Blog

Leading systems supplier Spectus offers everything today’s fabricators and installers need: products that work in all sectors, the broadest range of ancillaries to make life easy and outstanding marketing support. Carmen Velilla, Brand Manager of Spectus says: “When you choose a systems company, you need to choose one that offers a complete package and gives your business everything it needs to achieve its goals. In Spectus that’s exactly what you get.”

Spectus systems mean you can make any style of window or door and compete in every sector, whether it’s trade, retail, new build or commercial. There’s the Elite 63 and Elite 70 for casements and tilt & turns, the Spectus VS for vertical sliders and the FRW reversible system. Patio doors, formers and curtain walling complete the range.

The product range is complemented with a range of over 80 ancillaries covering colour, specification, style, decorative finishing touches and double and triple glazing options. They’re all designed to give the customer as much personalisation and individualisation as they need with no compromises and allow installers to fit a perfect job.

Effective marketing is critical to the success of every business and the Spectus offering is second to none. There are bespoke marketing packages, as well as lead generation and opportunities to tender. Spectus customers also get the sales advantage of Excellence as Standard. It’s a programme designed to drive quality at every level of the industry. Membership gives customers the tools they need to build their business including lead generation and marketing support.

Carmen concludes: “We’ve been making PVC-U  window and door systems since 1981. The market has changed out of all recognition since then but we’ve thrived because of the quality of our manufacturing, the strength of our design and our customer service. We’ve kept those three principles at the heart of our business throughout and they’re the reasons we can offer such a complete package to our customers today.”

www.spectus.co.uk

Phil Pluck, Group Chief Executive of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has announced his departure effective from 12^th April.

Phil has overseen a substantial change programme at the GGF bringing together the commercial companies of GGF and its membership side. Having brought in a new senior management team as part of a complete re-structure programme, Phil issued the following statement:

“GGF Group is now in the best shape it has been for years and is ideally positioned to grow its influence and value to its members and customers. A new management team is in place and has the skills and commitment to realise the potential of the GGF Group for the benefit of its customers, members and the industry. I am immensely sad to be leaving such a great organisation and its people but for personal reasons this is the right time to be departing. The GGF Group is a fantastic organisation and I wish it the very best for the future.”

John Agnew, GGF President commented:

“Under the leadership of Phil Pluck the entire GGF Group has undergone a period of transformational change with a clear strategic plan now in place. The GGF Board are indebted to Phil for the key role that he has played in driving forward the changes needed for the business. His clear strategic vision coupled with the focus on behavioural and cultural management practices have been key skill sets that the GGF Group has benefited from.”

www.ggf.org.uk

Longstanding Spectus fabricator Jade Windows has just moved into new premises in Batley, West Yorkshire. The new unit is 14,000sqm, over three times larger than its previous premises. Ryan Fozard of Jade Windows commented: “The move to bigger premises together with our investment in new machinery reflects our substantial business growth in the past few years, particularly in our commercial and new build sectors.”

The new premises will enable Jade to provide customers with quicker lead times on white frames and also on coloured frames because the company will be able to hold a wide range of Spectus foiled colours in stock.

Ryan attributes Jade Windows’ success to three things: outstanding craftmanship, high level of customer service and the integrity shown in every aspect of the business.

The company has been a Spectus fabricator for nearly 20 years and manufactures the Elite 70 system, the Flush Sash Window and the Fully Reversible Window, a range of products that works well with its homeowner, commercial and trade customer base. Ryan said: “Spectus products are superb and we’re more than happy with the relationship we have with them.”

When it comes to service, Jade delivers exceptional standards. There are dedicated project managers who liaise with customers from start to finish as well as an aftercare team to provide advice and service.

Jade Windows is a family owned company that believes in going the extra mile to leave its customers more than satisfied, demonstrating a level of integrity that increasing numbers of customers appreciate. It’s a Kitemark registered company and is externally audited twice a year to ensure the highest standards of manufacture and customer service are maintained. This allows Jade to comply with new build housing regulations, as does the Secured by Design accreditation it holds and the fact all its product comply with Document Q.

A trebling of manufacturing premises is a significant achievement for any business, particularly one in such a competitive industry as ours is. The fact that Jade Windows has achieved it is a demonstration of the importance of getting the basics in place: the right products, the right service and the right attitude.

www.spectus.co.uk

In August this year, Fareham-based fabricator, Novaseal, celebrates 20 years in business. Recently moving into much larger premises with the capacity to expand even further, managing director Gary Grundy says he has ambitious plans for the business centred around growth in the glazed extension market.

Switching roof system to Ultraframe is said to be just part of his plan to strengthen his position as the ‘go to’ fabricator for glazed extensions.

Gary commented: “The term ‘one-stop-shop’ is used a lot, but for us, it really does capture the essence of our offering. Our customer-base, which is made up of a large volume of one, or two-man operations, relies heavily on our range of systems – equally the trade counter offers a vital service.

“We have built a reputation over the last 20 years for delivering unrivalled service and a product range to match. For the majority of our customers they know that we’re out in the market, investing in our supplier relationships to bring them the very best solutions, whether that’s a door, window or conservatory.

“In the last six months we have made a number of key changes to the business to ensure that we are on track to deliver our growth aspirations in 2018 and beyond. Moving to new premises was part of our plan to bring greater operational efficiencies to our business and the other major change is switching our roof system to Ultraframe.

“To put that change into context, we recognise that there is a sizable opportunity for us to support our customers in the home extension space. Quite often, we provide a survey-service for our trade customers and over the last two years we’ve identified a significant shift in the aspirations of the homeowner looking to extend their home.

“Hence, our switch to Ultraframe, delivering the most technically advanced and inspirational range of systems that match the needs of today’s homeowner.

“The other investment we’ve made is the integration of a showroom at the new site. Many of our customers don’t have the luxury of their own showroom but we recognise that it’s important for them to be able to show a prospective customer examples of the type of extension they’re considering. We want to be able to give our trade customers even further ammunition to be able to secure a sale, and there’s nothing more compelling than showing a customer the innovation that sits inside an Ultraframe roof!

“Our last quarter’s performance has smashed through anything we’ve seen in the last two years so we have every reason to be confident that these major changes at Novaseal are steering us towards our most successful year in business.”

The post Going from strength to strength appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Target Windows, based in Meir Heath, is celebrating 35 years in business.

The company was established in 1983 by businessman, Alan Tune, who previously manufactured windows for a local double-glazing firm. When the firm he was supplying went out of business however Alan opened a small showroom in Radford Street, Stone, where his sister, Jane, and his wife, Sylvia, would make appointments to see customers who required quotes for windows, doors and conservatories.

As demand increased, Jane assisted with sales appointments, and the small showroom was soon outgrown. Target relocated to its current home at The Fillybrooks in Stone and then expanded into Uttoxeter.

In 2002, current company director Guy Basnett joined the team, after marrying Jane in 1999. His experience in sales is said to have opened up the commercial market. Alan’s brother Mick is also part of the management team and has many years of experience in the industry. Over the years, the family business is said to have gone from strength to strength.

Guy Basnett said: “It’s a very exciting time for Target. We are now focusing on securing commercial contracts throughout the UK on new-build sites, schools, animal re-homing projects and refurbishment projects.

“Many new products are set to be introduced to the existing range as the domestic market continues to evolve, to meet the demand of our many clients wanting to maximise their living space.

“We’re so proud of what we have achieved and to mark our 35th anniversary, we will be hosting a celebration event at our Stone showroom on the bank holiday weekend of 5-6 May from 10am to 4pm. Customers old and new are invited and there will be a raffle in aid of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice, with vouchers worth up to £300.”

The post On Target appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Orbit Housing’s Fordham House in Stratford-upon-Avon is reportedly aiming to ‘raise the bar’ for rented accommodation.

The 82-apartment block has been designed to provide enhanced protection against noise, as well as a superior maintenance and repair strategy.

Much of the budget for these ‘above-and-beyond’ features has come from the specification of Modus PVC-U windows from Eurocell in place of the aluminium frames originally specified. “We saved a significant amount without compromising on the specification or the design,” said Orbit’s commercial director, Adam Cooper. “And from a planner’s point of view, they look identical.”
The Modus windows, supplied and installed by Unique Window Systems, are tilt-and-turn so that they can be cleaned internally.

With many tenants expected to come from expanding local hospitals, acoustic improvements were said to be high on the menu of potential value-enhancing features. Orbit has beefed up the acoustic barriers between floors and has also added fitted blinds within the reveals of the windows to provide an additional noise cushion for shift workers who need to sleep during the day.

“We did not need to increase the specification for the windows: the existing specification from Eurocell provided the level of acoustic protection that we needed,” said Cooper.

With a 12-year guarantee, the Modus system is available in a range of colours and finishes, and is capable of a ‘U’ value of 1.2 W/m² using 4/20/4 mm sealed double-glazed units.

www.eurocell.co.uk

The post Modus goes into Orbit appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).