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Hurst Plastics’ has been announced as the recommended ongoing supplier of PVC-U door panels for customers who have previously bought from Phoenix Doors. The move follows the announcement by parent company Masco UK Window Group that Phoenix Doors is to cease production of door panels. Hurst Plastics, which currently manufactures more than 2,000 door panels a week at its dedicated factory in Kingston-upon-Hull, will fulfil orders for former Phoenix Doors customers from 3 November. These increased volumes will cement Hurst Plastics’ position as the UK’s largest manufacturer of door panels. Mark Atkinson, Hurst Plastics’ Sales Director, says: “We know that the panel market is mature and declining, but sales of Hurst Plastics’ door panels have actually grown for the last four years – albeit modestly. This performance shows that there is still demand for door panels, despite the growing popularity of composite doors, and we intend to continue supporting door panels while that demand is still there.

“Customers continue to buy panels from us because we have always invested in the range and we provide a dedicated support package for it. We’ve also helped the door panel to keep up with changing consumer tastes by constantly introducing new styles and colours. Our Modern Collection, for instance, emulates the look of a composite door and features a contemporary stainless steel trim which is very appealing. “We are pleased to be chosen to support Masco with their ongoing panel supply. Our relationship with Phoenix has always been a healthy and respectful one and they have been, and continue to be, a worthy competitor. I’d sincerely like to wish all the best to Neil Peck, who founded Phoenix Door Panels and is retiring and to some of the team who are moving on to pastures new.”

Hurst Plastics provides a comprehensive installer package for its range of door panels, which provides Hurst customers with all the resources they need to promote themselves and sell to the homeowner. It delivers full marketing and sales support, including access to product photography, fully personalised product literature and point of sale material. To satisfy market trends, Hurst constantly expands its panels range and even offers a collection of bespoke door styles. The door panels are available in a number of woodgrain and colourgrain options, including popular shades such as Chartwell green and anthracite grey. Door panels can even be personalised with bespoke glazing to create a completely unique glass design for a front door. Hurst Plastics is the only door manufacturer in the UK to offer digital printing direct on to glass, which allows installers to take a customer’s favourite photograph and reproduce it directly on to glass.

Over the last three years, Hurst Plastics has invested heavily in plant and machinery to increase the production capabilities of its two factories in Kingston-upon-Hull. This has enabled Hurst to boost production of both its composite doors and door panels, whilst maintaining excellent manufacturing standards. The firm also recently completed a £500,000 investment programme into new vehicles, which included the purchase of 15 delivery vans to deliver more than 99% of Hurst’s doors throughout the UK.

The post Hurst Plastics set to increase its PVC-U door panel business appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Home security specialist, Yale is the latest company to join the Made in Britain initiative, which champions British manufacturing by encouraging and developing the supply chain of UK-made goods. The Made in Britain marque is affiliated with companies that manufacture and sell goods in Great Britain, and makes it easier for customers to identify and recognise British-made goods. Paul Atkinson, Sales and Commercial Director for Yale Door and Window Solutions, comments: “The Made in Britain marque is an additional feature that is important to many people. As a globally recognised brand, Yale is able to highlight the importance of British manufacturing and help to maintain and create jobs in UK factories.

“We pride ourselves on our British heritage and have designed, developed and manufactured security products in the UK for over a century. Today, we have sites in Willenhall, Walsall and Cheltenham, illustrating our commitment to production in the UK. Yale produces door locks, window locks, patio locks, various types of window hinges, strikers and letterplates from its UK facilities and provides a proven and trusted level of production. John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, said: “Made in Britain is campaigning all year round to promote our 1000 members across 40 product sectors, raising awareness and celebrating companies that produce great products here in the UK. It’s exciting when more globally recognised brands like Yale get on board, joining the network that aims to help them sell more with the Made in Britain marque. Yale continues to boost its British base by investing in automation, demonstrated by the purchase of five on-site flexi presses. The most recent flexi press, purchased in 2012 has allowed Yale to bring product manufacture back into the UK from overseas. Yale is committed to producing goods of a high standard and is ISO9001:2008 accredited. This means that all Yale products are produced under the international quality management system EN ISO9001:2008. Additionally, Yale is ISO14001 accredited. This is an internationally recognised standard that specifies formulation and maintenance of an environmental management systems (EMS). For further information on the Made in Britain initiative visit, www.madeingb.org/. To find out more about the Yale Door and Window Solutions full product offering, please visit www.yaledws.co.uk or alternatively call 01902 366800.

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As it steps up its campaign to encourage more trade buyers to add timber windows and doors to their product portfolios, Allan Brothers has invested around £200,000 in new precision machinery. This is designed to enable the company to increase volumes and reduce lead times, whilst guaranteeing the craftsmanship and quality which has been its trademark since it was founded way back in 1811. The showpiece of the investment is a twin-bed SCM 5-axis CNC router with associated tooling, which has been installed at Allan Brothers’ Berwick-upon-Tweed factory. This is being used to profile all the products in Allan Brothers’ extensive timber door range, as well as the arched heads which are an option on its windows and doors. The router replaces a single bed 3-axis machine which had been in place previously, and brings with it greater flexibility thanks to the 5 axes. It also offers faster throughput because the twin bed enables it to be tandem loaded, with one side being machined while the other side is being loaded or unloaded.

Allan Brothers has built its reputation on craftsmanship and attention to detail at every stage of the manufacturing process and the new machine looks set to strengthen that reputation, delivering market-leading accuracy and precision. Wolfgang Gorner, Group Sales Director at Allan Brothers, said: “As a bespoke manufacturer, our priority was to choose a machine where the emphasis is on precision but also flexibility. With a 5-axis router like this, we can continue to offer customers a huge product range and the opportunity to personalise their doors however they choose, but we can also guarantee consistent quality and faster turnaround times.” www.allanbrothers.co.uk/trade

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The festive season not only brings presents, it also brings a welcome break from work for many people. This means that homeowners will most likely be spending a greater period of time at home, enjoying time with their friends and families. With this, feeling warm, comfortable and safe will become more apparent than during other times of the year.

Understandably, this will cause the market to lean towards more robust and secure home improvement solutions. To answer this demand, Sternfenster offers a wide selection of uPVC and aluminium products that excel in home security, achieving Secured by Design status and using the latest in multi-point locking systems to offer customers complete peace of mind.

A stand out option in the product range that all Sternfenster Approved Installers can offer their customers is the Secured by Design aluminium bi-fold door. This contemporary door option meets the security standards set forth by the official UK Police flagship initiative. Offering a unique design, the SBD aluminium bi-fold door allows you to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

By joining the Sternfenster Approved Installer Network, you’ll also be able to offer your customers products that operate in full compliance with the British Standard Kitemark. This includes the latest security standards BS7950 and PAS24, as well as high security internal beading, steel reinforcement; key locking handles, multi-point shootbolt locking and additional security claw locks.

Further expanding the unique offering from Sternfenster, the StyleLine range of windows and doors also achieve an enhanced degree of inherent security. By utilising a pioneering and innovative manufacturing process, this range benefits from the fact that no vinyl is lost at the corner joint which reinforces the frame and increases overall rigidity and robustness.

Not only will Network members gain access to a comprehensive selection of market-leading products, the Approved Installer Network also offers a range of support and marketing resources to help promote the quality on offer. By joining the Network, installers across the nation will be able to offer their customers the very best in class.

Secure your customer’s peace of mind this Christmas by becoming a Sternfenster Approved Installer. Call 01522 51 25 25 or visit www.sternfenster.com/join-our-network/ for information on how to grow your business with the very best products, support and marketing resources.

The UK Pavilion at FENSTERBAU FRONTALE 2018, hosted by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) will be bigger and better as some of the UK glazing industry’s highest profile organisations have signed up to co-exhibit at the world’s largest international trade fair for the window industry.

In 2016, the GGF set up and organised the UK Pavilion within the FENSTERBAU FRONTALE exhibition. For 2018, the GGF has more than doubled the size of the Pavilion with 200m² reserved to provide a designated area for 12 British companies to co-exhibit and reach a huge international market in excess of 100,000 trade visitors.

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE 2018 takes place in Nuremberg on 21-24 March and reflects the worldwide innovations in windows, doors and facades. Architects, carpenters, window and facade manufacturers, and the specialist trade will update on the latest profile systems, glass in architecture, fixing equipment, hardware, safety equipment, machines, installations and many more products.

All six organisations who co-exhibited in 2016 have once again signed up once to be part of the UK Pavilion.

As well as hosts, the GGF, the co-exhibitors who have re-booked include:

• Clearview – the UK leading trade magazine for the glazing sector
• GGF – the glass and glazing industry’s main trade body
• Glazpart – the leader in plastic glazing accessories and ventilation
• GQA Qualifications – the Glazing Industry’s Specialist Awarding Body
• RITEC International – developer and manufacturer of the only complete system for glass renovation, ‘non-stick’ protection and maintenance
• The FIT Show – the UK’s award-winning glass and glazing industry trade show

James Lee, GGF Director of Group Marketing commented on the increased size of the UK Pavilion:

“Following the success at the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau in 2016 and the interest we received after the event, we were keen to return in 2018, bigger and better than before. We will now be going from six co-exhibitors to twelve covering a broader spectrum of the industry. As a result, we have more than doubled the stand space and this will considerably increase the UK’s presence.”    

Paul Godwin, Managing Director of The FIT Show added:

“We are pleased to be part of the UK Pavilion once again because we acknowledge the strength of the event as an international showcase. Fensterbau is a powerful international event but for any company specifically targeting the highly buoyant UK window, door market The FIT Show will reach many thousands more visitors. The FIT Show therefore provides an excellent gateway into the UK market.”

Mick Clayton, GQA Chief Executive commented:

“We very much look forward to once again co-exhibiting with like-minded companies at Fensterbau on the UK Pavilion. It promises to be an exciting show where we can discuss GQA’s approach to skills development and recognition with international companies.”

Steve Sidebottom, Managing Director of Clearview magazine added:

“The UK Pavilion worked well for us in 2016 so we had no hesitation in booking our place for 2018. The Clearview Group has already built strong business relationships with European companies who are aiming to market their business and products in the UK. The UK Pavilion at Fensterbau provides a great platform for reaching more international customers.”

Derek Brown, International Sales and Market Development Manager, RITEC International Ltd commented:

“The British Pavilion at Fensterbau 2016 was a big success for RITEC and we generated a variety of quality leads from all over the world. Therefore we had no hesitation in signing up for 2018 because the show allows us to access prospective customers that would be difficult to reach through other marketing channels.”

On the UK Pavilion, participating companies will hold sales promotions, product demonstrations, video screenings and presentations as well as taking advantage of multiple networking opportunities. The GGF also has plans for a special party held on the Pavilion during the show in the form of a British Reception.

The GGF is pleased with the progress in the planning for next year’s FENSTERBAU FRONTALE and will soon be revealing the names of the new companies who have signed up to join the UK Pavilion as co-exhibitors. James Lee explained:

“We’re delighted that the five co-exhibitors from 2016 have signed up for next year and our plans are well underway. A further five companies are also in the pipeline to be part of the UK Pavilion and we’ll be releasing more details soon.”

If you are interested in co-exhibiting or visiting the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale in 2018, then please contact the GGF at marketing@ggf.org.uk

www.ggf.org.uk

Image Above: Winning project by Gelder Joinery Limited

An 18 year-old apprentice who helped land a six-figure business deal, a trainee cabinet maker with a mayoral bench to his name, an innovative mass-market fire door and a previously unsung health and safety hero have all been recognised in this year’s British Woodworking Federation awards ceremony, which took place on Friday 24th November and celebrated the passion and expertise that lies at the heart of the UK’s £3.8bn woodworking sector.

One of the highlights of the night was the Project of the Year award, which went to an ambitious and beautiful Edwardian home restoration in Oxfordshire, masterminded by Gelder Joinery’s team of just ten people (picture of Gelder Joinery Limited at the awards with Guest Speaker Graham Poll (l) and BWF CEO Iain McIlwee (r))

The event took place in the grand setting of London’s Drapers’ Hall, where attendees from all over the UK came together to celebrate the woodworking sector’s success and look forward to a jam-packed 2018. Graham Poll, one of the most successful English football referees of all time, provided an entertaining after-dinner speech, referencing the infamous moment he issued three yellow cards at the World Cup final in 2006.

“In a landscape of economic and business uncertainty, there was a real sense of energy and positivity during the evening,” said Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation. “People are genuinely proud to be in the woodworking sector and love what they do. From the many entries we had for the apprentice and trainee awards in particular, there is a sense that we are attracting some great new talent into the industry and offering rewarding career opportunities – something that needs to continue.”

The award winners were as follows:

Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by CITB)

The shortlist for the Apprentice and Trainee Awards with Guest Speaker Graham Poll (l) and BWF CEO Iain McIlwee (r)

Oliver Walker, 18 years old, of Gowercroft Joinery in Derbyshire, who was praised for his workmanship and eye for detail. Oliver’s work on a bespoke window sample for a property in Mayfair led to an order for windows and doors totalling over six figures (picture of shortlisted apprentices and trainees with Graham and Iain).

Trainee of the Year (sponsored by CITB)

Matt Brown from Warwickshire College was nominated by his tutor for his initiative and ambition. During his City and Guilds training course, Matt gained a commission to make a Mayoral bench for the grounds of Kenilworth Castle, which was highly praised.

Product Design in Wood (Sponsored by Teknos)

The team at Morland, based in Powys, Wales, were recognised for the design, innovation and technical excellence on their ABS Edge Banded Melamine Faced FD30 Fire Doors, beating two other hopefuls shortlisted in the category. The fire door was praised by judges for combining high-end quality with mass market budgets.

Process Efficiency (sponsored by W18)

AJB Group were recognised for their clear thinking and commitment to finding a solution to help drive their business performance and outputs forward. The company has invested heavily in its infrastructure over the past two years – over £2million has gone into new Plant machinery, a new factory and various processes, to ensure the business kept ahead in the marketplace.

Health & Safety Hero (sponsored by Didac)

Kevin Claughton, of Cotswold Manufacturing Ltd in Stockton-on-Tees, was recognised for his focus and commitment. By reviewing the COSHH arrangements and changes to the way hazardous waste was contained and stored at his business, Kevin was able to make a cost saving of £18k per year. Kevin was instrumental in Cotswold Manufacturing’s move to a new 89,000 sq ft factory, and has now trained 96 colleagues on health and safety matters – including the company directors.

Woodworking Project of the Year (sponsored by Accoya)

The Gelder Joinery Limited team at the awards with Guest Speaker Graham Poll (l) and BWF CEO Iain McIlwee (r))

Gelder Joinery’s restoration of an Edwardian house in Oxfordshire (pictured) was praised by judges for the project’s beautiful restoration, unparalleled detail and design excellence. In total, Gelder Joinery Limited supplied 32 windows, 12 door sets, three large garage door sets, a summer house with decorative roof structure, a stable block and numerous other items, all from its business of just ten employees.

Iain McIlwee continued: “We proudly represent the woodworking and joinery industry; our craft puts us at the heart of UK manufacturing.  We had a record number of entries for this year’s awards and it has reminded us again how outstanding and innovative the talent in the UK is; across both businesses and individuals. It’s fantastic to celebrate the fact that this great industry is continuing to thrive.”

Northamptonshire-based aluminium window, door and roof specialist, Alumen, ran its first ever open house event in November. Having recently moved to new premises with an impressive new showroom – and with a range of new products to launch – the manufacturer celebrated by opening its doors to the press, trade and public.

Running across four days, the open house event started with a press preview, followed by a trade-only day for Alumen’s trade customers. Alumen’s MD, Alan Robinson, took visitors through the company’s rise from a bi-fold door manufacturer working out of a shed 10 years ago, to the multi-range, multi-million pound aluminium specialist it is today. The presentation also drew on the company’s experience and insight to provide a positive analysis of the aluminium market and Alumen’s position within it. Finally, Alan went through the highlights of Alumen’s product offerings, including the exciting new range of Cortizo windows and doors they are launching into the UK market.

Visitors were then given the opportunity to inspect and discuss the manufacturer’s Schueco, Cortizo and Smart windows, doors and roofs up-close – including its new Cor-Vision Plus sliding door – followed by a tour of its new 15,000ft2 factory facility.

Commenting on the open house, Alumen MD, Alan Robinson said: “It was a pleasure to invite people to our new factory and showroom and show them what Alumen is all about. We may not be the most well-known name in the industry, but we’re very proud of what we do, how we’ve grown, and the products we’ve launched into the UK market. I think our visitors could see that and were impressed by it.”

Ken McMichael, Alumen’s technical director, commented: “We put a lot of hard work into building our new showroom, so it was good to see our visitors respond so well. They were very interested in the complete Cortizo package we’re launching, including our new Cor 70 casement and hidden sash tilt and turn windows, the Millennium Plus entrance door, the Alumen bi-fold and the incredible Cor-Vision Plus sliding door. Everything in the range is innovative and stylish, and yet surprisingly inexpensive. It’s refreshing to see well-priced products of such clever design being introduced to the UK market. Our visitors certainly seemed to be like what they saw.”

www.alumen.co.uk

The post Alumen opens its doors appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Following the recent purchase of the DecraLed range of stock and assets, UK insulated glass (IG) component manufacturer and supplier to the window industry, Thermoseal Group, has re-launched the www.decraled.co.uk website with a simple interim site to showcase its core decorative product ranges.

DECRA Led® adhesive lead strip and wide range of DECRA Glow® Films; DECRA Bevels®; as well as infused tiles and a multitude of decorative accessories are all part of the DecraLed range which has been manufactured to highest quality standards and developed with skills honed over 60 years in the industry before being further developed in Thermoseal Group’s multiple award-winning business.

The Group’s Sales Director Mark Hickox tells us:  “Having taken over the DecraLed brand and full product ranges, we felt that the websites on offer didn’t do them justice, so we have quickly launched a temporary site.  This website is reflective of the design we are currently working on for a new comprehensive website which will fully showcase the entire range of decorative products we have on offer.  It is also an online shop which will enable 24-hour purchasing worldwide. Look out for this in the early part of next year which should fall in line with our plans to expand the decorative range.

“Since the purchase of DecraLed, we have integrated its 2,000-plus product range into our extensive range of IG components on offer.  We have also made significant investments in enhancing the decorative manufacturing machinery and now have our own state-of-the-art design studio in Wigan. This studio will enable us to produce bespoke designs for our customers to incorporate into their own insulated glass products. This is the first in our planned developments to strengthen the DecraLed brand and provide new and innovative solutions to customers’ decorative requirements.”

To purchase any DecraLed products, please contact Thermoseal Group on 0845 331 3950 or Alternatively, e-mail your order requests to: sales@thermosealgroup.com.    

For further information on the full range of products available from Thermoseal Group, visit: www.thermosealgroup.com.