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Aluminium building systems supplier, Hueck UK, has commissioned a survey of more than 14,000 architects to gauge their expectations for the year ahead.

When questioned, just over half (52%) of architects said they see Brexit as a ‘challenge’ for their sector, with 12% viewing it as an ‘opportunity’ and 28% stating it was ‘both an opportunity and a challenge’.

When asked what the biggest challenge they will face in 2017 will be, 52% of architects said rising costs of materials; 16% said retaining free movement of skills and services; 12% said finding skilled professionals to employ and 4% said changes to UK building laws and regulations.

When asked how they thought the UK architectural sector will perform in 2017, compared to 2016, 52% said it will fare worse; 24% said it would perform better and another 24% said it would be ‘business as usual’.

Despite warnings of a dip in construction output, when asked if they expected to see an increase in projects in the geographical area they cover, 56% of those surveyed said ‘yes’.

Drilling down into the types of projects they expect to see, 52% of those questioned said ‘residential’; 24% said ‘commercial’ and 16% said private sector.

When respondents were asked how confident they are regarding the future, 28% said ‘very confident’, 44% said ‘somewhat confident’ and 28% said they were ‘not very confident at all’.

Leon Friend, director at Hueck, said: “What the survey shows us is that although there are some concerns, the economy and confidence is generally holding up. Obviously, Article 50 hasn’t been triggered yet but the findings of our survey chime with the recent economic growth forecasts from the Bank of England, which have been revised upwards.”

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New findings from Palmer Market Research reveal that the conservatory market contracted in 2015 by 6% – hitting an all-time low of just 78,800 units. With all but 600 units supplied into the home improvement sector, the number of first-time installations also dropped by 9% to 57,000 units. The new report, however, shows that while the conservatory sector’s share of the new-build market and first-time installations declined, the home improvement second-time replacement market saw significant growth.The new report, The Market for Domestic Conservatories, shows that in contrast to the fortunes of the industry as a whole, the market for second-time replacements saw 13% growth in 2015 to 21,200 units. More significantly, the market for replacement roofs saw growth of 62% to 11,200 units during the same period.

Robert Palmer, Managing Director, Palmer Market Research, said: “Having seen growth of around 3% in 2014, the conservatory market, as a whole, declined by 6% in 2015. What is, however, very notable, is the growth that we have seen in the second-time replacement market and the emerging market for replacement roofs in the home improvement sector, with the latter seeing particularly significant growth.” Figures from Palmer show that PVC-U remains the dominant material type across sectors. The Market for Domestic Conservatories report also suggests that, the fortunes for manufacturers are very much defined by conservatory style.

Although some products, for example Orangeries (26%), saw significant growth in 2015, this was not enough to offset a 4% fall in the home improvement sector overall. This was accompanied by a 1% fall in installed value. Going forward, Palmer suggests that demand for family-style rooms will play a key role in shaping the market as home-owners demand more versatile living spaces. The findings follow Palmer’s publication of The Window, Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain, last autumn.

This argues that a flattening of the market in 2015 saw total volume fall by 0.7%. This was, however, offset by a shift towards higher-end products and higher-value installations, which delivered a 2% increase in installed value to £4.20 billion. Palmer continued: “Consistent with other areas of the window and door industry, some products are seeing growth, others are going into decline. We would suggest that a generation of conservatory-buyers are moving on to their second conservatory purchase. They are increasingly discerning and expectations and applications are changing as a consequence.” Palmer concludes: “In what is overall a slowing market, the latest forecast shows the market will continue to deliver pockets of significant growth through to 2020.”

Tel: 020 83908131

E: info@palmermarketresearch.co.uk

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The DW3 Products Group has restructured to continue the fast growth at the Residence Collection. Residence Collection CEO Gareth Mobley says: “Our investment in new warehouse and factory space, people and production capacity at Residence Collection was timely, but we underestimated the suddenness and scale of the demand for our products.

“Solidor went through similar growing pains 18 months ago, but the world-class DW3 team has transformed capacity, operations, and service to the point that Solidor is consistently achieving 99% and above, of orders delivered on spec, on time and in full. And that’s with 35% annual growth and repeated record-breaking sales this year.

“With Solidor growing and performing well, the world-class DW3 team is now working at Residence Collection, doing what it did for Solidor. We’re not there yet, but Residence customers will get consistently improving service with a world-class product range in 2017 no matter how fast customers want to grow.” Gareth Mobley, DW3 Products Group CEO, is now leading the Residence Collection team as CEO, managing growth, overall strategy and sales, while looking to further supplement the team in Gloucester.

Mike Price, DW3 Group Operations Director, and Chris Chapman, DW3 Group Commercial Director, are transforming systems, stock management, manufacturing, operations and logistics at Residence HQ in Gloucester.

Sarah Hitchings has been promoted to General Manager of Residence Collection and Window Widgets, and will continue to work with the team to run the business day to day. Dan Gill, Residence Collection creator, is expanding his remit to become DW3 Group Product Development & Innovations Director, dedicating his creativity and deep technical knowledge to develop and innovate across companies in the DW3 Products Group. “With this team and our exceptional products,” adds Gareth, “2017 is set to be an even bigger year for Residence Collection and its customers.”

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Polyframe Group Limited (Polyframe) announced yesterday that it has successfully acquired and merged with Customade Group Limited (Customade), supported by further investment from Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP (Cairngorm Capital).  With revenues in excess of £100 million, the enlarged group will trade as Customade and now has a complete and comprehensive product range across aluminium windows, composite entry doors and PVCu products.

Established in 1980, Customade is a specialist manufacturer of high-quality aluminium and PVCu windows, doors and conservatory roof products.   Best known for its proprietary and market-leading REAL, Atlas and Fineline aluminium brands, the company operates from 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facilities near Gloucester, employing 320 people. In 2016 it achieved turnover in excess of £35 million.

During 2016, Polyframe acquired the WB Group composite entry door business in Birtley and a 50,000 square foot window manufacturing facility in Livingston from Stevenswood. Accordingly, this merger with Customade continues the firm’s strategy to develop the UK’s leading trade fabricator of PVCu, aluminium and composite windows and doors, addressing all trade customers’ fenestration needs. Customade’s market-leading and proprietary products complement, expand and differentiate Polyframe’s product offering, particularly in the rapidly growing aluminium sector. The group now operates nationwide, with almost 900 employees across 10 manufacturing facilities extending from Scotland to the South-West. 

The combined industry expertise of the newly enlarged management team, together with support from specialist investment firm Cairngorm Capital, increases the scope for further innovation, growth and service improvements; optimises manufacturing capability and broadens Polyframe’s product range.

John Lightowlers, Customade’s Managing Director becomes Group Managing Director of the enlarged firm and continues to hold a significant ownership stake. With over twenty years’ leadership experience in the windows and doors market and having led Customade for the past 12 years, John and his fellow Customade shareholders, Nick Gibbons, Gareth Thomas and John Adams, have been instrumental in Customade’s growth and success.

John will be supported initially by Jon Gatfield, Polyframe’s interim Managing Director, who will transition to other Cairngorm Capital operational roles in the near future, and Lance Gillett, Polyframe’s Group Finance Director, who joined Polyframe from Masco UK Window Group in 2016. David Moore, Non-Executive Director of Polyframe and former CEO of Ultraframe plc, will become Chairman of the enlarged group.

Jon Gatfield, Polyframe’s interim Managing Director, said, “Both Polyframe and Customade pride themselves on offering customers extensive product ranges, along with extremely high levels of reliability, flexibility and customer service. Since July 2016, we at Polyframe have invested heavily to develop a best-in-class offering for our trade customers, strengthen our manufacturing operations and extend our geographic presence. The merger with Customade will accelerate these initiatives and secure our position as the largest trade fabricator of windows and doors to the UK installer market”

John Naylor-Leyland of Cairngorm Capital commented, “We are delighted to invest further in Polyframe to facilitate this proprietary, off-market merger between Polyframe and Customade and to support the combined group’s growth plans. Customade has an outstanding reputation in the industry for supplying high-quality branded aluminium products, which together with the excellence of its operational capabilities and the calibre of its staff, make it the natural partner to enhance Polyframe’s leading PVCu window and composite door range.“

John Lightowlers, Group Managing Director of the enlarged group added, “This is the perfect partnership for two businesses with shared values, a market-leading suite of products and a commitment to the highest standards of customer service. There are great opportunities across the sector and as an enlarged group we look forward to meeting all trade customers’ product needs.”

Polyframe and Cairngorm Capital were advised on this transaction by PwC (financial and tax), Livingstone (debt advisory) and Bond Dickinson (legal). MidCap Financial, alongside Polyframe’s existing lender, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Group, provided senior debt to support the transaction as well as the enlarged group’s continued investment in its manufacturing sites.

For further information, please contact Katherine Ritchie on 020 8347 6183 or 07941 040021

Origin’s Ben Brocklesby

Declaring the housing market as ‘broken’ the government announced a pledge to invest in the offsite construction industry last week. The Housing White Paper sets out the government’s intentions to resolve the housing crisis through a series of measures with releasing more land, making planning more accessible and increasing productivity being the main solutions.

In response, Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin, said: “There’s no doubt that the white paper marks a step in the right direction for the future of the UK’s housing industry. It is hugely positive to see the government lending support to local authorities and developers to resolve Britain’s housing crisis.

“Many of the issues and challenges identified were discussed at length by leading industry experts during Origin’s Homes of the Future roundtable, which brought together housebuilders, architects, developers and economists to discuss the changes that needed to be made to support growth.

“While the white paper promises to support housebuilders, and resolve the issue of skills shortages in the construction industry, supporting British manufacturers is not mentioned within the government’s plan. Whether suppling bricks or bi-fold doors, manufacturers need to be geared up to support the new demand for building products. In addition, greater emphasis should be put on the importance of specifying products ‘made in Britain’, with a focus on the quality of new homes, not just quantity.

“We’ve spoken at length about the trend in recent years for homeowners to improve their homes rather than move. It isn’t uncommon for homeowners to have to wait months until these improvements can be made, as good tradesmen are in strong demand. I’d be interested to see whether a focus on building new homes affects the availability of skilled workers for home improvements. Will this just mean the skills shortage moves away from new build, towards renovation projects instead?”

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Romag has agreed an exclusive agreement to be the UK manufacturer for the pioneering Suntuitive product, bringing self-tinting glass technology to the residential and commercial sectors.

Suntuitive technology has been developed by Michigan based Pleotint LLC, who over the last 17 years have become the world’s top innovator in self-tinting glass, boasting eight international patents and a number of business awards. In the USA this product has performed incredibly well in large glazed areas for domestic and commercial projects and the plan is to offer the same capabilities in buildings across the UK.

When exposed to strong solar rays, the Suntuitive glass unit changes into a darkened blue state, bring light transmission down and importantly, reflecting up to 90% of the sun’s rays. The performance of the glass unit changes by the minute offering various levels of solar control and light transmission as climatic conditions dictate by the minute, making for a true dynamic environment.

The technical credentials of Suntuitive glass are overwhelmingly impressive, boasting a G-value of 10-34%, light transmission of 6-60% and offering a U-value of 1.2 W/m2K. To put that into perspective when there is little solar heat on the glass unit it remains in a clear state, yet still offering impressive levels of solar control.

With a history in glass innovation, Romag is the perfect partner in which to bring this exciting and pioneering development to the UK market, with the promise of short-lead times, marketing support and technical assistance. The fact that the Suntuitive product can be manufactured using existing equipment and processes is good news for Romag, while the glass can be handled and installed in pretty much the same way as any other standard glass unit.

Paul Cruddace, Romag’s sales and marketing director, commented: ‘Without question this is one of the most exciting glass developments that Romag has seen in recent years. It’s commercially viable, easy to handle and unlike switchable glass technologies, doesn’t require any wires.

He continues: ‘The commercial opportunities are broad indeed across industrial and residential sectors and will help broaden the reach of Romag.’

For further information visit www.romag.co.uk, e-mail sales@romag.co.uk or call the sales office on 01207 500000. You can also add to their Twitter following @Romag_UK.

As the Lumi window and door system gains wider recognition for its superb groundbreaking aesthetics and style, the company behind the system has further expanded the range with the introduction of a Lift & Slide Sliding door. Introduced following interest from customers and specifiers of the existing window and door products the Lumi Lift & Slide door, with its rigid aluminium frame and triple-glazed units allows the installation of openings up to 9 metres with minimal frame interruptions.

Produced in elegant anthracite grey inside and out, the Lumi Sliding Door glides on a standard 2 or 3 track system to allow effortless, silent opening and closing despite its reassuring weight and solidity. Excellent sound-reduction and burglar resistance up to RC2 (WK2) EN1627 is also assured whilst the advanced modular profile insulation contributes towards u-values as low as 1.1 W/(m2K).

However, for all of the build and performance attributes offered by Lumi the essence of the Lumi Lift & Slide Door is its superb aesthetics and in particular the unique seamless glazing. This characteristic sets Lumi apart from all other sliding doors and a feature that was crucial in the system winning the New Product of the Year category at the 2015 G Awards. Lumi Marketing Manager Linda Tomb says the Lumi Lift & Slide Door offers a step up from conventional sliding doors: “This door enjoys aesthetics and engineered quality that really are a cut above mass market offerings and it is therefore ideal for installers looking for a flagship product. The triple-glazed seamless glazing brings with it a feel and appearance that cannot be matched by any anything else on the market, yet it will appeal to a wide range of customers that value style and tactile quality.”

Tel: 084 56 729 333

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Mighton Products’ Angel Ventlock® has won a top Readers’ Choice Award in the United States. In an annual poll in which readers of Door and Window Market (DWM) magazine highlight ‘tried and tested products that stand the test of time’ the Angel Ventlock® range of Window Opening Control Devices won the Window Hardware category.Distributed in the US by Roto Frank of America Inc., Angel Ventlock® was noted for helping to prevent deaths and injuries to children by limiting the window opening to 4 inches or less. The products were cited as conforming ‘100 percent’ to relevant US safety standards.

“This is high praise indeed,” said Mike Derham, Managing Director of Cambridgeshire based Mighton Products. “Roto Frank has been selling Angel Ventlocks® in the US since 2008 and it is the leading restrictor sold there. To achieve this sort of recognition shows that the product is as fresh and effective as ever and a proven solution to preventing child death and injury caused by falling from open windows.”

The Angel Ventlock® range of child safety window restrictors meets all US, UK and European standards and legislation including ASTM F2090-2010 and BS EN 14351-1:2006, BS EN 8213-1-2004, BS EN 14609:2004. Products are available for installation on all window types including vertical and sliding sashes and casement style windows, for OEM and retrofit. In the United Kingdom Angel Ventlock® restrictors have been tested by Secured By Design and PAS24 and is the most secure child restrictor on the market.