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For many the FIT Show 2017 will present the chance to discover new products and services, meet with clients and forge new business partnerships, as well as mix business with pleasure thanks to a host of social and networking events on the evening of BIG Tuesday. However, for all the good reasons to get along to the NEC on 23-25 May, the opportunity to learn more about the industry, and maximise the potential of your business as a result, has to be among the most important.

As the old saying goes, knowledge is power, and at this year’s FIT Show there are going to be a wide ranging number of seminar sessions and discussions, hosted by a broad spectrum of industry experts all designed to empower visitors with the insight and information required to stay ahead of the competition.

For 2017 the FIT Show organisers have put together the most comprehensive seminar programme yet, with a host of distinguished speakers covering a full spectrum of key topics for the window, door and conservatory industry. A total of 19 seminar sessions have been scheduled for the exhibition, all of which have been planned in order to provide show-goers with up to date advice on everything from market conditions, regulations and finance, to the latest sales, business and installation advice.

And, with a significant aluminium presence at the 2017 FIT Show, there will also be a separate and dedicated programme from systems house AluK, which will be hosting a series of seminars focusing on the aluminium industry. Visitors to the Expert Zone on AluK’s stand (Q10) will have the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into the state of the aluminium market from the likes of CAB Chairman, Justin Ratcliffe, as well as get up to speed with the latest products, regulations and trends. All of which will prove to be vital information for any fabricators thinking about adding aluminium to their product offering.

In addition to that, hardware specialist MACO will be hosting a ‘Tweet and Meet’ (#TNMP4), on stand E20 between 5-8pm on Tuesday 23^rd May, that will invite guests to address a number of topics such as poor customer service and price increases, to more technical subjects such as PAS24 and DocQ. Presented in an informal and relaxed environment, MACO’s ‘Tweet and Meet’ will not only be a forum to discuss subjects that impact on the daily working lives of those in the glazing industry, but also a chance to catch up with old friends and maybe meet new ones as well.

All seminars, which take place on stand B70, are free to attend to FIT Show visitors. For more details on the full programme, visit: www.fitshow.co.uk/seminars. For more information on the AluK seminars please visit: www.fitshow.co.uk/aluk-seminar

Taking place 23-25th May 2017, to book a stand at FIT Show 2017 please contact Freya Humphries on: 07572 623457, or email: freya@fitshow.co.uk. To register as a visitor for FIT Show 2017 visit: www.livebuzzreg.co.uk/2017/fit17

Solidor, manufacturer of timber-core composite doors, has launched its #SolidorStyleWall campaign. Fabricators and installers already share their stunning project photos on their own and Solidor’s Twitter stream. Now installers posting their photos with the hashtag #SolidorStyleWall will enter a competition to showcase their work in Solidor’s advertising and marketing material. Any installer featured will be credited so the industry can see their excellent work.

If installers are not sure their photography skills are up to the job, there’s a blog on the Solidor website with tips on how to take the best installation photo, which can be found here: . The winning projects then get photographed professionally before appearing.

Solidor CEO Gareth Mobley says: “We love seeing our beautiful doors in beautiful homes, and our followers love to share them with us.

“Solidor installers are passionate about selling Solidor because it’s truly world-class, so they sell more doors. Not only is Solidor the most secure composite door, it’s beautiful, and we make sure the service is world-class too. We’re working to 99.8% of all orders delivered on time and in full.

“We want to credit our customers for their great work,” adds Gareth. “#SolidorStyleWall will showcase the best installers in the market.”

To find out how you can start selling more doors visit www.solidor.co.uk, call 01782 950 941, or follow @SolidorLtd on Twitter.

Nano 470 the leading innovator in glass bonding are proud to announce a new addition to the companies ever increasing product range.

IC40 incorporates all the benefits of the exisiting range but with increased viscosity , this added benefit allows for the adhesive to be beaded onto vertical areas as well as more traditional horizontal work. Allowing time for positioning of the glass with less run off and slumping.

John Jackson Managing Director, added “ This new product has been developed over the past 2 years, and further stenghtens the product range for use in Industrial manufacturing applications, DIY uses and glass artists alike.

We developed IC40 in conjunction with a major USA refrigeration manufacturer,who make 4 million units per annum and who were unhappy with the household name brand they had been using. After exhaustive testing by them including humidity, freezing, impact, shear and drop tests. IC40 passed with flying colours”

IC40 is a very high strength glass-glass and glass-metal adhesive which carries forward the brands trade mark benefit of dual cure either using UV light sources or visible light sources which are low cost so much more suitable for the DIY user or occasional user.

2017 and beyond will see the addition of more products into the NANO 470 range.

Tel :  S W Products Ltd, 01526 344100

email :  info@swproductsltd.com

Anyone going along to the REAL Aluminium stand at the FIT Show (N20) is sure to pay more than just a flying visit.

The team at REAL Aluminium is encouraging everyone to join them for the challenge of all challenges – to find out who can fly their paper plane the furthest in the REAL Paper Plane Challenge contest!

In the run up to the show, Customade has been talking all about REAL Aluminium and how it can make the move into aluminium ‘as easy as child’s play’ for installers. And now, Customade is encouraging all those paper enthusiasts out there to fold and construct a paper plane and enter a competition to see how far they can fly it. The competition has been developed to stress to installers that their businesses can really fly when they make the leap in to aluminium.

Over the next few weeks, Customade is inviting everyone to capture the distance that their paper plane can fly on a video. The attempts can be uploaded on to Twitter using #FLYWITHREAL and the longest distances will be recorded on Customade’s leader board.

Visitors to the FIT Show can also get in on the action by flying their very own REAL plane down a specially designed runway on the REAL Aluminium stand. The overall winner of the contest will be announced on day three of the show.

The competition will be the finalé of an imaginative FIT Show campaign by Customade – ‘Fly with REAL’. The campaign underlines the core message of REAL – aluminium can be as easy as child’s play and installers can fly ahead with aluminium.

Claire Miller, Customade Group marketing manager, explains more: “This competition is terrific fun and we’re hoping that there will be a lot of big kids out there sharing in the excitement before and during the show. Tension is building and I know that there’s already plenty of rivalry between contestants as they try to craft the winning plane.

“REAL Aluminium has strived to make aluminium as easy as possible to help installers to make the most of this lucrative opportunity. We want to get the industry talking about this campaign, which has a really nostalgic theme, and we want to make a lot of noise about our REAL Aluminium brand. REAL Aluminium can help installer’s businesses to fly and it just doesn’t need to be complicated.”

As well as testing their flying skills, visitors to the Customade stand will discover more about REAL Aluminium which has made the process of promoting, quoting, selling and ordering aluminium easier than ever before. REAL Aluminium has already helped hundreds of installers to fly ahead with everything they need to promote and sell the most extensive range of aluminium windows, doors and lantern roofs on board.

REAL Aluminium is an industry-leading solution to overcome all the hurdles that installers face with aluminium and to make sourcing aluminium as easy as buying PVC-u. With REAL Aluminium, installers can benefit from lead times on standard profile of just two weeks.

To enter the REAL Paper Plane Challenge, simply download a free plane template from www.real-aluminium.co.uk or email marketing@customade.co.uk to request a plane pack.

To find out more about REAL Aluminium, please call 01453 826884 or visit www.real-aluminium.co.uk.

Polyframe will be announcing to visitors how it will be evolving on its stand (H30) at the FIT Show. The team will be talking about the recently enhanced offering from Polyframe, which is the UK’s largest PVC-u fabricator and the only one to offer five PVC-u systems.

Following its acquisition of Customade, Polyframe now brings five PVC-u systems from Veka, Halo, Eurocell, Rehau and Duraflex within easy reach of the installer. The move provides customers with a far greater choice of profiles than ever before and, for the first time, gives them the flexibility to buy multiple PVC-u systems to suit different end user requirements.

Gareth Thomas, Customade Group sales and marketing director, explains: “We’re tremendously excited about this year’s FIT Show because it’s the first major industry event since Polyframe announced the acquisition of the Customade Group and we want to share with everyone what Polyframe can now deliver. As the UK’s only five system fabricator, we can now bring the widest choice of PVC-u systems from one source. This allows installers to choose the best system to suit their individual needs and gives them the flexibility to pick one system for the higher end of the market and another more competitively priced system for the trade market.

“The Polyframe formula extends further though and we’ll be talking about how installers can benefit from a wider variety of colour options available across the systems and new marketing and showroom support to help their businesses to grow. The industry-leading marketing package that we developed for other Customade Group brands has achieved fantastic results and we’ll be doing the same with Polyframe to equip customers with all the tools and support they need to actively promote themselves and sell more windows.”

As part of its enhanced support package, Polyframe will demonstrating its improved window design and pricing software, which helps customers to easily design and price windows fabricated from any of the five systems from just one package. The team will also be talking about its comprehensive security guarantees from some of the industry’s leading hardware brands.

Since its acquisition by Polyframe in February, the enlarged, full-service Customade Group is now the biggest fabricator in the UK with revenues of more than £100 million. The group brings together some industry-leading brands and an enviable range of products, which spans PVC-u and aluminium windows and doors, composite doors, aluminium glazed roof products, sealed glass units and specialist glazing.

The Customade group now operates nationwide and employs 900 people in multiple manufacturing sites across the UK. The Group includes Polyframe (PVC-u), REAL Aluminium (aluminium), Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions (glazed roofs), Virtuoso (composite and paneled doors), Hourglass Seal (sealed glass units), and Fineline Aluminium (specialist glazing).

www.customade.co.uk

Eurocell, manufacturer, distributor and recycler of window, door, conservatory and roofline products – has reconfigured its popular Dales Collection range of composite doors to increase and improve aesthetic choice, security and resilience.

First, the company has introduced three new panel designs – the Elton, Hartington and Newhaven – which deliver ‘on trend’ farmhouse and contemporary styles. The three designs are complemented by six further glass patterns to further increase choice for the specifier, developer and end-user.

The additional door and glass introductions bring the total of Dales Collection front and back composite door combinations to 15 styles in 15 colours and 18 glazing options, from modern ‘chic’ to traditional Edwardian or cottage style.

The colours are in three groups: Contemporary, e.g. Anthracite Grey, Slate Grey and Moondust Grey; Standard, e.g. Rosewood, Golden Oak, Frost White and Berry Red; and Heritage,e.g. Eurocell Cream, Chartwell Green and Duck Egg Blue (all made to order). Dales Collection doors are also available with colour-matched weather bars.

Security assured

Second, with security and peace of mind very much on the agenda, not least following the introduction of Approved Document Q (AD Q) of the Building Regulations in October 2015, Eurocell has improved both the structural stability of its door panels and its locking hardware.

AD Q sets out what it says are “reasonable standards for doors and windows to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar by being both sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware” and effectively excludes non-PAS 24 products from the new build sector.

A new accredited five-point multi-locking system with adjustable keeps has been introduced, providing an improved weather rating that can now achieve up to a massive 1200 Pascals – a 50% improvement on previous tests. The new improved design also includes an increase of the outer GRP skin thickness from 2mm to 4mm.

The collection is now fitted with the Tri-Sis glazing cassette which can be deglazed internally without damaging the door panel or affecting the security performance of the door overall.

The locking system, plus the thickness and glazing modifications, means that the new doors are all now compliant with the requirements of AD Q; achieving PAS 23/24:2016accreditation, which includes the challenging PAS 24:2016 ‘Cut Through’ test.

Low maintenance design

GRP door leaves obviate splits or cracks and are less prone to scratching and denting than steel-faced doors. A high-quality triple-seal frame system ensures Dales Collection doors can give outstanding performance for many years and two brush seals and a gasket seal prevent drafts and rain causing problems.

In terms of energy efficiency and sustainability, The Dales Collection composite doors range is ‘B’ rated as standard but ‘A’ rated is also available.

eurocell.co.uk

The Atlas lantern has been picked as the official lantern roof product for the ‘Master Fitter Challenge’, which will take place at the FIT Show.

This is the first time that a roof lantern has ever been chosen for the contest, in which a shortlist of six skilled installers will go head to head to show off their glazed product installation skills in a live final.

With glazed roof lanterns rapidly gaining market share, the FIT Show team wanted to extend the scope of the competition to include fitting a roof lantern. They were impressed with the high end, contemporary look of the Atlas Contemporary Lantern as well as its reputation for being a fitter-friendly product and chose it to crown each of the ‘pods’ that the finalists will work on during the challenge.

Paul Godwin, managing director at the FIT Show, explains: “The Master Fitter Challenge is a real highlight at the FIT Show and it’s a terrific opportunity to showcase products that are highly desirable to the homeowner. With its clean lines and modern looks, the four-pane Atlas lantern was a natural choice to become the first lantern ever to feature in the challenge.

“It’s also important to select fenestration products that develop and test the skills of the finalists so we’re really excited to bring this new category in to the competition. The Atlas roof is known for being easy to install and we’ll be interested to hear first-hand from the finalists about their experience of fitting it whilst under pressure.”

Claire Miller, marketing manager at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, added: “Atlas was the fastest growing conservatory and orangery roof system in the UK last year, so this year we are very excited to have been chosen as the official lantern roof product for the Master Fitter Challenge. We know that the Atlas lantern is the best looking lantern in the industry and we’re really confident that the six finalists will give it the seal of approval for ease of installation when they fit it. I wish them all the very best of luck in the competition.“

A shortlist of six skilled installers will compete against each other to install a range of glazing products, including the Atlas lantern, on their own 3×3 metre pod during the live finals at the FIT Show. The finalists will be judged on the quality and attention to detail of every element of their installation, together with a strong emphasis on safety. The total prize money for the contest is £10,000 and the lucky winner will scoop the grand prize of £5,000.

The Atlas range of Contemporary Lanterns is available in sizes up to 3000 x 1500mm. The four-pane lantern has been designed with the signature internal and external aesthetics of an Atlas roof. The lantern has the slimmest sightlines in the industry and comparative reveal that the Atlas Contemporary Lantern has a 60% slimmer ridge and 38% slimmer hip internally. Externally, it is more than 50% slimmer than alternative systems.

For further information, please contact Atlas on marketing@atlasroofsolutions.co.uk or phone 02838 327741.

www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk

Eurocell has adopted two charities for 2017 – one national and one local – for which to ‘officially’ raise funds. Aiming to harness the ‘altruism and energy’ of its staff, the Eurocell board has also committed to augment approved employee fund raising efforts with corporate contributions.

The two charities Eurocell is formally supporting are the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).

Starlight seeks to brighten the lives of seriously and terminally ill children by ‘wish granting’ and by providing fun, entertainment and distraction for children in every children’s hospital ward and hospice throughout the United Kingdom. All Starlight’s activities are aimed at taking children away from the pain, fear and isolation they can often experience as a result of their illnesses. Starlight’s year-round programme helps over 500,000 hospitalised children every year.

The DLRAA is Eurocell’s own local airborne paramedic service. Its two regional air ambulances fly across the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland; and also provide cover for its sister service: the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance – both organisations being part of The Air Ambulance Service Charity.

These two helicopters provide a rapid response to trauma and medical emergencies over an area of 3850 square miles covering many of the UK’s major road networks including the M1, M6, M69 and M42. With an average response of just 13 minutes, between them they attend, on average, six missions a day.

Collette Richardson, fundraising manager for DLRAA, said: “This fantastic support from Eurocell is a huge boost for us. It costs us £1,700 to fly every lifesaving mission and we rely on the public to keep our services going so being chosen as Eurocell ‘s charity of the year is really great news.”

Mark Kelly, Eurocell CEO, said: “You can only commend the initiative of our people in supporting on these two fantastic organisations – it’s totally indicative of the great spirit that we have here in Eurocell.”

www.starlight.org.uk
www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk
www.eurocell.co.uk

The post Eurocell’s charity support takes flight appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Victorian Sliders will be exhibiting at the FIT Show 2017 for the first time.

Visitors to Birmingham’s NEC Hall 8 on 23^rd-25^th May will see stand Q20, a substantial 140 square metre island stand prominently branded Victorian Sliders and packed with ECOSlide PVC-U vertical sliding sash windows. The full range of product options including decorative glazing bar styles, choices of operating hardware and eye-catching woodgrain foil finishes will all be on display.

A new PVC-U sash window will be previewed at the show. Prominently on display will also be a new “run-through sash horn” design, which employs Victorian Sliders expertise in design and manufacturing to deliver the most authentic top sash frame solution with precise detailing and elegant aesthetics.

Victorian Sliders’ aim at the FIT Show will be to reinforce their industry role as “strictly trade only” extruder-fabricators and outline the company’s business philosophy, which is to deliver unbeatable value and service.

Benefiting from a sole focus on PVC-U sash windows and manufacturing economies of scale under one roof, ECOSlide vertical sliding sash units are supplied to Professional Trade Installers at “£199 any size, up to 1300mm wide and 2400mm high” for an A-Rated WER solid White PVC-U window, featuring toughened glass on both top and bottom sashes, sash horns, travel restrictors, quick release tilt restrictors, White hardware, thermal inserts to both frame and sash and a signature extruded “anti-jemmy” security bar on the cill.

Orders worth over £1,000 are delivered free to UK locations on a 5-day lead time. Window design options such as Astragal or Georgian glazing bars, woodgrain foiled or sprayed colour finishes, trickle ventilators and shaped or bay window assemblies are additional to the £199 base cost and provide added value to installed projects. ECOSlide sash windows are delivered with all hardware fitted, ready to install.

Every aspect of product manufacturing is carried out in-house at the Victorian Sliders company headquarters in South Wales. Building works are currently well underway to more than double the existing manufacturing plant from 110,000 to 240,000 square feet.

“We have now kept our selling prices to customers unchanged for 6 years in succession despite inflation, Brexit and currency movements,” says Managing Director, Brendan McCambridge. “This is a commercial feat worth celebrating and at the FIT Show we’ll be inviting Professional Trade Installers to ‘come and join the margin-makers’ and enjoy some welcome refreshments in our upstairs hospitality bar.”

“We will be demonstrating our company’s expertise and continuing business development at FIT Show 2017,” continues Brendan, “and we look forward to meeting many more of our customers in person and saying a warm ‘thank you’ for their ongoing business.”

The FIT Show is very pleased to announce that the Glass & Glazing Federation will be using the 2017 show’s ‘BIG Tuesday’ to mark its 40^th anniversaryWhat’s ‘BIG Tuesday’, you ask? Well, it’s where the show, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham between 23^rd and 25^th May, extends its opening hours to 8pm, offering a relaxed ‘after hours’ atmosphere – a time when some will argue the best deals are done.

Some exhibitors are already planning to include drinks and music on their stand in order to create a party atmosphere and take advantage of the extra hours, and the GGF has revealed it will be using the occasion exclusively to highlight its four decades of dedicated service to the sector.

James Lee, Director of Marketing and Communications, said: “Our stand for this year will reflect our 40th anniversary year and will include a special ‘Life Begins at 40’ members lounge.

“The FIT Show is a perfect opportunity to celebrate our 40th anniversary with the industry, and we are looking forward to welcoming both members and non-members for a few drinks and some fun entertainment!”

And as well as popping the champagne corks at ‘BIG Tuesday’ the GGF will also be presenting on three key topics at The FIT Show 2017.

Brian Smith, Director of Home Improvement, will be discussing resolving disputes; Technical Officer Russell Day will be speaking on glazing in conservation areas, and Phil Pinnington, Director of Health and Safety, will be covering accidents in the industry.

The FIT Show promises to be yet another special event in the industry’s calendar. A showpiece of the industry’s finest companies and the GGF Group is delighted to be involved across many of the key features of this award-winning exhibition.

Anniversary celebrations and vital industry knowledge from the GGF: you simply can’t afford to miss FIT Show 2017!

Taking place 23-25th May 2017, to book a stand at FIT Show 2017 please contact Freya Humphries on: 07572 623457, or email: freya@fitshow.co.uk. To register as a visitor for FIT Show 2017 visit: www.livebuzzreg.co.uk/2017/fit17