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Bennett Architectural has been chosen to provide glazing solutions for the refurbishment of Jaguar Land Rover’s showroom on Manchester Road in Knutsford.

The aluminium glazing specialist has reported that it will supply and install Kawneer aluminium doors and curtain walling as well as Pilkington Planar glazing; working alongside architect Taylor Design and contractor PE Jones Contracts.

Lionel Grant, managing director at Bennett Architectural, commented: “Our team has experience working on Jaguar Land Rover having made light work of the Whitehill showroom in Edinburgh last year.

“We’re delighted to be working with such a well-known brand again and have no doubt the Knutsford showroom will look spectacular on completion.”

The post Bennett’s wins Jaguar Land Rover contract appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Sliders UK has launched its new PAS24 and Part Q approved ‘intelligent timber’ Ultimate composite door

Manufactured using the new Capstone leaf, which features 15mm thick LVL timber inserts, Sliders UK says it is among the UK’s most secure doors.

‘Intelligently’ encased inside a foam core and GRP skin, these are said to provide additional core strength without impacting on thermal efficiency.

According to Sliders UK, this combination means that it not only achieves ‘U’ values of as low as 1.0Wm²K, but has also been independently tested to PAS24:2016 – including cut-through testing.

Security is further enhanced through Capstone’s patented three stage glazing cassette system, which is said to support easy replacement of glass but also maximise security.

Steve Mines, sales director at Sliders UK, said: “Security is always a major driver in entrance door retail and this is among the most secure doors on the market.

“The major positive for the trade is the way that the timber is used in the door not only makes it more resistant to attack – so that it’s Part Q approved – but encased in foam and GRP, there’s no chance of water ingress or warping. It also delivers great thermal performance.”

The combination of timber inserts and thermally insulating foam is also said to significantly reduce bowing, which means that the Ultimate composite door is supplied by Sliders UK with just a 3mm bowing tolerance.

“Bowing can cause a stack of problems and call-outs impacting on weather sealing and locking. With a 3mm tolerance, compared to the 5mm and 7mm tolerances of competitor systems, we’re underwriting through-life performance,” continued Steve.

Door furniture and hardware is Trojan, while standard hinges and locks are manufactured by Ingenious, with heritage and auto-locking options from Winkhaus. Door cylinders are six-pin anti-drill and pick as standard with the UKAS accredited 3-star BSI TS007 tested Ingenious cylinder, also available as an upgrade option.

Glass options include a choice of double or triple-glazed options, achieving ‘U’ Values as low as 1.0Wm²K including laminated and toughened options.

Available in lead times of five days or less, standard colours are black, red, blue, green, gold oak and rosewood, while a range of premium finishes are also available.

This is combined with a choice of standard or colour matched, fully reinforced Duraflex and Eurocell 70mm PVC-U outer frames and slim, low line aluminium thresholds with twin seals. Both Duraflex and Eurocell framed doors have been tested to PAS24:2016.

The post ‘Ultimate’ door launched appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

The CPA’s State of Trade Survey for 2018 Q1 shows that the £56 billion UK construction products manufacturing industry suffered a weak start to 2018, in a quarter that combined the liquidation of Carillion and several days of disrupted activity due to snow and freezing temperatures.

Heavy side manufacturers recorded the lowest balance in five years with 15% of firms reporting a decline in sales in Q1, following a previous quarter of falling sales in 2017 Q4. For light side manufacturers, no firms on balance reported either an increase or a decrease, which was the weakest performance since 2013 Q2. Construction product sales act as an early indicator of wider construction activity and these results signal a noticeable dip in total industry output for Q1.

Manufacturers anticipate a return to growth in the coming quarters, but rising costs continue to act as a headwind. 90% of heavy side manufacturers and 84% of those on the light side reported a rise in raw materials costs in Q1, whilst the same proportions reported an increase in wages and salaries. In addition, fuel costs rose for 90% of heavy side manufacturers.

Rebecca Larkin, CPA Senior Economist, said: “It was always unlikely that heavy side manufacturers would avoid the snow disruption, with aggregates quarries unable to operate and pauses in activities such as groundworks and bricklaying affecting demand for products and materials from construction sites. In addition, manufacturing capacity in this energy-intensive sector of the industry is likely to have been temporarily reduced by the National Grid’s gas deficit warning at the beginning of March.

“It appears from the forward-looking indicators that Q1 was just a weather-related blip, as 42% of heavy side manufacturers anticipate sales rising in Q2 and 37% see sales rising over the next 12 months. However, no light side manufacturers expect sales to increase in the next quarter and only 16% anticipate a rise over the course of the year, likely to reflect the lagged impact of any pauses in activity in Q1 on demand for these non-structural and finishing products that tend to be used nearer the end of the building process.”

The post CPA report reveals weak start to 2018 appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

G-Award Winners The Glazerite UK Group Ltd, one of the UK’s most respected fabricators, has become the latest high-profile brand to begin offering best-in-class blinds from HiTECH Blinds Ltd.

The long-standing national firm has built its business offering quality doors and windows using VEKA, Halo, and a host of other leading systems including Solidor, Warmcore and Residence Collection.

Now, after being named G17 Fabricator of the Year back in November 2017, The Glazerite UK Group Ltd has now expanded that product portfolio even further by offering Hitech Blinds.

The brainchild of industry veteran Nigel Greening and two experienced Directors from commercial aluminium fabricator AGF Ltd, Mike Yerrell and Michelle Scotney, HiTECH Blinds Ltd was formed to provide a better system than the existing integral blinds sector had to offer.

With the help of well-known integrated blind and IGU expert Ian Woolley, who was brought in to help grow the business, the Peterborough company has quickly become a force to be reckoned with – and after a previous supplier let The Glazerite UK Group down, HiTECH Blinds was their first port of call.

Glazerite Group Marketing Manager Michelle Wright comments: “We pride ourselves on offering one of the most comprehensive product ranges in the industry. We also like to offer our installers additional products and enhanced benefits that can help them close a sale or upsell. The partnership with HiTECH Blinds was formed initially because they have a blind system that met our demanding standards. We’ve got a reputation to keep, which is why we only work with the best brands in the industry. We’ll never offer our customers anything we’re not 100% happy with.

“We’ve known Ian for years now – and when he and the HiTECH Blinds team came up with an innovative new design, eliminating the common problems we’ve experienced with other products, we decided we had to take a look. We were hugely impressed – it’s a perfect fit for Glazerite and our customers.”

Successfully cycle-tested to 10,000 cycles, magnetically-operated HiTECH Blinds offer BS EN 1279 accreditation, along with a no-nonsense 10-year guarantee – twice that offered by any of the firm’s competitors with similar systems.

HiTECH Blinds is the only manufacturer on the market capable of offering dual-coloured slats to match dual-coloured frames. It can also produce double and triple-glazed units with Georgian bars and other decorative elements.

HiTECH Blinds Sales Director Ian Woolley commented: “It goes without saying – we’re thrilled to have one of the country’s best fabricators as a customer. It’s a massive vote of confidence in our team and our products, and we’re hugely excited to see what the future holds for our partnership with The Glazerite UK Group Ltd.”

For more information visit www.hitechblinds.co.uk or call 0330 6780 280

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The Veka Group has been awarded a certificate for being an armed-forces friendly company.

The Bronze Armed Forces Covenant Award comes from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff. It is presented to UK employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and committed to being ‘armed-forces friendly and open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners’.

By gaining the certificate, Veka Group joins around 60 Lancashire companies, organisations and clubs who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

Paul Armstrong, operations director, commented: “Veka employs around 400 people from Burnley and surrounding areas and as a company we always strive to support and encourage staff at every level, whether it be professional training or personal development.

“We know that if Veka staff are happy in their jobs, it benefits our customers across the industry. We recognise that the Army provides opportunities and training that go hand in hand with our own dedication to staff development and we are all extremely proud of the Armed Forces Covenant Award, which further demonstrates our commitment to people who’ve worked in the forces, and their families.”

www.vekauk.com

The post MoD award for Veka appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Kestrel wants its installers to fly high by offering more business support.

The fascia and cladding brand said its Approved Kestrel Installer scheme has been rejigged to include more training and marketing help.

“Our aim is to give installers the support they need so their businesses can thrive,” Kestrel sales and marketing director Owen Thorogood explained.

“We can offer classroom training, we have more point of sales materials and we will also list approved installers on the website and brand-new Kestrel app, so that their customers have added peace of mind.”

Approved installers are also able to generate market-leading 35-year guarantees from the app, which are then emailed direct to the homeowner.

They will also have access to a professional check-list for customers to show the job will be carried out correctly.

“Standing apart from the competition is crucial,” Owen added. “We want to make that easier than ever for installers.”

www.kbp.co.uk

SupaLite have been celebrating reaching the final shortlist for the ‘Construction Business Award’ at the prestigious Red Rose Awards 2018.

Celebrating the achievements of businesses across Lancashire, the Red Rose Awardsrecognises businesses across multiple sectors including construction, engineering, legal services and tourism. The Preston-based firm joined fellow finalists at the glitzy black-tie event at Blackpool’s historic Winter Gardens.

“We had an absolutely fantastic night at the Red Rose Awards, celebrating with the region’s biggest and best businesses,” comments Steve Hacking, Operations Director at SupaLite. “We are incredibly proud to have been nominated for the highly-sought after Construction Business Award alongside some of the county’s finest construction specialists, and to receive such strong recognition from our local peers for our SupaLite tiled roof system.”

“The SupaLite tiled roof has been helping fabricators and installers across the UK win new business, firstly as a quality retro-fit product to replace tired conservatory or orangery roofs, but also as a high-performance solution for exciting new-build projects. The versatility of the system, along with its quick and easy installation have generated high praise from the trade, and we’re delighted our home county feels the same.”

The firm’s nomination for the prestigious award follows a successful 12 months for the business. Not only has SupaLite launched a brand-new flat roof orangery system, but has strengthened its long-standing partnership with JHAI, providing SupaLite with its full accreditation for Building Control approval.

For more information call SupaLite on 01772 828060or visit www.supaliteroof.co.uk

Picture above: Simon Jarman and Mark Scaife

Following a period of substantial investment and strong revenue growth, Customade Group has announced the appointment of two well-known industry figures into senior roles.

The appointments of Mark Scaife and Simon Jarman will continue Customade Group’s journey to become the best fabricator in the UK and help the business to achieve its ambitious growth plans.

Mark Scaife has joined Customade Group as group chief operating officer. Mark is a stalwart of the industry, having worked for 10 years at Safestyle UK plc as group operations director and most recently as group technical director. Mark has many years’ manufacturing experience with several established blue-chip companies, which also included three and a half years at Masonite/Premdor where he successfully introduced lean manufacturing. With a solid background in managing manufacturing across multiple locations, he will oversee each of the group’s manufacturing sites to fully optimise their manufacturing capacity and support continued group-wide growth.

Simon Jarman, who joined Customade Group in 2016, has become managing director of Fineline Aluminium – a leading manufacturer of high end aluminium products. Simon has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry and has a strong track record in consumer-focused businesses, having spent seven years as chief executive officer at Everest. Based at Fineline Aluminium’s headquarters in Weston Super Mare, Simon will support the rapid growth of the business as homeowner demand for aluminium continues to rise at record pace.

Mark and Simon’s appointments follow a recent group-wide investment of more than £2.5 million to strengthen Customade Group’s range and capabilities and enable the business to deliver unmatched levels of service to help customers achieve long-term growth.

David Leng, group chief executive at Customade Group, said: “We’re delighted to have bolstered our senior team with these two key strategic appointments. The experience and skills that Mark and Simon bring will drive through a number of developments in our operations and help Customade Group to cement its position as a leading force in the industry. These heavyweight appointments, together with our recent investments, are the foundation of a magnificent future for the business and we’re looking forward to our next exciting chapter.”

Customade Group is a collective of specialised companies with a combined product portfolio that is unmatched by any other fabricator in the industry. Delivering a complete solution for customers with strong, established brands, including REAL Aluminium, Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, Polyframe, Virtuoso Doors and Fineline Aluminium, the full-service Customade Group can comfortably cater for the entire fenestration industry and is able to satisfy virtually any requirement a customer may have.

This market-leading range of products, which includes PVCu and aluminium windows and doors, composite doors, aluminium glazed roof products, sealed glass units and specialist glazing, is backed by an unrivalled service and support package which the group has rolled out across all divisions.

To find out more about Customade Group and its range of products, call 01453 826884 or visit  www.customade.co.uk

Leading door hinge manufacturer SFS has reported a successful four days at the Fensterbau 2018 exhibition, with the show providing the ideal platform for door manufacturers to explore why its latest range offers unparalleled adjustability, aesthetics and performance across every type of doorset.

Star of the show was the W-TEC 3D hinge range which SFS offers in any RAL colour to deliver a visually stunning result in contrast or to colour match. This highly engineered concealed hinge, available in two versions for standard and slim doors, provides a perfect solution for aesthetically-led heavyweight timber doors used in high-end residential, commercial and hospitality applications. The quality of W-TEC 3D’s design and manufacture leads the market with its excellent stability and mechanical adjustability enabling precise installation and delivering long term reliability.

Another popular hinge technology option for timber doorsets that attracted strong interest from visitors was the Easy 3D hinge. This well-established, stainless steel hinge range is well-liked by manufacturers and installers across Europe because of that fact it can be mechanically adjusted in three dimensions whilst fitted in situ. This makes it much easier to achieve a textbook timber door installation, every time.

In the UK, SFS is renowned for its Dynamic hinge ranges for PVC-U, aluminium and composite doors, and Fensterbau provided the latest insights into how this range continues to evolve.

Alongside the market-leading Dynamic 2D, which is designed to create high performance rebated doorsets thanks to its profile-specific sash plates, was Dynamic 3D. This offers the same highly engineered quality and aesthetic appeal, but with an additional level of adjustability. SFS also took the opportunity to showcase a concept version of Dynamic 3D which could present a future solution for flush-fit doors, subject to market feedback.

Nigel Wood, Director of Sales – Hinge and Fastening Technology at SFS said: “It was fantastic to see such a high level of interest in our hinge technology range across all four days of Fensterbau.

“Our European designed and manufactured products truly have raised the bar in terms of a hinge’s build quality, adjustability and visual appeal and we look forward to expanding our relationships with UK architects, joinery manufacturers and door fabricators to help the market benefit further.”

Architects can learn more about why the hinge choice is crucial to a secure, safe and durable doorset specification in SFS’s new RIBA-approved CPD seminar. This seminar is delivered at architects’ offices in a ‘lunch and learn’ format and can be booked online at www.sfsintec.co.uk in the Architects & Specifiers tab.

More information on the SFS hinge technology range, including brochures and technical data is available at www.sfsintec.co.uk.