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In-line sliding patio door specialist PatioMaster, has announced that a new dealership, PatioMaster West Midlands, has opened for business in Telford.

Mark Westbrook, director of PatioMaster West Midlands, said: “The decision to join the PatioMaster network and manufacture PatioMaster doors was straightforward. We had been buying in the PatioMaster door for some years and we were fully aware that the product is the best in class thanks to its functionality and ease of operation.”

Commenting on the latest addition to the PatioMaster network, Carmen Velilla, PatioMaster’s brand manager said: “We are delighted to welcome PatioMaster West Midlands on board. We know from experience that Mark and his team’s commitment to quality is superb and we are looking forward to working with them as we continue to develop our market leading brand.”

According to PatioMaster, its inline sliding doors are perfect for design-conscious homeowners because of their ‘elegant aesthetics, superb quality and wide range of configurations’. Doors fabricated by PatioMaster West Midlands will be fitted with a 3 star cylinder as standard which means they will meet the requirements of Document Q. The company is said to be offering a wide range of colours and finishes while white patios are available on a five day turnaround.

The post Open for business appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

A new team member has been welcomed to support the growth of the REHAU PVCR recycling factory in Manchester. Luke Jones recently joined the team in the new role of Purchasing Manager for Feedstock, a position that signifies how important the growth of the recycling market is to REHAU and the anticipated growth of window profiles requiring recycling in the coming years.

The PVCR factory in Manchester is a recycling facility recovering post-consumer PVC waste, and turning this potential landfill into pellets that can be used to create new PVC window profiles at REHAU’s factory in Blaenau.

As more and more window PVC windows get replaced the need for PVC recycling plants will become more essential – particularly as the world seeks to dispose of less plastic.

“In the coming years we expect to see a huge growth in the number of frames requiring recycling,” said Luke. “My appointment is part of our growth to match this demand at PVCR. By 2019 we could see up to 27,000 tonnes of frames requiring disposal every year and without plants ready to take in this volume we will see a lot of this go into landfill. This would go against REHAU’s own commitment to being more sustainable, and it would also be in contrary to the worldwide push for less plastic disposal.”

The appointment is also interesting for Luke as his dad worked for REHAU in management of accounts around 20 years ago.

“It was interesting to start the role at the same company my dad once worked for,” he added. “Going forward I am confident that we will see good growth and reach our own goals through operating in a new way with these new positions and opportunities.”

The team will continue to grow to support further development of the PVCR facilities.

For more information visit pvcr.co.uk

As part of its newly launched Customer Charter, DOORCO, the UK’s largest independently owned composite door manufacturer, is proud to commit to promising 99% of its product range is in stock at any one time in order fulfil the stringent lead time and delivery promises.

“We believe that by setting out clear service level commitments, it shows our customers how much we value their business,” explains Jayne Sullivan, DOORCO’s Operations Director. “We live in a society where people don’t want to wait. Suppliers are expected to meet customer demands instantly – and you can’t do that unless you have the products ready and waiting. We have one of the largest stock holdings of composite door slabs in the UK, which means we can react quickly and effectively to meet customer demands. We’ve worked closely with our customers to understand what’s most important to them and we know that having stock available when they need it, is a priority.”

“One of the key drivers for us at DOORCO is achieving great customer service and satisfaction. It’s something we’ve strived for from day one and something which will continue to be at the heart of everything we do. Holding 99% of our product range in stock makes our customers’ lives easier, so it’s what we’ll do to ensure we are their composite door partner of choice.”

The DOORCO Customer Charter is a promise to deliver to products and service to a high standard. For more information call: 01625 428955 or visit: www.door-co.com.

Mike Derham, chairman of Angel Ventlock window restrictor manufacturer, Mighton Products, has made a further call for the UK to follow the United States in intensifying legislation and educational efforts to prevent young children falling from windows.

Mike highlighted National Window Safety Week, an initiative of the National Safety Council, which has linked with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to raise awareness about the dangers of children falling from windows in a campaign that took place during the first week of April. This is to further reduce the estimated 3,300 children ages five and younger, who are treated each year in U.S. hospital emergency departments. According to Mike, an average of eight deaths are also recorded annually – adding that 4,000 such accidents a year happen in the UK.

“In the United States there is far greater awareness of the dangers posed to young children of falling from windows than here in the UK,” said Mike. “Legislation is tougher but this is supplemented by public awareness initiatives including the National Safety Council, which even has a Window Safety Task Force that provides important information on how effective window safety practices and hardware can help significantly reduce the amount of window-fall related injuries.” Roto Frank of America, the US distributor of Mighton’s award winning window restrictor, has a representative on the Window Safety Task Force.

“Despite the work of the Child Accident Prevention Trust and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) legislation in the UK is comparatively poor, with the result that injuries and deaths to children caused by falling from windows are significantly higher pro rata then in the US.

“Legislation in the US imposes the ASTM [American Society for Testing and Materials] standard which helps prevent falls, educates parents and carers about window safety and defines standards for safety devices, especially those that prevent falls without interfering with emergency egress. ASTM standards are often used in the UK for other products so this is something that could so easily be remedied and without significant cost implications to anyone,” added Mike.

The post Call for increase in window safety appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Picture above: Caldwell Sinidex Lock

A best-in-class Sinidex security window lock is the latest innovation to be unveiled by hardware experts Caldwell.

The cutting-edge Sinidex Security Lock incorporates floating mushroom technology by the firm’s well-regarded subsidiary Cotswold, allowing it to offer robust security performance and excellent tolerance, even with sash drops of up to 6.5mm.

The high-specification product also includes bi-directional locking cams, and as well as being tested to PAS24 standards, comes with a Secured by Design accreditation and a ten-year guarantee.

The Sinidex security lock will eventually form part of a full casement window set from Caldwell, along with hinges and handles.

“The Sinidex security lock has been designed to offer industry-leading tolerance levels and excellent security,” comments Caldwell Sales Director Tim Ferkin. This new product allows fabricators to offer a fully accredited PAS24 product without the expense of other twin cams and shoot bolt systems currently on the market.

“We’re also extremely excited to be launching our complete casement window kit later in the year. Alongside the Sinidex security lock, we will be launching the all-new Ultra Stay. This will all be backed up with a 10 year “Cotswold commitment”. This all-new Sinidex casement package will provide fabricators with a high-level performance window, which is both PAS24 and Secured By Design accredited.”

Since its foundation in 1888, Caldwell has developed a reputation for its high-quality window and door hardware. The company now trades in international markets and, in 2014, Caldwell acquired UK-based manufacturer Cotswold Architectural Products – a company specialising in the fabrication of window stays.

For more information on Caldwell’s new Sinidex lock call 024 7643 7900 or visit www.caldwell.co.uk

Kalwall^® translucent cladding is the architectural focus of the new £55million development of Benenden Hospital in Cranbrook, Kent.

The scheme, designed by architects C A Vaughan Blundell with assistance from SR Architects Ltd, has created a wonderfully light and airy entrance atrium designed to welcome and create an enhanced patient and visitor experience with maximised natural daylight. The extensive breakout and catering facilities support theatres, en-suite rooms, outpatient department and ophthalmic suite along with diagnostic imaging, rest and recovery areas. The main contractor was Willmott Dixon Construction.

The Kalwall skylights provide additional light in the large atrium throwing (would ‘projecting’ sound better) it deep into the interior. They were specified complete with highly insulating Nanogel which achieves an impress U value of 0.28W/m2K, helping the project attain a Breeam status of ‘Good’. This is particularly impressive given the amount of curtain walling and clerestory glazing involved in the scheme.

The skylights have a unique ability to bathe interior spaces with diffused and glare-free daylight, which creates a stimulating and healthy environment. In addition, their heavily insulated composition eliminates glare and hotspots, thereby reducing the load on temperature control systems and the need for artificial lighting.

Geoff Holden, Senior Technician at C A Vaughan Blundell comments, “The use of Kalwall represented the best value balance of energy saving and cost and provided us with the ideal way to achieve spatial daylighting within the requirements of Part L”.

Kalwall is a popular choice for projects where performance, long life cycle and low maintenance are required, coupled with an aesthetic finish. The aluminium or thermally-broken grid core with interlocking I-beams gives Kalwall incredible strength. The lightweight system reduces the need for supporting structures while offering the highest protection in terms of wind-borne debris and resistance to impact, abrasion and point loads. The exterior face is colour stable and includes a UV resistant, self-cleaning surface. This means that normal rainfall helps to keep the surface free of dust and dirt while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process. Furthermore, the inclusion of an erosion-prevention barrier protects the interior from weather exposure and the risk of fibre-bloom, cracking and crazing.

Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd on tel: 01233 501 504 or by visiting www.structura-uk.com/kalwall

Independent certification and testing is extremely important to Bereco, supplier of high quality, high specification windows and doors, and after a recent switch, it’s Bluesky Certification who is delivering the complete package.

“We do a lot of product testing to give customers complete peace of mind,” says Nicola Harrison, General Manager at Bereco. “Timber windows have been maligned over the years, so we tackle the misconceptions about the quality and longevity for timber windows and doors with certification. That’s why we test all our products to a much higher level than other timber window and door manufacturers. We like the unequivocal proof that comes with the independent testing and certification. Our windows and doors provide low maintenance and an impressive 60-year life span.

“With Bluesky Certification we have joined the schemes for General Performance Windows and Doors, and Enhanced Security Windows and Doors to meet the requirement for Secured by Design. Also, we have certification for our advanced coating systems, to provide independent verification of the quality of our finish.

“We like to have everything backed up. Whether it’s for commercial customers or trade, we are always looking for ways to make our high-performance windows and doors stand out. The next one to be added is Bluesky’s acoustic scheme. We are launching it alongside a white paper on acoustics which includes information on links to health and wellbeing.

“We rely on our certification provider,” adds Nicola. “We need fast response times and one to one support from a company we trust. We already knew Simon Beer and how he works, so when Bereco was looking to get a more comprehensive service from its certification provider, it was an easy decision to switch to the team at Bluesky Certification.”

www.blueskycert.com

Independent weather testing, delivered in partnership with The Residence Collection, has reportedly returned a series of top passes for HWL Trade Frames’ new frame-only supply Residence 9 window.

The specialist trade fabricator says it has led the development of an R9 frame-only offer, pioneering the application of Timberweld sash-welding technologies in its manufacture.

According to HWL, this process increases sash corner strength, which in most configurations eliminates the requirement to glass bond IGUs, which have historically been used in R9 fabrication to give the system structural strength.

Supported by the Residence Collection, the HWL window was put through a series of independent tests last month [March].

These delivered a series of top-rated passes under BS EN 6375 – 1 weather testing.

Graham Howatson, director of HWL Trade Frames, said: “We’ve always had a high degree of confidence in our manufacturing process because of the time we have invested in its development and in our own in-house testing programme. The independent results we’re now seeing are an affirmation of that.

“While we will continue to offer glass-bonded windows as an option, it means installers can access R9 on a frame-only basis, which allows them to lower their costs but which also delivers so much more in flexibility and ease of installation, removing a barrier which has put off a section of the market.

“Handling is far easier because you’re removing the weight, they can order glass from their usual supplier and if an IGU is damaged or fails, it can be replaced far more easily than in a glass-bonded window.

The BS EN 6375 – 1 test results, conducted by Exova, give HWL’s R9 Timberweld window an Exposure Category of 1600, a Class 3 Air Permeability Rating (600pa); a Class 9A (600pa) Water Tightness Rating; and top Class C4 (1600pa), resistance to wind.

The window is also currently under-going PAS24 security testing, with results expected later this month.

HWL’s launch of its frame-only R9 offer follows an extensive developmental programme, which gives HWL an almost unique capability in the UK to butt weld window and door sashes inside and out.

This replicates the aesthetic delivered in a 90° mechanical joint but also delivers a significant increase in the structural strength of the sash.

Graham continued: “R9 is a highly innovative system. We have embraced that spirit of innovation to move forward again by accessing new manufacturing processes to fabricate a window with an identical aesthetic, but which makes installation far, far, easier.”

He concluded: “R9 has and enjoys incredible market reach. Being able to fit it more easily and to source glass locally, is a key competitive advantage for any retail businesses reducing supply costs and increasing opportunities to build in margin over their competitors.”

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