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With the British joinery industry negotiating seismic changes in skills, digitalisation and product design, not to mention the implications of Brexit, the key theme of the BWF Members’ Day Conference 2017 will be ‘Setting out for success in uncertain times’.

The event will take place on 15th June at Hellidon Lakes Golf & Spa Hotel near Daventry and features workshops from British Woodworking Federation (BWF) technical specialists and guest experts covering topics ranging from optimising design of stairs and windows, identifying, measuring and managing risk, changes in the house building market, how to make work on big contracts run smoothly, the latest on apprenticeships and skills development and how to keep your joinery workforce safe. As well as looking to the future, attendees can keep an eye on the past with a workshop on heritage and conservation joinery.

Renowned architect, author and academic Dr Tom Woolley will deliver a keynote speech leading us through the landscape of health, sustainability and the huge opportunities for timber products in construction.

Peter Caplehorn from the CPA will explain how the UK’s construction products manufacturing sector is evolving looking at the impact of BIM and the digital economy and CITB Interim Chief Executive Sarah Beale will give evidence on how a reformed CITB can better support woodworking businesses in the UK.

The day will finish with leading economic commentator Alastair Stewart offering an outlook for construction in a post-Brexit Britain and how this is likely to impact upon the woodworking sector. Prior to the event, the BWF AGM will take place on 14th June to be followed by a drinks reception and informal networking dinner.

Sean Parnaby, BWF President, commented.

“My advice is get along to Members’ Day – it is free to attend for Members and the experience is invaluable.  The event gives us a chance collectively to step back, look at the wider market, debate the pressing issues, changes and opportunities and form a vision for the future.  The BWF has this year brought together an excellent range of speakers to help stimulate this.  Despite inherent uncertainty there are clear opportunities ahead for our sector to exploit changes in the market, advancements in materials, environmental reporting and e-business and to use these to grow our customer base.  This is a chance to arm the joinery sector about where to be alert and make it ensure even the smallest business can embrace digitalisation.  The event and the informal dinner the evening before is also a great opportunity to network with our peers and compare battle scars – there is more that unites us as an industry than divides us and Members’ Day embodies this.”

The event is open to anyone in the industry; not just BWF members. But as in previous years, all BWF joinery manufacturing members are being offered one free space. This is usually a sell-out event – so booking is essential. You can view the full programme and book your place at www.bwf.org.uk/news/events/bwfmembersday2017 

BWF Members’ Day 2017 is supported by Headline Sponsor Joinerysoft, Gold Sponsors Vetrotech Saint-Gobain, Silver Sponsors Qwood and Bronze Sponsors the W18 Exhibition. It will also include a free exhibition showcasing the latest innovations and technologies to aid the joinery industry.

Respected sash window specialists Roseview are celebrating being shortlisted for Company of the Year at the SME Buckinghamshire Business Awards 2017. The awards aim to highlight and raise the profile of the most successful enterprises and business leaders in Buckinghamshire.

“We are absolutely delighted to be one of the finalists for Company of the Year,” comments Mike Bygrave, Roseview’s Marketing Manager. “Buckinghamshire is the home to a lot of great businesses, and it’s fantastic to be recognised as one of the best.”

The winner will be the business that shows “outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination” and can demonstrate “sustainable growth combined with exceptional commercial success”.

“It’s been a humbling period for us,” adds Mike. “Not only were we nominated for Fabricator of the Year at last year’s G Awards, we were also named winners of the Customer Care Initiative of the Year award. It’s fantastic to have been recognised in that way – not just for the quality of our products, but also for our company-wide ethos of unparalleled customer service.”

Celebrated for its authenticity and quality, The Rose Collection offers a premium timber-effect sash window for any project, whether it’s the Eurocell-based Charisma Rose, which provides a quality yet cost-effective vertical slider, the REHAU-based Heritage Rose, which expertly recreates a classic sash window, or the range-topping, G13 Award-winning Ultimate Rose.

For more information visit www.roseview.co.uk or call 01234 712657

Yale Door and Window Solutions is now offering a re-pinning service that maintains the British kitemarked accreditation of its maximum security Platinum 3 Star cylinder.

Yale’s Platinum 3 Star cylinder is Secured by Design approved and provides the highest level of security. To achieve TS007:2014 3 Star accreditation it has been independently tested by BSI (British Standards Institution) against known cylinder attack methods.

Paul Atkinson, Sales Director for Yale Door and Window Solutions, comments: “Under this new offering, customers who take the Platinum 3 Star cylinder can now have it atour Centre of Excellence for Door Products (Willenhall) under our BSI kitemarked license. This means there is no compromise to the cylinder as it still maintains the superior Yale quality and security.” And more importantly maintains the Kitemark accreditation. If cylinders are suited and re-pinned by non-accredited organisations they no longer qualify as Kitemarked products.

Delivering multiple benefits to fabricators, installers and homeowners alike, the maximum security Platinum 3 Star cylinder has been designed to protect homes with its anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-pick, anti-drill and anti-pull technology. Available in both brass and nickel finishes, the cylinder has sacrificial break away front section designed to release if attacked, maintaining the cylinder security within the door.

Paul adds: “This new service offers the ultimate convenience to the fabricator, retailer and installer as a feature that the homeowner values. The home owner can use the same key to work multiple locks, whilst still maintaining the 3 star high security that will deter even the most determined intruder.”

For further information on Yale Door and Window Solutions full cylinder range, please visit www.yaledoorandwindowsolutions.co.uk or alternatively call 01902 366800.

Mighton Products have recently signed off on their eye catching new catalogue, set to be available in both printed and digital options from the beginning of April. As any customer would expect, the upcoming 158 page edition will include the expansive range of tried and tested quality products that the company have built their long standing reputation around. However, for Spring/Summer 2017 the Mighton team have geared up to also showcase a number of new and innovative developments across several of their product categories.

One of the highlights, being offered up for the first time, is Mighton Ultra; a selection of specialist high performance joinery paints and coatings, all available in a wide range of types and colours to suit any application. After signing contracts with Anker Stuy, one of Europe’s leading paintmakers, earlier this year the team have been able to greatly expand their range. All available paints and coatings have been created to provide ease of application, market leading performance and include various options for Exterior, Interior, Cladding, Stair and Restoration uses.

Alongside this Mighton have continued to improve on one of their key products, the Angel Ventlock®. After they won one of the United States’ most prestigious hardware industry accolades, Door & Window Magazine’s 2016 Readers’ Choice Award, Mighton have been keen to increase their range of these market-leading child proof safety devices, and the full selection will feature in the upcoming catalogue.

Machinery has also been a significant focus for the company with their latest range now including specialist X-Cut™ and Scribe-It™ Machines. These additions to the ever expanding offering follow the Mighton philosophy of creating products that are thoroughly engineered, great value, practical solutions for specific applications, developed by joiners for joiners.

‘After improving the choice of Machinery that we have available, it was only right that we adapt the customer service to match,’ explained Marketing Manager Kelly Softley, ‘Our most recent investment has been in the Mighton Mobile Demonstration Vehicles. This new service provides our customers with the opportunity to book a free machinery demonstration, at home or at work, to discuss any queries and have one of our experienced team members show how to make the most out of a potential purchase.’

Kelly added: ‘As well as the machinery demonstrations we have recently added another service too. Drawing packages can now be requested by our customers, free of charge, which we hope will help make it easier for smaller companies and individuals to show compliance with the most recent additions to UK Building Regulations, as set out by Document Q- PAS24:2016.’

To order your copy of the catalogue or to find out more about Mighton Products Ltd visit www.mightonproducts.com or call 01223 497097.

Specialist commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) has appointed Maureen Gregg to the new role of Installations Manager, as it continues to expand.

Working alongside Managing Director Rob Petre and Projects Director Martin Thornton, Maureen is managing fitting teams on projects across the new build and replacement sectors.

Maureen’s role is very much about making sure The Window Company (Contracts)’ projects run as smoothly and efficiently as possible and that the demands of the client, the residents and the window fitters themselves are all successfully managed.

Having spent 17 years with Anglian Building Products, during which time she progressed from Resident Liaison Officer to Contracts Manager, Maureen brings with her valuable all round experience from both sides of a project.

She says that she was attracted to the newly created role at The Window Company (Contracts) because of the company’s reputation for excellence and innovation and its promotion of best practice in terms of training and health and safety on site: “From the outset, it’s been clear that the fitting teams here are key to the success of the business and, as a result, they are well trained, well rewarded and very well motivated.

“From an Installations Manager’s perspective, that’s a fantastic position to be in and I’m really excited about getting started on my first big project for Morgan Sindall in north London delivering the service and quality for which The Window Company (Contracts) is so renowned.”

The Window Company (Contracts) is appearing at this year’s FIT Show on stand M33 and will be inviting commercial clients to the show to see all the latest innovations from across the fenestration sector.

Further details are at: www.thewinco.co.uk

Inagas, the fenestration industry’s supplier of gas filling and testing solutions, is heading to this year’s China Glass where they will have a strong presence.  This year’s show – taking place from the 24th to the 27th May – is the 28th show to date and is expecting over 30,000 visitors from 70 countries.

Inagas Director, Chris Kemp, explains: “Inagas first exhibited at China Glass in 2011.  It has always been a successful show for us – both sales to the local market and the rest of the world – so we are delighted to be showcasing machinery on not one, but two stands at this year’s show. Sparklike on the Quanex stand, E1-482, will be demonstrating a Smartfill-2 – which has always been our most popular solution there – along with an Interfill.   Sparklike has supplied Inagas machinery into a number of large companies in China to date, including CSG Group, Xinyi Glass, North Glass, and Jinchen and Shimao who are manufacturers of IGUs in the refrigeration market.

“Also we will have a Smartspeed-1 on stand E4-03 with our distributor Qinhuangdao Lihai Technology Development Co.  Established in 2013, they have provided a number of  manufacturers with gas filling solutions, including Jiangsu Anchor Glass Company, Shanghai Haojing Glass Manufacture Co., Ltd and Dongyingshengming Windows Company.

“At Inagas, because of the nature of our business, the ability to demonstrate our machinery is an exhibition environment is the best way for us to sell products.  Our face to face, hands on approach allows us to do well within and exhibition arena, and we believe China Glass will pay testament to that fact once again.”

See Inagas on Stand number E1-482 or E4-03 at China Glass or, for more information about the range of gas filling solutions from Inagas, visit www.inagas.com or call 01442 832764.

Saint-Gobain Building Glass has further enhanced its popular collection of conservatory roof glass, with the introduction of Azura+, setting new benchmarks for the lowest g-value in the SGG BIOCLEAN low maintenance self-cleaning range.

More than a year’s development has gone into incorporating one of the best solar performing low maintenance self-cleaning coating onto the popular Sapphire Blue tinted substrate, offering an 83% heat reflection and 0.17 g-value, firmly placing the product at the top of Saint-Gobain’s roof glass range.

“The result is a glass that will keep indoors cooler on warm summer days but give the same heat retention in colder weather due to its 1.0 u-value,” said Jenni Bailey, Market Manager for
Saint-Gobain’s Conservatory Range.

“Temperature control within conservatories is a major issue for end-users who quite rightly want to use them all year round. The addition of Azura+ will have a major impact on the overall comfort of a conservatory, allowing end-users to utilise their new space whatever the season.”

The high performance solar control coating of Azura+ is also complimented by SGG BIOCLEAN, a revolutionary low-maintenance self-cleaning function that uses both rain and natural light from the sun to efficiently combat dirt and grime.

Saint-Gobain’s roof glass range already includes the bronze tinted Solara and the blue tinted Azura, both with BIOCLEAN coating and, to streamline the range ahead of the launch of Azura+, the company’s green tinted Aqua and virtually neutral Natura roof glass products have been rebranded to Aqua+ and Natura+ to reflect their parallel use of the solar control coating.

The launch of SGG BIOCLEAN Azura+ is backed by technical support, especially for processors who have not yet trialled it, and marketing support in the form of refreshed glass sample kits and brochures.

www.saint-gobain.com