

Jason Scrivens, KÖMMERLING’s new area manager for the South, will be running this year’s London Marathon on 22^nd April for the British Heart Foundation and in memory of Stefan Seidel, managing director of profine UK who very sadly passed away on Monday 26^th March, 2018.

No stranger to a 26.2 mile event, Jason has already ran the London Marathon twice and also several times at the Bournemouth and Brighton marathons achieving a personal best of 3 hours 50 minutes.

You can contribute to Jason’s fundraising efforts in memory of Stefan Seidel on his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jason-scrivens27.

Leading VEKA trade fabricator Modplan has announced it is upgrading its shootbolt locking system on its FlushSash window range to a dual cam shootbolt system. Both from Yale, Heidi Sachs, Managing Director of Modplan, said, “Whilst the current system has proven to be a robust and reliable product, the introduction of the Yale Flush Sash dual cam Shootbolt locking system offers all the security credentials you would expect and a brand name that gives added value benefits for our customers.”

The quality of the Yale Flush Sash dual cam Shootbolt locking system is evident from its features. The window lock has been designed to meeting PAS 24 requirement and is currently undergoing Secured by Design accreditation. As well as chamfered security shootbolts, there is also a secondary cam that means the window can have a night vent feature too. It comes with a ten-year mechanical and a ten-year security guarantee.

Heidi adds, “To add further value for our customers, the Yale Flush Sash dual cam Shootbolt is included in Yale’s Lifetime Security Guarantee scheme.”

The Yale Flush Sash dual cam shootbolt will be available on Modplan’s FlushSash products as standard. This change will mean the company’s choice of window lock on its FlushSash windows will match the Yale locking products on its casement windows and single and double doors.

Heidi concludes, “We are renowned for the quality of our product offering and by fitting the Yale Flush Sash dual cam Shootbolt on our FlushSash windows we will be enhancing that reputation even further.”

www.modplan.co.uk

Distinction Doors has announced the recent promotion of Jane Wilson to Business Development Executive. Jane joined Distinction Doors three and a half years ago and her promotion reflects what she has achieved in this time.

Speaking on Jane’s promotion, Chantel Roach, Distinction’s Sales and Marketing Director said: “Jane is a well-known and appreciated member of our internal sales team and has real drive and focus on supporting our customers. As a business, we value our people and have a culture of rewarding excellence. Jane’s promotion reflects over three years of excellent work within our internal sales department and her passion and enthusiasm will be welcomed by our customers, both existing and new, in her new external sales position.”

In her appointment, Jane will be responsible for developing sales opportunities for Distinction’s range of composite doors with both existing and potential customers.   Commenting on her new position Jane said, “Distinction Doors is a fantastic company to work for and I am delighted to accept the position of Business Development Executive. This move is part of my own personal development plan and I welcome the opportunity to now work with customers on a face to face level. These are exciting times for us as a business and it’s great to be a part of a dynamic and rewarding company.”

Distinction Doors is the UK’s largest suppliers of composite doors. It is known for providing an exceptional range of composite door products and its service and turnaround time is built around helping their customers. Jane joins a strong team of five Business Development Executives who are all dedicated to supporting Distinction Doors’ expanding customer base and helping to grow their businesses.

www.distinctiondoors.co.uk

Senior managers across the UK are reacting to the new data regulations coming into force on 25^th May, many of them implementing new policies that could damage their business in a bid to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

According to Insight Data, scare-mongering and profiteering among so-called consultants is causing many within marketing, IT and HR departments to panic, with some drawing comparisons to the Year 2000 computer crisis where some pundits predicted worldwide computing disaster and planes falling out of the sky.

Andrew Scott, managing director of Insight Data says companies need to get the real facts.

“The new General Data Protection Regulation is a good thing; it is designed to give individuals greater rights and control over how their data is used. The recent Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal highlights why this has become so important.”

The GDPR sets new standards in how personal data is collected, stored and processed. The regulation replaces the existing Data Protection Act (DPA) which was written before major data processors such as Facebook, Google or Apple had such large-scale global dominance.

“GDPR is about data transparency and governance. Companies who already operate good data practices will find it relatively easy to comply, while others will need to evaluate their business processes and make changes” added Andrew.

‘Consent’ is only one way to comply

There is significant miss-information surrounding the GDPR particularly relating to ‘consent’. Under the GDPR consent must be ‘unambiguous, informed and freely given’. However, there are 6 legal grounds for processing data with consent being just one of them. For many companies ‘Legitimate Interest’ will be the basis of compliance particularly for marketing communications.

Understanding the wider context of the GDPR highlights a risk-based approach to how data is collected, stored and processed. Andrew Explains;

“A company processing confidential personal medical or financial data, or data that includes children or highly sensitive information represents a much higher risk than a B2B supplier that holds the names of its customers, for example.”

With this in mind, companies are advised to carry out a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) which considers how its data is collected, stored and processed and assesses the risks involved.

Organisations that choose to adopt ‘Legitimate Interest’ as the legal grounds for processing personal data should also conduct a Legitimate Interest Assessment.

Businesses will need to demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable steps to comply with the GDPR including;

• Clearly document the personal data they hold, how and when it was sourced, how it will be used, how it is updated and who will have access to it.
• Demonstrate the lawful basis for processing personal data.
• Have freely available privacy policies that are fair and easy to understand and explain what personal data is held, how it was sourced, for what purpose and the legal basis for processing data.
• Recognise the rights of individuals to know what personal data is held and why, and respect their demand to correct, restrict or remove their data.
• Have procedures in place to detect and report on a data breach, such as a computer hack, theft of data by an employee or other breach.
• Assign someone to take overall responsibility for data protection and compliance.

GDPR, PECR and Marketing

While the GDPR governs how data is collected, stored and processed, how data is used for marketing purposes is mainly covered under PECR, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations which has sat alongside the Data Protection Act and was introduced in 2003 to regulate direct marketing, clamping down on nuisance phone calls and spam.

While the Data Protection Act is replaced by the GDPR on 25^th May, PECR has not, in fact, changed.

“It is not surprising that so many marketers are confused” adds Andrew; “The GDPR outlines how data must be processed, but the rules governing how the data is actually used for marketing – PECR – have not been updated. A new version of PECR, the ePrivacy Regulation is currently being formulated and should be introduced in 2019.”

Insight Data has published guides and information on the GDPR on its website and recommends all companies follow the advice of the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). Insight has been tracking the GDPR since its first proposal and began updating its prospect database to meet the requirements of the regulation back in 2016.

For more information visit www.insightdata.co.uk

The Plimsoll Analysis Report has identified Purplex as a Top 100 fastest growing marketing agency in the UK.

The new Report, which covers the entire marketing industry, also highlights Purplex as ‘financially strong’ while pointing to significant change as many agencies report downward trends and cut-backs.

Andrew Scott, Managing Director of Purplex Marketing comments: “Marketing is changing at its fastest pace in history and agencies need to constantly adapt, invest and provide a full service. Specialist agencies, such as graphic designers or PR consultants, will become a thing of the past.

“We were delighted to learn that Purplex is featured in the Top 100, especially as there are over 25,000 agencies out there ranging from one-man-bands to global titans. Purplex is a unique offering, we are the only true full-service agency in the building products, glazing and construction industry and we’re really obsessed with delivering tangible growth to our clients.”

The Plimsoll Report also highlights some issues facing marketing agencies, with hundreds of businesses struggling financially.

“Generic marketing agencies without sector expertise will continue to struggle, while agencies that profess to be ‘full service’ but outsource to third parties are now really feeling the pinch, as they just can’t meet client expectations,” Andrew adds.

Purplex employs over 60 full-time in-house staff spanning PR and content, social media, SEO and PPC, video and photography, creative design and advertising. The agency recently updated its branding and focus under the banner ‘Marketing with Purpose’.

For more information call Purplex on 01934 808132 or visit www.purplexmarketing.com

Leading fastener supplier to the door and window industry Rapierstar has appointed the highly experienced Paul Balfe as its new Technical Consultant for the north of England – taking the team’s collective fastener know-how to more than 135 years.

Paul joins Rapierstar following three years with KAT UK, where he was Product Development Manager in a role that involved working extensively with its aluminium window and door customer base and several systems extruders. His expertise in this arena is now set to benefit the window industry more broadly as Rapierstar develops its unique range of austenitic stainless steel fasteners specifically for aluminium systems. Paul will also be involved with the continuous development of Rapierstar’s market leading Star PVCU range of window screws for plastic windows and doors.

Overall, Paul’s career spans more than 30 years which includes 12 years running his own door and window manufacturing and installation business, plus various roles within Spectus and Heywood Williams. His expertise covers both PVC and aluminium, with the latter likely to prove particularly valuable to Rapierstar customers according to Managing Director, David Furness.

David says: “It’s fantastic to have Paul join our team. His technical expertise is a great asset which will help shape future fastener designs and ensure our customers have access to the highest quality products when they need them. He joins us at an exciting time for the business as our strong growth continues and we add new products to our range which stem from our ongoing innovation programme. Our range of fasteners for aluminium typifies this as we work closely to help customers optimise quality and provide credible customer warranties.”

Rapierstar now supplies fasteners to more than three quarters of the UK and Irish door and window market and are the most widely recommended screws by major systems companies and leading hardware suppliers. With its recent investment in logistics and supply chain technology, the company now delivers on time in full and error-free to customers on a record 99.4% of occasions.

Paul adds: “I’m delighted to be joining the UK’s most experienced specialist window screw and installation fixing company, and look forward to working with Rapierstar customers to help them create even better quality products that build and maintain their great reputation. Choosing the right fasteners for every aspect of the window or door construction and installation is absolutely vital if the finished product is to deliver on the promised security, safety, functionality and longevity. Together with my colleagues, we will help our customers to avoid the pitfalls and arrive at the best solution.”

Rapierstar operates from a purpose-built head office and 100,000 sq. ft. bonded distribution centre near Congleton in Cheshire, with supporting sites in Belfast and Norwich. Its own-branded products are designed and manufactured to exacting speed of insertion, strength of drill point and high plating standards, with quality assured through comprehensive testing at both its manufacturing plants and its ‘in-house’ R&D test facility at Congleton.

Find out more about Rapierstar at www.rapierstar.com.

Composite door manufacturer Vista Panels has strengthened its suite of installer support for XtremeDoor by launching a new and improved online door builder.

Working in partnership with Refresh Media, the new door builder allows homeowners to design their perfect XtremeDoor using the thousands of design options available from Vista. To complete the experience, consumers can even overlay the design on a picture of their house, and then submit their door choice for one of Vista’s approved installers to follow-up.

“We’re really pleased with our brand-new door builder, a tool which has become incredibly valuable for not only connecting consumers with XtremeDoor, but for generating leads for our installer customers,” comments Ian Smith, Vista’s Marketing and Business Development Manager. “The door builder has long been a popular feature of our website, so it’s important that we continually improve it to make it as accessible as possible for both installers and potential customers.”

“It has undoubtedly changed the way installers sell XtremeDoor, whether it’s through our consumer-facing website (www.xtremedoor.co.uk) or as an add-on to their own site. Instead of filling in a form, installers can sit down with a customer in their showroom and virtually create their composite door from scratch. The door builder goes through every step and includes every frame, glass, hardware and colour option available in the range. It’s a gamechanger that adds a new level of professionalism to an installer’s sales technique.”

The new and improved door builder joins a whole host of recent investments made by the Merseyside-firm. Not only has Vista invested in an additional paint line – helping to take production to well over 800 doors per week, but the firm has made three high-profile appointments, bolstering their specialist team of over 100 staff.

“The fantastic door builder is just one part of a complete XtremeDoor package, along with our brand-new, no-nonsense brochure and a very popular consumer-facing website,” Ian continues. “Whether it’s investments in our XtremeDoor support package or investments in our people and our operations, our aim is to deliver a fantastic product that consumers recognise, and installers love to sell. With the high-demand we are consistently seeing in the factory, I think it’s safe to say we are achieving this.”

For more information on Vista call 0151 608 1423 or visit www.vistapanels.co.uk

Multiple uses – and connectivity too.

Versatile adaptation to any task – including rotary hammering
Flexible solutions for work in tight spaces and tricky situations
Individualised settings and other Bosch connectivity benefits
Electronic systems for user and tool protection

Bosch has equipped its latest 18 V cordless drill driver with the FlexiClick attachment system to create the ultimate do-it-all tool. Using a range of adapters, the versatile Bosch GSR 18 V-60 FCC Professional Drill Driver with FlexiClick can be turned into anything from a screwdriver to a powerful rotary hammer drill. The same system provides great flexibility for work in various difficult situations, including hard-to-reach places. To these advantages, Bosch has also added connectivity and electronic protection features.

Versatility and flexibility:

At just 140 mm in length, this drill driver’s compact tool dimensions are suited to operation in tight spaces, and with the addition of flexible adapters it reaches even further. Its exceptional application versatility enables drilling in wood, metal and even concrete, as well as classic screwdriving.

The main FlexiClick adapters are:

GFA 18-M Professional Drill Chuck Adapter. A highly robust attachment, with a solid metal construction, holding drill bits of up to 13 mm diameter.
GFA 18-W Professional Angle Screw Adapter with HEX socket. Allowing easy and precise screwdriving even in very tight spaces, it effectively drives screws around corners.
GFA 18-E Professional Off-set Angle Screw Adapter. Enabling precise screwdriving close to edges.
GFA 18-H Professional Rotary Hammer Adapter. With this attachment the drill driver becomes a high-powered SDS-plus rotary hammer with an impact energy of 1 J.
Also available are the GFA 18-B Professional Drill Chuck Adapter, with a plastic construction for lighter tasks, and the GFA 18-WB Professional Angle Screw Adapter, for round-shank drill bits.

Adapters are quickly and easily attached to the drill driver using the ‘turn and click’ motion already familiar to users of keyless chucks. Simply place the adapter on the FlexiClick interface, turn it clockwise, and repeated clicking will indicate a secure connection.

Uniquely, FlexiClick adapters can be adjusted without removal from the tool. They offer adjustment through 360 degrees, with 16 different locking positions.

Inbuilt user protection:

The risk of kickback-related injury, when a drill bit becomes jammed in the work material, is minimised by Bosch KickBack Control. If this system’s sensors detect a sudden blockage, the motor is switched off within a fraction of a second.

Thanks to the latest brushless EC technology, users can expect a long motor lifetime and maximum battery runtime. In addition, Electronic Motor Protection(EMP) uses an integrated temperature sensor management system to safeguard against overloads. Meanwhile, the battery features Electronic Cell Protection ECP, to avoid damage from overloading, overheating and deep discharge.

Another electronic control function, Precision Clutch, prevents overtightening of screws. This saves wear and tear on the work material, the screw, the screwdriver bit, the clutch and the tool.

Bosch connectivity:

A Bosch connectivity module, slotted into the tool, establishes Bluetooth wireless communication between the drill driver, the user’s smartphone and the free Bosch Toolbox app. This connection can be used, for example, to configure the KickBack Control, Precision Clutch and other settings according to individual needs and preferences. Instructions for adjustment can be given via the phone, even at a distance, and the system will remember them for future reference.

Other benefits of connectivity include warning of malfunctions, checking of essential indicators, advice on troubleshooting, and access to information on the tool’s operating history.

A choice of packages:

The Bosch GSR 18 V-60 FCC Professional Drill Driver with FlexiClick, which is likely to appeal particularly to trade professionals such as kitchen installers, cabinet builders and interior designers, is available from May 2018.

The Bosch GSR 18V-60 FCC Professional FlexiClick system (consisting of all attachments, 2 x 5.0Ah batteries, charger and L-BOXX) will be available from May 2018 at the recommended retail price of £507.76. Prices are exclusive of VAT and are subject to change.

For further information, visit www.bosch-professional.com.

A reorganisation at Allan Brothers’ factory in Berwick upon Tweed is helping the company to increase volumes and keep pace with the rising demand for its handcrafted timber windows and doors.

Workflow has been transformed within the 6200m² factory, enabling Allan Brothers to increase output without compromising on the distinctive craftsmanship which has been its trademark for more than two centuries.

The reorganisation is being overseen by Christian Petersen, a production specialist who has joined the Inwido Group company from one of its subsidiaries in Estonia. There, Christian has helped to deliver a 36% increase in output in three years without expanding the workforce, and he hopes to achieve something similar at Allan Brothers.

Factory manager Robert Frost, who is carrying out the implementation, says that the workflow changes have been embraced by the whole team because they are making it so much easier to reach daily production targets. He says: “Simple things like painting workflow routes in different colours on the factory floor and relocating my office in the heart of the factory have had an almost instant effect. We can see already how further improvements can be made as well, without impacting on the core quality strengths which have always characterised the factory.”

Christian Petersen is the third key figure to join Allan Brothers recently as the Inwido Group makes significant investments in the business. His appointment follows Wolfgang Gorner, who joined as Sales Director at the start of 2017, and Mattias Andersson who was appointed Managing Director in August last year.

With the new senior management team in place, the company is poised for a significant period of expansion during 2018 with new product ranges and new service initiatives to be announced soon.

More details are at: www.allanbrothers.co.uk/trade