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Crittall Holdings Group, parent company of Crittall Windows, has announced the launch of a new fabrications division that will create and supply an impressive range of specialist steel and stainless steel glazing systems, screens and doorsets for both external and internal use. This will provide architects and designers with bespoke, factory-finished solutions to meet the most exacting client requirements.

Crittall Fabrications will typically be dealing with customers in the UK and abroad on a supply-only basis, direct to trade, but a full design and installation service can be provided via Crittall Windows, or one of the company’s registered partners. From its Witham, Essex, factory the company supplies its extensive customer base with specialist steel products such as steel entrance doors, steel glazed screens, internal steel partitions, steel screen dividers and doors and associated pressed metal for a wide range of commercial and residential applications.

Crittall bespoke glazed steel windows and doors are extensively specified in both the UK and the US, as well as mainland Europe, for corporate refurbishments, the education sector, residential developments and retail fit-outs. Excellent examples of the type of project which the new fabrications division will handle are the Ham Yard Hotel in London’s Soho and Addison Crescent high-end residential development, also in the capital. All Crittall steel fenestration and doorsets are known for their combination of slim profile elegance and strength. To this is added the factory-applied powder coating that provides an extremely hard-wearing, highly durable, maintenance-free finish.

www.crittall-fabrications.co.uk

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CRL will be showcasing its wide range of architectural glass fixings and shower door hardware at FIT Show 2017, with many new innovations on display designed to make life easier for installers and fabricators.

During FIT Show, CRL will be adding to its very successful range of TAPER-LOC® frameless glass balustrade systems, with the new TAPER-LOC® ‘Adjustable’ System. Advantages of the new system include adjustable taper sets, which allow installers to adjust the angle of the glass forward/backwards, so they can be aligned with adjacent panels of glass, especially useful when cap and hand rails are not being used.

Available in a wide choice finishing including satin adonised and brushed nickel, the system makes it easy to replace broken and scratched panels. The quickest and safest way to install glass balustrades (with no scaffold required), the new system also enables installation to be completed from the safe side of the balustrade from start to finish.

Installers can also learn more about that CRL COMPACT-X, a compact sliding solution for frameless glass panels. Quick and easy to install, the system combines latest softbrake technology with minimalist design concealed within an upper track and can be used to create a seamless design on domestic and commercial applications.

Throughout the show, the CRL team will also be giving live demonstrations of the company’s Glass Detectors, the simple way to distinguish low emissivity coated glass from ordinary float glass. Fast and simple to use the Glass Detectors are an essential piece of kit for installers to ensure that the coated piece of glass is fitted on the inside of the unit, on the inner piece of glass.

Installers working on bathroom projects can also learn more about the large range of products for creating bespoke shower areas. From minimalistic hardware such as hinges, clamps, handles, door knobs and u-channels, to complete sliding shower door kits, available in a wide range of finishes including matt black, CRL has a full package of hardware and accessories for any space.

See CRL on Stand K60 at FIT Show 2017.

Tel: 00 800 0421 6144 Email: crl@crlaurence.co.uk Website: www.crlaurence.co.uk

Demand for Bowater by Birtley, the culmination of Bowater and Birtley Group doors, is already gathering pace after its recent market launch. The company is now pleased to announce a new website, detailing the full range, is now online at www.bowaterbybirtley.co.uk 

Zoe Watson, Marketing Manager of Birtley Group explains: “We’ve had a lot of work to do to bring the two brands as well as the two ranges of doors together, but the full suite is now available to view on our newly launched website. Our three collections make up a range of doors from commodity to high end – all of which are demonstrated on the site, along with more information about the over and above service we offer.

“Hopefully the site captures the essence of Bowater by Birtley which is quality and choice with the best of both Bowater and Birtley Group. Bowater has been a long standing and well respected name in the window and door industry with a lot of loyal customers, while Birtley Group has the resources to produce technologically advanced doorsets. The culmination of the brands in the new range is truly a force to be reckoned with.

“Bowater by Birtley will be flying the flag for quality composite doors at the bigger and better FIT Show (stand F20) at the NEC in May for anyone that wants to see the doors first hand, but in the meantime www.bowaterbybirtley.co.uk is the place to go if you can’t wait to find out more!”

Brian Berry

Small construction firms enjoyed rising workloads in the first quarter of 2017, despite growing concerns over the cost of labour and materials, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Key results from the FMB’s State of Trade Survey for Q1 2017, which is the largest quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, include:

• UK construction SME workloads increased more significantly than at any time since Q2 2016, ie the quarter immediately prior to last June’s EU referendum
• One in two construction SMEs predict rising workloads in the coming months, with just 5% predicting a decrease in activity
• 85% of builders believe that material prices will rise in the next three months
• 58% of firms are struggling to hire carpenters, a post financial crisis high.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “The first three months of 2017 proved to be very positive for construction SMEs, which reported strong growth, underpinned by continuing resilience in the home improvement sector. Workloads rose in every part of the UK, with particularly positive results in the devolved nations. Given the concerns that wider consumer confidence might be weakening, it’s encouraging that smaller construction firms aren’t sensing any drop-off in demand for their services. Indeed, despite Article 50 being triggered and the growing likelihood of a hard Brexit, these latest results demonstrate that builders are increasingly confident about the immediate future, with one in two forecasting higher workloads during the next quarter.”

Berry continued: “The survey covers the period before the announcement of a snap general election, which may well cool consumer demand in the coming months. The results are also tempered by a clear rise in output costs for construction companies. Material prices and wages rose markedly in the first three months of this year, with larger numbers of construction SMEs believing that all three will rise further during the next quarter. Indeed, although only 20% of construction products and materials used in the UK are imported, the depreciation of sterling since the referendum last June has seen material prices shoot up – with 85% of builders predicting further rises – this pressure on margins looks set to continue. Such cost inflation presents clear challenges to the profitability of smaller building firms and in many cases, builders will be forced to pass these price increases onto their customers.”

Berry concluded: “The combined effects of rising material costs and the ever-worsening construction skills crisis will therefore be reason enough for SME construction firms to be cautious in their optimism. If growth in real household income remains flat, and if consumer confidence is shaken by the impending snap general election and the triggering of Article 50, there are plenty of potential pitfalls for builders to navigate. Nevertheless, as of yet, the much anticipated ‘Brexit effect’ has yet to hit what is considered to be the bellwether sector of consumer confidence and wider economic health.”

The post Builders bullish despite rising costs, says FMB appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

3D Laminates have extended the warranty on their unique CoolSkin^® technology for panel and composite doors to 12 years, following further extended product testing with long-term product partners Hornschuch and VEKA.

CoolSkin^® technology has quite simply revolutionised the composite door sector through innovative manufacturers such as Endurance Doors^® and Solidor, two of the fastest growing and most trusted brands in the sector. The extension of the product warranty to 12 years, reflects the unrivalled performance of these door skins, which offer a life expectancy in excess of 25 years, as there’s no risk of delamination, cracking, bowing or warping unlike other inferior door skins.

The composite door market remains hugely buoyant, with design and security top of the agenda for consumers, closely followed by lasting product performance. Entrance doors with CoolSkin^® technology are designed to last and the fact that it’s based on a PVCu foiled, grained finish that is a perfect match to the PVCu door frames, is also a major product benefit.

There are currently eight life like woodgrain finishes and nine solid colours within the CoolSkin^® range and 3D Laminates is also able to product bespoke finishes and colours in relatively small quantities, to support the demands of the fast-moving composite door market.

Mark Lofthouse, managing director of 3D Laminates commented: ‘The 12 year warranty on our unique CoolSkin^® gives great confidence for our trade partners and consumers. It’s a product with unique technical capabilities thanks to tight trading agreements with Hornschuch and VEKA.

He continues: ‘We’ve already seen a number of major product failures with other inferior door skins and the ramifications for installation companies and door manufacturers are considerable, as product liabilities could have the potential to escalate considerably. CoolSkin^® is ultimately a guarantee of lasting, failure free performance for panel and composite door skins.’

For further information and a free sample pack on CoolSkin^® call 3D Laminates on 0113 273 6281, e-mail info@3d-laminates.com or visit their website at www.3d-laminates.com.

The TruEnergy Aluminium Window delivers true energy efficiency and impressive performance with fewer components, says  Jack Aluminium Systems, who developed the PAS 24 window system and claim it is also easy to fabricate and install.

The thermal breaks are positioned in the most efficient way possible, with thermal infills that slide within the section chambers, to achieve a U-value of 1.4 W/m2 or lower with a double glazed unit, and 1.2 when triple glazed.  This is backed by PAS 24 testing, dual cleat options and compatibility with PVCu hardware.

“Too often, thermally enhanced means that the system only works if lots of fiddly bits are inserted, or stuck on,” says Jeff Pearson, Sales Director at Jack Aluminium, “which not only add unwanted time during fabrication but can come loose if the installer needs to remove the glass during fitting.

“Customers told us they want something simpler, so we developed the TruEnergy window with their needs in mind.  From the moment fabricators get the profile, to the installation of the final product, the TruEnergy Window makes it really easy to produce an efficient and high performance window.

“The slimline aluminium profile can be fabricated using either crimped or mechanical Monticelli cleats.  That gives an element of design flexibility, so fabricators can choose their preferred method of assembly.

“Another way in which the TruEnergy Window makes life easy is that it can use PVCu hardware.  Lots of fabricators and installers supply aluminium windows alongside PVCu, but they would prefer not to double-stock on hardware.

“We also help fabricators by holding plenty of stock for fast turnaround of orders, with 5-7 day delivery on standard RAL colours.

“Energy efficiency shouldn’t be at the expense of manufacturing efficiently.  Simplifying the design to create better aluminium systems is at the heart of what Jack Aluminium does.  We’ve listened to the market and developed a window system that meets the needs of fabricators and installers.”

www.jackaluminium.co.uk

Trade fabricator, TWR Trade Frames, is reportedly enjoying ‘huge success’ with aluminium bi-fold doors and regularly produces more than 50 per week in its 25,000ft2 factory in Peterlee. It has a nationwide customer network and regularly delivers to installers from as far a field as Scotland, Wales and the south of England.

The product formed a major part of TWR’s recent open day presentations and has been so successful that the Peterlee factory was opened last year to cope with increased aluminium production, having outgrown capacity at the existing factory in nearby Sunderland.

The bi-folds are produced from Smart Visofold profile and are geared using the greenteQ Clearspan hardware system from VBH that includes adjustable roller assemblies to help with quick and easy installation. The profile is powder coated on site to the customer’s individual specification and is then geared using Clearspan hardware in black, white or anthracite grey, with additional colour options on the handles.

The doors are secured using greenteQ main door and intermediate sash locking systems.

Clearspan hardware has been tested at BSI to the PAS 24 security standard. Those installers who deal with the new build market must be able to demonstrate to Building Control that their doors meet the requirements of approved Document Q. TWR are able to supply third party certification from BSI that this is the case with their Clearspan ‘PAS 24 Spec’ bi-fold doors TWR’s managing director, Terry Richardson, was presented with a certificate to mark TWR’s commitment to produce bi-fold doors to the Clearspan BSI ‘PAS 24 spec’.

VBH area sales manager, Des Turnbull, said: “The management at TWR is forward thinking and customer driven. I was amazed to see from my records recently that they have manufactured over 3,500 bi-folds since starting with greenteQ. I saw for myself at their open day in March how they interact with their customers and it’s obvious that their combination of great customer service and top notch products is the perfect formula for repeat business.’

www.greenteq.info
www.vbhgb.com/

The post TWR enjoys ‘huge success’ with greenteQ bi-folds appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

It’s a return to The Slug and Lettuce in Leicester Square for 2017’s London PIGS on Thursday 11 May.

The second of four People in Glazing events in 2017, the London event is a great chance to get together with glazing industry peers a few weeks before we descend on Birmingham for FIT Show.

PIGS organiser and Balls2 Marketing Director, Sarah Ball says: “Due to the closure of Canal 125, we’ve moved PIGS back to The Slug and Lettuce in Leicester Square.

“This event will be a good chance to get together with glazing industry professionals for a relaxed evening of networking in between FIT Show planning.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of our 2017 sponsors. Without your continued support, PIGS couldn’t happen.

“As usual, all the money will go behind the bar to get the PIGS party started!”

The companies who have offered to put their hands in their pockets for all three PIGS 2016 events so far are:

• aïr
• ALUK
• Avantis International
• Build Show
• Business Micros
• Central RPL
• Danvac
• Dempsey Dyer
• Edgetech UK
• Emplas
• ERA
• Everglade Windows
• ExtrudaSeal
• FIT SHOW
• Frame Fast
• Georgian Bar Company
• GGF
• Network VEKA
• Regalead
• Selecta Systems
• Stuga Machinery
• Synseal
• The VEKA UK Group
• Thermoseal
• Titon
• Ultraframe
• Universal Arches
• Victorian Sliders
• Whizzle
• Yale
• Yes Glazing

As usual, tickets to PIGS are free and it’s really quick and easy to register for yours, just go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pigs-networking-london-may-2017-tickets-33083861721.

Registration is open now and will be open until the start of the event on:

Date: 11 May 2017

Time: 5pm ‘till late

Where: Slug and Lettuce, 5 Lisle Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7BG

If you would like more information about the event, or becoming a PIGS sponsor, contact Sarah on sarah@balls2marketing.com or call 07540 049655. And don’t forget to like the Facebook page, follow PIGS on Twitter & join the Linked In group to get the latest updates.