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Epwin Windows Systems has won the BPF Energy Award 2017 for the facility BPF/F00150 within the Climate Change Agreement. The award was given in recognition of the company’s ‘considerable ongoing commitment’ to energy reduction throughout its Telford extrusion plant, where all main profile systems are produced.

In previous years the award was said to have been solely based around improvement in the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) Specific Energy Consumption (SEC). However, for the past two years the award has reportedly had a bias towards an absolute energy reduction criterion at facility level.

According to Epwin, it is a mark of success of the major investment that it has made during 2015/2016 in energy reduction in its manufacturing process.

The award was presented by the president of the British Plastics Federation on 12 October at the BPF annual dinner, which was held at the Lancaster Hotel, London and attended by 515 people from across the plastics industry.

Epwin Window Systems’ divisional operations director, Andy Bevan, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the BPF Energy Award 2017 for the facility BPF/F00150 within the Climate Change Agreement. This award can be given to any business in the plastics industry sector so to win it is a significant achievement. As a business, we are totally committed to reducing our carbon footprint across all areas of the business, particularly our manufacturing processes. We look forward to continuing to drive forward in our commitment.”

The post Going green appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

The fully thermally broken Stratus lantern roof from Synseal Group is on track to hit 1000 fully fabricated sales within its first year, on top of the success that Synseal’s bar length fabricators have found with this great new product. Sales of the aluminium lantern roof system have consistently grown every quarter since it was launched in September 2016 with customers loving the sleek aluminium exterior, slim sightlines and genuine thermal efficiency. Despite being launched at a typically quiet time of year, Stratus was an instant hit with Synseal’s roof customers, in part thank to a sneak peek at the 2016 FIT Show which whet their appetite for the fully thermally broken design. On show was the Contemporary style which supports the ridge solely by the hip rafters, creating a product which maximises the area of glazing in sizes up to 1.5m x 3m. For larger applications Stratus is also available in Two-way and Three-way styles up to an impressive 3m x 6m. The carefully designed thermally broken eaves beam has been finished in black so from a birds eye view, the perimeter appears as a discreet shadow line even on the largest Stratus lanterns. 

Looking back at the launch of Stratus last year, Synseal’s Andy Jones said:“We were signing up a new fabricator every week to sell Stratus when it first launched, and now have more than half of our roof fabricators offering Stratus in addition to their Celsius Solid Roof, Global and K2 products. Sales had been steadily increasing even through the winter months, and over this summer we’ve been selling more than 100 fully fabricated each month – a sign of the market demand for an aluminium lantern roof that has slimmer sightlines, discreet cappings and architectural styling that complements the growing trend for aluminium finishes in window and door applications. These stunning looks, coupled with thermal benefits of up to 65% better thermal efficiency than conventional aluminium systems, has proven to be a winner with our customers.”

The post 1,000 fully fabricated sales within first year for Stratus lantern roof appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Synseal Group shows no sign of slowing down as it launches its new WarmCore Inline Patio system this month, as promised at the FIT Show earlier this year. The aluminium patio dominated attention on the WarmCore stand at the exhibition in May as customers and competitors came to gauge the hotly anticipated new product from the WarmCore range. Developed with self-levelling, ten wheel roller sets sourced from Australia and a bi-directional lock, operated by Synseal’s unique vertically operating handle, the WarmCore inline patio is a modern take on a traditional homeowner favourite. The patio has been designed with a contemporary flush finish between the sash and outer frame, complete with the advanced thermal performance you’d expect from the latest member of the WarmCore family. WarmCore’s proven composite structure of a thermal PVC-U core encased in hardwearing aluminium has been adapted for an inline patio system that produces U-values of 1.4 W/m²K double glazed and is also available with triple glazing, producing U-values as low as 1.0 W/m²K. The patio has also been designed with modern touches including a thermally broken anti-separation bracket, protective safety break mechanism to prevent trapped fingers, and a thermally broken low threshold option.

Phil Parry, Head of R&D at Synseal Group, said: “We’ve been delighted with the interest the WarmCore patio has generated since we previewed the product at the FIT Show earlier this year and we’ve been inundated with calls from customers eager to add the patio to their WarmCore range as soon as possible. What we’ve developed is a new generation inline patio which we anticipate will be very popular as a sleek, aluminium replacement for outdated wooden and PVC-U systems, offering the unique combination of thermal excellence and aluminium aesthetics at an affordable price.”

The new WarmCore Inline Patio Door is currently available fully fabricated up to a maximum four-pane door style. Available in white and anthracite grey internal and external, with dual colour available on the same lead times. The patio system will be rolled out to bar length customers later in the year, when it will be available in mill finish for powder coating in any RAL colour.

The post The WarmCore patio is now available appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Fensa has announced the finalists for the FENSA Installation of the Year Award 2017.

The finalists for the Fensa Installation of the Year Awards 2017 – which according to Fensa is the only industry award covering 78% of the replacement glazing market and which is based entirely on direct customer feedback – are:

• Artisan Conservatories and Windows, Clwyd
• C R Gilbert, Conwy
• Derbys Future Installations, Derby
• Mike Evans (Windows), Wrexham
• OZ Windows, Exeter

Commenting on the Awards finalists, Chris Beedel, director of membership, said: “We are extremely pleased with the calibre and range of entries and it was an incredibly tough job to identify the finalists. It’s great to witness Fensa members’ work being valued and highly rated by homeowners.”

The runners-up will receive an award certificate and use of the Fensa Installation of the Year logo.

The Fensa trophy will be presented at the G17 Awards, held at the London Hilton on Park Lane, on 17 November.

The post Fensa finalists announced appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Many original MTC Cards are expiring this Autumn and through 2018 and need to be renewed.  Installers and surveyors should be wary over which card they use as some have switched from being personal cards to company cards that need replacing each time you change job.  Those working on a sub-contracting basis may need more than one company card!

The new CORGI Fenestration Skills Card is YOUR personal card.  It represents the ‘gold standard’ by only recognising the best qualifications in the glazing sector – those developed and certified by GQA Qualifications.  It says to homeowners and employers that you are one of the best in the business.

It could not be easier to upgrade.  If your existing MTC Card was issued by you achieving a GQA accredited NVQ then you automatically meet CORGI Fenestration requirements and can get a card straight away.  If your NVQ is about to expire you can easily complete a competency upgrade and get your card that way.

“A CORGI Fenestration branded Skills Card means you hold the best qualifications in the business,” commented Mick Clayton, GQA CEO.  “They are based on National Occupational Standards regulated by Ofqual and delivered by GQA licenced assessors – the most experienced assessors in the industry.”

The CORGI Fenestration Skills Card has a host of other added features including: it’s also an identity card;  it can be scanned to reveal your qualifications and any GQA accredited training held centrally on the CORGI Fenestration Skills Register;  it can also be a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, where appropriate.

For more detailed information and to apply for your card, visit:

www.corgifenestration.co.uk/trade/get-corgi-fenestration-skills-card-today/

The CORGI Fenestration Skills Card costs £30 (ex VAT) for a 12-month renewable card.