Aug/Sep 2020
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AUG/SEPT 2020
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING
ALUMINIUM ROOF
LANTERN
“Being voted
Best Rooflight Supplier
is a reflection of how well
regarded Korniche Aluminium
Systems/Made For Trade is
amongst its customers and
the industry”
Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2020
>>> • GLASS • WINDOWS • DOORS • MACHINERY • HARDWARE • >>>
TOTAL Fabricator Cover - AUG/Sept 2020.indd 1 17/08/2020 12:47
We’re ready
Editor’s Comment
SOPHIE STEVENS
EDITOR
SOPHIESTEVENS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK
01892 732047
WWW.TOTAL-FABRICATOR.CO.UK
THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING
ALUMINIUM ROOF
LANTERN
With the Green Homes Grant scheme set to commence in September,
we’ve finally gained concrete clarification from the government: windows
(where single glazing is replaced with double) and energy efficient doors
will be included in the scheme, but only as a ‘secondary measure’.
Although not exactly a bombshell – as many in the sector had suspected the
eventual outcome before it was officially announced – the news has been
met with both disappointment and optimism. While the GGF laments that
the scheme offers ‘very little’ for the glazing sector, other industry voices are
tentatively positive about the opportunities it could create – especially for the
door market. Ultimately, as Emplas MD Ryan Johnson explains on page 32,
demand “will depend on the uptake of the scheme, where consumers put their
money and how much is left over after it has been spent on primary measures”
– but in Ryan’s opinion, “it has the potential to be big.”
Only time will tell if the Green Homes Grant turns out to be a damp squib or a
golden goose for the glazing sector, but in the meantime, there is plenty more
going on in the world of widows and doors...
On page 22 of this issue, Senior Architectural Systems’ James Keeling-Heane
explores how fabricators can secure work in the busy education sector, and
with ‘building back greener’ at the heart of the Prime Minister’s strategy to
rebuild Britain post-lockdown, Metal Technology’s Calvin Wilson talks to Total
Fabricator about the company’s extensive efforts to increase sustainability and
reduce its environmental impact on page 24.
Advertising:
“Being voted
Best Rooflight Supplier
is a reflection of how well
regarded Korniche Aluminium
Systems/Made For Trade is
amongst its customers and
the industry”
Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2020
Cover courtesy of Made For Trade. Find out more about their
award-winning Korniche roof lantern on page 12.
TOTAL Fabricator Cover - AUG/Sept 2020.indd 1 17/08/2020 12:47
CONNECTING THE WINDOW & DOOR FABRICATORS SUPPLY CHAIN
Publishing Director: Andy Dunn
DD: 01892 732 047
Mob: 07963 330777
Email: andydunn@media-now.co.uk
Commercial Manager: Jake Roxborough
DD: 01892 732 047
Mob: 07956 133314
Email: jakeroxborough@media-now.co.uk
Editorial Director: Matt Downs
DD: 01892 732 047
Mob: 07963 330774
Email: mattdowns@media-now.co.uk
The content of Total Fabricator magazine (and website) does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers and
are the views of its contributors and advertisers. The digital edition may include hyperlinks to third-party content, advertising,
or websites, provided for the sake of convenience and interest. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising
from information in this publication and do not endorse any advertising or products available from external sources. No part
of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers. All rights
reserved.
Read on for all of this and much more from the likes of Distinction Doors,
Elumatec, FIT Show, Smart Ready and Saint Gobain Glass to name a few...
I hope you enjoy the issue.
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Sophie
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CONTRACTOR NOW_66x190mm_Bifold 2020.indd 1 28/07/2020 11:43
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 TF 3
Contents
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
14
14 BLAZING A TRAIL
Total Fabricator hears how how one
manufacturer is responding to the skills crisis
22 SMART CHOICES
James Keeling-Heane of Senior Architectural
Systems explores the valuable opportunities
offerd by the education sector
48 AMAZING GLAZING
Jenni Young of Saint-Gobain Glass explains
why choosing the right type of glass is so
important when it comes to glazed extensions
FEATURES
18
18 SHAPING UP TO EXTRUDE?
Could the desire to put distance between themselves
and their competitors prompt more fabricators to put
down tooling and extrude their own products?
28 CARE AND CONNECTION
Distinction Doors’ Sarah Denham explains why it’s
important to maintain communication with colleagues
and customers in socially distanced times
22
34 CALM IN A CRISIS
Elumatec’s Neil Parton on why the machinery supplier
is a safe pair of hands in turbulent times
40 SMART SHOWING
Smart Ready gets set to wow at next year’s FIT Show
48
4 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
REGULARS
38 FIT SHOW UPDATE
FIT Show’s Nickie West provides her top five
reasons to exhibit in 2021
50 TALKING POINT
Dominic Dumville of Mercer & Hole, argues that
controversial pre-pack rescue deals can have
some redeeming features
38
SECTIONS:
WINDOWS
22
DOORS
28
MACHINERY
INDUSTRY NEWS
06 GREEN HOMES CLARITY
The government has confirmed that windows and
doors will be included in the Green Homes Grant scheme
as a ‘secondary measure’
08 NEW ACOUSTIC RATINGS
BFRC, the provider of energy ratings for windows and
doors, has launched the new noise reduction rating
scheme in response to homeowner demand
34
HARDWARE &
ACCESSORIES
40
GLAZED
EXTENSIONS
08
48
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 T F 5
Industry News
NEW INITIATIVE SET TO
FOLLOW GREEN HOMES
With the Green Homes Grant due to end
on March 31st 2021, the scheme is set
to be followed by further government
initiatives to increase the energy
efficiency of the UK’s housing stock.
Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk
CLARITY ON GREEN HOMES GRANT SCHEME
Speaking to Total Fabricator’s
sister title, Total Installer,
Jon Vanstone (left),
chair of Certass and
Certass TA revealed the
‘Home Upgrade Grant’ is
due to start in April next year.
With the government’s net zero emissions
targets designed to combat climate change,
Jon said: “This is the start of a journey to
2050; we need to upgrade over 20million
homes, so we know we’re a long way out
– they reckon there’ll be about 600,000
vouchers for [the Green Homes Grant], so
you’re upgrading 600,000 homes; that’s
just around 3% of those that need to be
upgraded so there’s got to be more to
follow... We’re not clear on the details for the
Home Upgrade Grant; it’s coming down the
road and over time we want to make sure
glazing is right and ready.”
With the Green Homes Grant scheme set to
commence in September, some details of its
implementation are yet to be confirmed by
the government [at the time of writing].
Discussing the inclusion of energy efficient
doors as a secondary measure, Jon said:
“We know it includes replacement of doors
pre-2002... But they haven’t quite worked out
what standards the replacement door needs
to meet – the issue is the fire rating of doors
following Grenfell. Just because a door is
energy efficient does not mean it is up to the
same fire resistance level as the one being
replaced. Further guidance is expected on this
as government will not want, especially in
flats, a reduction in fire resistance.”
The government confirmed this month
(August) that windows and doors will be
included in the Green Homes Grant scheme as
a ‘secondary measure’, bringing much-needed
clarity to the fenestration sector.
However, the scheme will only be applicable to
double or triple glazing where replacing single
glazing, or secondary glazing in addition to single
glazing. Upgrading to energy efficient doors will be
applicable as part of the scheme where replacing
doors installed prior to 2002.
Works included in the scheme are split into
‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ categories and
households will need to install at least one of the
primary measures – comprising insulation and
low carbon heat works – to be eligible to install
secondary measures as part of the scheme.
As well as windows and doors, further secondary
measures include draught proofing, heating
controls and further insulation measures.
Installers must register for TrustMark or
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
accreditation to take part in the scheme.
Commenting on the clarity achieved for the
fenestration sector, Mark Kelly, CEO at Eurocell,
said the initial confusion over glazing’s inclusion
in the scheme had been “a real setback to the
industry”, but now we “know exactly where we’re
at... fabricators and installers alike, can return
quickly to servicing the needs of our customers
and building the sector back up.”
Elsewhere, the Glass and Glazing Federation
(GGF) expressed disappointment at the
government’s clarification, with John Agnew, GGF
managing director, stating: “Now that the details
have been confirmed it is clear there is very
little in this [Green Homes Grant] scheme for the
glazing industry.”
In a similar vein, Chris Beedel, director of
membership for FENSA, said: “Frustratingly,
the Green Homes Grant scheme will be seen
as a missed opportunity by everyone across
the glazing industry... even the relatively few
homes to which the Green Homes window and
door grants will now apply, can only be installed
by companies who have additionally been
certificated against the PAS2030 standard,
when the opportunity should have gone to all
FENSA Approved Installers and other government
sponsored competent persons schemes.”
He added: “We firmly believe the glazing
industry has a major role to play in hitting energy
efficiency targets and FENSA will continue to
engage with the Department for Business, Energy
& Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to ensure that
government sees the positive contribution that
replacement windows and doors can make to the
energy efficiency of homes in the UK.”
6 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Industry News
REFORMS TO OVERHAUL
‘BARRIER TO BUILDING’
“An overhaul of the country’s outdated
planning system that will deliver the highquality,
sustainable homes communities
need” has been announced by Housing
Secretary, Robert Jenrick, as he launched
the Planning for the Future consultation.
Described as “the most significant reforms
to housing policy in decades”, a statement
from government explains that the “landmark
changes will transform a system that has
long been criticised for being too sluggish in
providing housing for families, key workers
and young people, and too ineffectual in
obligating developers to properly fund the
infrastructure – such as schools, roads and
GP surgeries – to support them.”
Billed as a major boost for SME builders
“currently cut off by the planning process”,
the reforms outlined in Planning for the
Future are designed to allow for more building
on brownfield land so valued green space
and green belt will continue to be protected,
with “local community agreement at the
centre of the proposals being put forward.”
NEW ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE RATINGS
Window and door manufacturers can now offer
customers increased confidence in the acoustic
performance of their windows and doors, thanks
to a new, independently verified noise reduction
rating scheme.
BFRC, the provider of energy ratings for windows
and doors, is launching the new noise reduction
rating scheme in response to homeowners who
are increasingly demanding higher levels of
quality assurance. Not only must new windows
and doors ‘look the part’, BFRC says homeowners
also expect features including proven noise
reduction performance.
The independently verified BFRC Noise Reduction
Scheme promises to be ‘a huge selling point’ for
manufacturers, who will be able to show their
customers how their windows and doors compare
to the competition. The labels provide an easy to
understand system for homeowners, and in turn
show a commitment to customer satisfaction,
guaranteeing the quality of a product and ensuring
it stands out from competitors.
New labels have been designed for the scheme,
using the BFRC’s label system, giving an instantly
recognisable comparison against another
product’s acoustic performance, and providing
installers and homeowners with evidence
that window and door products will deliver as
promised. Marketing materials have also been
designed and will be made available to customers.
Lis Clarke, BFRC’s operations director, said:
“There’s been a huge amount of work involved
in getting [the Noise Reduction Scheme] to
this stage and it’s very exciting to see how the
industry will take advantage of a new product
coming to market... Being able to prove the
acoustic performance of [BFRC customers’]
windows and doors, as well as proving energy
performance with BFRC ratings, is a huge boost
and provides a genuine USP as to why their
products should be used over those who make
unsubstantiated claims.”
GGF LAUNCHES TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION INITIATIVE
Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has
announced a new partnership with Total
Support Training to provide a ‘substantial
training resource’ for GGF members and the
wider industry.
The partnership includes, full course, short course
and bespoke and remote training, as well as
certification to NVQ level. Through Total Support
Training, the GGF under the brand ‘GGF Training’,
will offer courses that are open to all companies
and individuals in the industry, with GGF members
enjoying discounted rates.
Total Support is an approved GQA Centre which
has been providing courses and NVQs to the glass
and glazing industry for 11 years.
Sharon Alderton, managing director, Total Support
Training, added: “Our team look forward to
meeting and talking to members on how we can
support their business and training needs in these
challenging times.”
Visit: www.ggf.org.uk/training/ to see the range of
qualifications and courses available, or if you are
a GGF member and are interested in becoming a
trainer, email: training@ggf.org.uk
The GGF (with member input) and Total Support
will also work together to develop the current
range of training opportunities to help improve the
specialist skills and knowledge of those working in
the glass, glazing and fenestration industries.
The Total Support Training team celebrated a decade of training the glazing industry last year
8 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
This label is not a statutory requirement. It is a voluntary label provided as a customer service to allow consumers to make informed
decisions based on the noise reduction performance of competing products.
© Only to be reproduced by permission of British Fenestration Rating Council Ltd
This label is not a statutory requirement. It is a voluntary label provided as a customer service to allow consumers to make informed
decisions based on the noise reduction performance of competing products.
© Only to be reproduced by permission of British Fenestration Rating Council Ltd
the benefits with BFRC
Noise Reduction Ratings
Noise Reduction
Noise Reduction
Window
Company Name Ltd
PVC-U Casement Window
A Rated Windows
Noise Reduction (R w )
(In accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 or
BS EN 14351.) Actual acoustic performance for a
specific application depends on: the type and
location of the external noise, the location of the
window or door, and how the elements or fabric of
the building perform.
A ++
A +
A
B
C
D
E
Correction for high frequency and low
frequency (C,C tr )
Licence No. 123456
A ++
Company Name Ltd
Composite Door
A Rated Doors
Review Date: 03/08/2020
51
(-1,-4)
To verify this licence please contact
enquiries@bfrc.org
Noise Reduction
Door
A ++
A +
A
Noise Reduction (R w )
B
C
D
E
(In accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 or BS EN 14351.)
A ++
51
Licence No. 123456
Review Date: 01/01/2019
To verify this licence: enquiries@bfrc.org
British Fenestration Rating Council
Prove acoustic performance with BFRC ratings
BFRC Noise Reduction Ratings let you prove the
acoustic performance of your window and door
products with our highly recognised ‘rainbow’
rating label - independent, impartial, trusted.
Homeowners no longer select new windows and
doors simply based on price. They want to know
what they purchase will improve their home’s
comfort, so product performance is now a priority.
Find out more at bfrc.org
By using the renowned BFRC rating scale to
demonstrate the noise reduction properties of your
windows or doors, you can show installers and
consumers the quality of your products.
Your products will stand out from your competitors’
and you’ll be able to avoid a race to the bottom
on price. Sell using BFRC proven performance and
leave your customers in no doubt.
Industry News
FMB CALLS FOR
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Construction is bouncing back from
historically sluggish activity levels during
the coronavirus lockdown, but this
relative optimism must be converted into
long-term growth and jobs, according to
the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
The latest UK construction PMI data shows
output rising for the second month in a row,
largely driven by house building, however, job
losses have begun, with 34% of respondents
reporting a fall in employment over the period.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB,
said: “The government must build on recent
support for construction by bringing forward
longer-term investment that will avoid
the industry falling off a cliff edge when
emergency measures to support the economy
come to an end early next year. With Help
to Buy, Stamp Duty holidays and the Green
Homes Grant all being wound down by the
second quarter of next year, it’s essential
to avoid a boom and bust cycle that further
risks job losses and more precarity.”
25 REDUNDANCIES ANNOUNCED AT VEKA
Burnley-based PVC-U window systems
David Jones, managing director of Veka plc,
company, Veka, has reported that 25 jobs have said: “Having started the process on Monday
been made redundant, having concluded its 15th June, establishing an employee elected
consultation process.
committee responsible for taking group redundancy
consultations, we have followed it to its conclusion.
The systems house had warned of potential job
Fortunately, throughout the process, working with
losses earlier this year, after a drop in sales
our committee, we were able to reduce the impact
forced a business review.
from an estimated redundancy of 78 roles to 25.
Having taken all available actions to ensure it This equates to 6.5% of our workforce and reflects
remains a ‘successful and sustainable business’, the new scale of the business.”
Veka says the coronavirus pandemic resulted in
He added: “Although I’m saddened that [Covid-19]
the failure of two important customers.
has resulted in losing valued employees, by adapting
This, Veka says, has had a substantial impact, and acting responsibly to ensure the sustainable
forcing a review of the company’s ongoing success of the business, Veka plc is not just here
requirements to reflect the loss of business. for now, but for the future and for life.”
VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE PREDICTS TOUGHER START TO 2021
The industry will continue to see high levels
of demand through to the end of the year
but should brace itself for tougher trading
conditions at the start of 2021, according to
participants in a recent virtual roundtable
conducted by fabricator, Emplas.
Panellists on the Covid-19 Emplas Roundtable
said that the boom seen in retail and new-build
had far exceeded their expectations.
While there was an expectation that high levels of
demand would continue through to the end of this
year, members of the forum warned of tougher
trading conditions at the start of 2021.
Ryan Johnson, managing director, Emplas,
said: “What is clear is that everyone has seen
exceptional demand over the summer and
with order books still very strong, there is an
expectation that this will continue through to the
end of the year.
“It’s what happens after that that remains less
certain,” he added.
In addition to Johnson, the event, held in July,
was attended by Clare O’Hara, managing director,
Epwin Window Systems; Thom Emerson, sales
and marketing director, Ideal Window Solutions;
Mark Pearce, managing director, KJM Group; and
representatives of industry media.
With topics of conversation including the Green
Homes Grant, Thom Emerson summed up the
mood when he compared it to the Green Deal and
another “missed opportunity”.
The boom the industry had seen at the easing of
lockdown was another subject of debate, with all
those in attendance reporting a major uplift in
demand.
This, however, was highlighted as putting
pressure on the supply chain, with the two
installers ‘in the room’, KJM Group and Ideal
Window Solutions, reporting extended lead times
and order books.
The uncertainty created by Covid-19 and the
risk of future localised lockdowns was a shared
concern, with KJM’s Mark Pearce highlighting the
importance of keeping customers and employees
safe going forward.
10 TF AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF
•The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF)
annual conference has been reformatted
to an online event, to be held on 29th &
30th September and 1st October.
GGF Members’ Day incorporating the
annual general meeting was originally
scheduled for Manchester on 30th September
but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event
has been replaced with a new digital event
titled ‘Members’ Week’.
The three day event will include guest
speakers/panellists, presentations, webinars
and online forums covering a range of topics. To
book a place, visit: www.ggf.org.uk/membersweek-virtual-events-book-your-place-now/
• Despite industry outcry over the ‘damaging’
Green Homes Grant announcement (made
in early July), early signs indicate that the
scheme had a “minimal impact if any, on
homeowner purchasing decisions”.
In his headline analysis of the Business Pilot
Barometer, (Edition 7. May/June/July 2020),
Neil Cooper-Smith, senior analyst at Business
Pilot said: “We won’t see the full impact until
we have figures for August but the early signs
are that it has had a minimal impact, if any, on
homeowner purchasing decisions, or at least if
it has, other buyers have stepped in.”
•Mackenzie Glass has said it continues to
be able to offer a comprehensive product
range and remains ‘well supported’ by
its suppliers as the glass supply chain
‘creaks’ under the pressure of exponential
growth in demand for glass since the
easing of lockdown.
Mark Herbert, joint-MD, Mackenzie Glass,
said that while Mackenzie remains “in a
position of strength”, it is “clearly very tight out
there and shortages are a very real challenge.”
He added: “We don’t necessarily see that
changing this year” and the situation “could be
made worse in the early part of 2021.”
EUROCELL LOOKS FORWARD TO STRONG
WINDOW AND DOOR SECTOR POST-COVID
Eurocell says that it is in a strong position to
move forward from the Covid-19 lockdown
and ensure its fabricator partners can source
the products and services they need as the
industry gets back on its feet.
In its recent trading update, the manufacturer,
distributor and recycler of PVC-U window,
door, conservatory and roofline systems stated
that by the end of June, all bar one of its sites,
including manufacturing plants, branch network,
distribution and recycling operations, were open.
Eurocell says the speed at which it has returned to
operations means that it is well placed to support
the window and door industry as it recovers from
the lockdown. Since re-opening in May, Eurocell’s
branch network has been busy fulfilling orders, with
a 6% increase in sales in June compared to the
same period last year. The trade sector has been
exceptionally busy, with many fabricators reporting
order levels well above the seasonal average.
The trading update outlined that sales were very
much in line with expectations to the end of
March and despite the closure of operations for a
period, the company achieved £94 million for the
first six months of the year. The return to work in
May saw sales rising rapidly and the company
was able to take on additional business through
market share gains in the roof sector and the
introduction of new products including a range of
outdoor living solutions.
In order to further ensure that it can meet a
growing demand for its products, Eurocell is
continuing with plans to open a 260,000ft 2 ,
state-of-the-art warehouse in early 2021. This
warehouse will improve Eurocell’s capacity while
providing a number of operational efficiencies.
Ian Kemp, sales director at Eurocell, said: “In line
with the government’s guidance, we temporarily
closed plants, distribution and recycling
operations on 23rd March. When the guidance
changed in May we began a phased reopening
while taking care to maintain good health and
safety performance, with safe working practices
for Covid-19 implemented across the business.
We know that many people in the building industry
have been concerned about the reliable supply
of materials due to the disruption caused by the
Covid-19 pandemic. The actions we’ve taken to not
only reopen the business but actively grow it means
that we are well placed to work with fabricators and
our partners in the glazing industry to collectively
navigate a way back to normality.
“Our commitment to providing the industry with
what it needs goes further than just getting back
to the way things were at the beginning of the
year, as we’re also increasing our operations with
a new warehouse so that we can provide a better
service than ever before.”
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 TF 11
NOW IS THE TIME TO ADD THE KORNICHE
ALUMINIUM ROOF LANTERN TO YOUR PRODUCT
PORTFOLIO
Another huge success for Made for Trade and the
team at Korniche Aluminium Systems with the
announcement of ‘Best Rooflight Supplier’ 2020
from the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards.
This award really is the cherry on the top and
the latest in a string of awards that the Korniche
Lantern has picked up over the past two years.
The statement from Homebuilding & Renovating
sums this up: “This was an exceptionally strong
category with many great entrants. As such, being
voted Best Rooflight Supplier is a reflection of
how well regarded Korniche Aluminium Systems
/ Made for Trade is amongst its customers and
the industry.”
This success compliments the work and
marketing activities that Made for Trade have
carried out within both the consumer and trade
sectors. There is a significant benefit to Korniche
customers from having such high profile brand
activity that assists sales through a greater
product understanding at the consumer level.
Looking forward to 2021, Made for Trade have
new products in the pipeline that will sit within
the Korniche brand and a full diary of exhibitions
earmarked throughout the year to promote
them.
Looking forward to 2021, Made for Trade have new
Korniche products in the pipeline and a full diary
of exhibitions earmarked throughout the year to
promote the Korniche brand.
To celebrate the awards and update the consumer
marketing support on offer to their trade clients,
Made for Trade have re-designed their Korniche
Lantern brochure. Coupled with showroom offers
and additional marketing collateral - Now is the time
to be on board with the Korniche brand!
For more information and to pre-order the new
Korniche Aluminium Lantern Brochure email
marketing@madefortrade.co with your requirements
and following code: KS2020.
For more information and to keep up to date with all
Made for Trade products see their website:
www.madefortrade.co
THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING
ALUMINIUM ROOF
LANTERN
Struggling
with supply ?
Request a Made for
Trade quote today
and let’s get you
building...
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Skills & Recruitment
BLAZING A TRAIL FOR TRAINING
Covid-19 has been a distraction from another threat to business – the skills crisis. With new
controls on immigration coming into force from the end of this year, Total Fabricator finds
out how one manufacturer is preparing...
Brexit – do you remember it? It may seem
inconsequential now, but while we’ve been
focussed on keeping our collective ‘heads
above water’ during COVID-19, it hasn’t gone
away, and whichever side of the fence you sat on,
there are things you need to consider.
Emplas’s head of HR, Judith Chadwick
(pictured), says some specialist
fabrication roles are “difficult to recruit”
That’s because one thing we know for definite
is that in only a few months’ time, the UK will
switch to an Australian-style immigration points
system. Freedom of movement will end and
EU citizens will be treated in the same way as
migrants from the rest of the world, qualifying for
UK residency dependent on their skill set.
The challenge for the window and door industry
is that the lower skilled workers that it has
historically recruited to its factory floor are not
likely to qualify under the scheme.
Although it is expected that there will be a
‘transition period’, this creates a clear challenge
for window and door manufacturers. Homegrown
talent is thin on the ground – or at least in need
of some ‘persuasion’ to step into roles on the
factory floor.
Covid-19, may have contributed to higher
unemployment but this should not, according
to commentators, be seen as creating an
inexhaustible supply of low-cost labour.
“It is a challenge,” says Judith Chadwick, head of
HR at Emplas. “The government wants to reduce
reliance on low-skilled labour. That’s great but
the reality is that there are some businesses
which operate on a model which is actually
reliant on lower skilled labour.
“We aren’t immune. We have invested massively
in the automation of our business because it
allows us to have more control and deliver a
consistently higher quality product.
“That also equates to a more consistent level
of service. The trade-off is that while we have
some very highly skilled operatives, other
team members work in lower skilled roles and
recruiting them can be challenging.”
“Homegrown talent is
thin on the ground –
or at least in need of
some ‘persuasion’ to
step into roles on the
factory floor”
Emplas has invested more than £5m on its shop
floor since 2017, giving it increased capacity but
also flexibility with two fully automated window
lines and with 90% of products going through just
two Rotox 8-head welders.
This brings Emplas’ weekly capacity up to 4,200
frames across two shifts, relying on automation
of process to deliver product quality and volume.
“The machinery takes care of quality but product
still has to move through the factory, to be loaded
and unloaded, assembled – there is always a
requirement for some form of labour,” continues
Judith. “There are also specialist fabrication roles
which are also difficult to recruit to, for example
spray-booth operation, so we also need to get
people with the right skills for that.
“Recruiting specialists, people willing to step into
the industry at entry level but work and progress to
take on greater levels of responsibility isn’t easy.”
This set Emplas on a journey in partnership with
a number of other window and door businesses,
plus training providers, as a ‘trailblazer’ to
develop a new fabrication apprenticeship for
the window and door industry, under the new
Apprenticeships Standard.
With much of the work done in 2019, the
programme went live this August. It differs
from preceding schemes in that development is
explicitly employer-led, so that they can specify
exactly what’s required from an apprentice
in each specific job, creating a role-specific
standard and an assessment plan.
14 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Above: Emplas has made apprenticeships a key element of its
recruitment strategy, with four apprenticeships currently ‘live’
and 11 former apprentices working within the business.
“Previous schemes weren’t always as rolespecific
and on that basis met with variable
levels of success,”continues Judith. “We were
able to work with other industry colleagues and
training providers such as GFTS to develop two
role-specific apprenticeships in window and
door fabrication, and a second in installation,
in addition to the office and administrative
apprenticeships we have in place.
“Recruiting new people into the industry is going
to be critical in meeting the demand for skills and
labour from next year and will be increasingly
important for us and the rest of the industry as
we move forward.”
Emplas has made apprenticeships a key
element of its recruitment strategy, with four
apprenticeships currently ‘live’ and 11 former
apprentices working within the business. As part
of the Apprenticeship Standard it will bring a
further eight apprentices into its team this year
and is currently recruiting for roles including:
sprayer/fabricator; maintenance technician;
purchasing coordinator; and IT Technician.
“One of the things that works well for us and
our team is that we can offer a career path. For
example, we’re recruiting for two fabricator roles,
one of which we see specialising in fabrication
and spray painting; the other we see focussed on
fabrication with the opportunity to move into a
team leadership role,” says Judith.
“It’s about highlighting the specialist skills that you
can develop working in the window and door industry
and the opportunities to progress your career.”
Youth unemployment is a key priority for
government. According to the Nuffield-funded
Resolution Foundation research, the current
economic crisis risks pushing an additional
600,000 18-24-year-olds into unemployment in
the coming year.
The prospects for the 800,000 young people
coming out of fulltime education this year appear
particularly stark, with evidence from previous
recessions showing that young people who’ve just
left full-time education are hit harder than other
age groups.
“It is going to be tough out there for a lot of young
people and that is something which may change
their attitude to a career,” says Judith. “That
may create an opportunity for us as employers to
address the skills deficit in this industry longer
term, which is a clear positive.
“Shorter-term, there are clear challenges in
recruitment, particularly to lower-skilled roles.
We aren’t putting our head in the sand and we
have been and will continue to work to develop
a recruitment strategy which is sustainable and
which supports our own and our customers’
future success.”
Contact Emplas:
01933 674880
www.emplas.co.uk
@EmplasWindows
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 T F 15
Defining spaces
in architectural
aluminium
Windows || Doors || Curtain Walling || Brise Soleil || Louvres
Horizon Heights, Student Accommodation || Liverpool
Burlington House, Luxury Apartments || Manchester
Support
Technical design input
Thermal modelling
Free air calculations
Security analysis
Online BIM models
Secured By Design
Earl Grey Building, Grade A Offices || Dundee
Environmental
Window Energy Rating software (WER)
BREEAM guidance
BRE Green Guide A+ rated products
Life cycle analysis
Sustainable products
Responsible sourcing
metaltechnology.com
Aluminium Extrusion
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME?
Could the desire to put distance between themselves and their competitors prompt more
fabricators to put down tooling and extrude their own products? Total Fabricator explores the
offering from aluminium component specialist, Aluminium Shapes...
“I
t can cost as little as £1,000 to put down
your own tooling,” says Lee Marriott,
group business development director,
Anglo European. “And we [Aluminium Shapes],
can turn it around from as little as two weeks
from design to manufacture, and then another
week’s testing – things we do inhouse,” he adds.
Anglo European Group acquired
aluminium component specialist,
Aluminium Shapes, in July last
year. With its existing steel
manufacturing facilities
this gives Anglo European a
unique combined capability
in the UK to cold roll steel
and extrude aluminium. The
purchase was made as part of
a strategy at group level to expand
its offer across sectors to include not only
reinforcements, bay posts and couplers but also
to develop an ancillary product offer.
“We work across a stack of different areas,
shop fit-outs and interiors; to the handles on
fridge-freezers, the automotive industry. Windows
and doors account for about 30% of our overall
product mix but we plan to grow it and we believe
we can bring a lot of opportunities to fabricators
along the way,” continues Lee.
“This includes expanding our range of ancillary
products, which includes bay-poles, couplers,
cleats, trims and thresholds, which we already
manufacture and supply into the market.
“We’re also building our bespoke extrusion
business. We’re currently extruding aluminium
for two systems suppliers but we believe there is
capacity to grow that – and we believe demand
will also grow going forward.”
Aluminium
Shapes’ offer to
the window and
door industry bears
the hallmarks of its parent
group Anglo, with a focus on efficiency, lean
manufacture and UK manufacture.
Its major export into the window and door market,
is its universal Smartlink bay pole coupler and
jack system. Supplied through Anglo European
alongside its cut-to-size steel reinforcement offer,
it works across all PVC-U systems, reducing stock
holding and increasing manufacturing efficiencies.
Fully tested to loads of 10.6 tonnes, almost
double the level required, the system is backed
up by Anglo European’s full 10-year warranty,
in line with the reinforcement and component
specialist’s other products.
Shortages and under-capacity
Lee argues that recent shortages of components
coming out of lockdown have highlighted the
under-capacity within the market. This includes
limited manufacturing capability in the UK, which
combined with disruption to the global supply
chain, particularly products from China, led to
stock-outages in May and June.
“There were fabricators and installers who
couldn’t complete jobs because they couldn’t
get their hands on bay-poles. It shows you a
very clear gap in the component market and
with Covid-19 expected to cause continued
disruption – at the very least into the near future
– component product supply is something you
can’t take for granted.”
This made Anglo European’s launch of its bi-fold
corner cleat offer in June, timely. Manufactured
in the UK by Aluminium Shapes, in addition to
its unique ‘heart’ shape, it features an increased
wall thickness, while supplied at a purchase price
roughly half that of systems companies.
“It’s a case in point. We saw the opportunity, we
did the design work and put down the tooling,”
says Lee. “Aluminium extrusion is very different
to PVC-U. You can design dies and put down
tooling for a relatively modest cost, say around
£1,000 – and you can start extrusion.
18 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
“If there’s something which you can’t get your
systems company to address, which is costing
you hours and hours each week in production or
you see an opportunity – we can help you realise
it. That includes inhouse design and manufacture
of tooling; it’s accessible.”
Aluminium Shapes’ team of inhouse designers can
support manufacturers in developing their offer from
concept or sketch to extrusion, including 3D printing.
Manufacture is delivered through two dedicated
presses, depending on the extrusion. This includes
an indirect 900 tonne press for manufacture of
smaller, tight tolerance profiles of as little as 0.03kg
per metre; and a direct 1200 tonne press for the
manufacture of larger profiles up to 4kg per metre.
It heats dies and billet to approximately 500 degrees
Celsius before pushing the aluminium through the
dye under 1200 tonnes of hydraulic pressure.
Aluminium Shapes also operates an Emmegi
4Axis CNC, two 3Axis CNCs and an Emmegi triple
headed mitre saw.
“Component product
supply is something you
can’t take for granted”
Lee Marriott, Anglo European
There is no minimum order requirement
on extrusions, although Lee points out that
economies of scale will impact on unit costs.
It also offers a multitude of different finishes
from paint, anodising, colour anodising, anodic
paints, polishing, chemical brightening and more.
All extrusions are manufactured to BSEN755 as
standard and to BSEN 12020, dependent on design.
“It’s not only that we’re manufacturing in the UK
– our whole supply chain is UK-based; the raw
materials, the billet. With Anglo, it means we’re
one of only two companies in the UK with the
ability to extrude aluminium and roll steel – that
lends itself to the UK window industry.”
Contact Aluminium Shapes:
01536 262437
www.alishapes.co.uk
@AluminiumShapes
Aluminium Hardware PVCu Hardware Composite Door Hardware Tools & Consumables
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FINALIST
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 T F 19
Keeping
with tradition
The REHAU Heritage vertical slider is designed to
incorporate all the desirable traditional features
of a timber sash window, with the additional
benefits and conveniences of modern PVCu and
offers an ‘A’ window energy rating.
With a stepped frame, three sashes, a deep
bottom rail and the choice of georgian bars and
sash horns, the REHAU Heritage window really is
the modern tradition.
Windows. Reinvented for modern life.
www.rehau.uk/windows
Article Education
SMART CHOICES FOR WINNING WORK
With the government recently announcing further investment in school buildings, James
Keeling-Heane, of Senior Architectural Systems, draws on the manufacturer’s expertise in
delivering education contracts to help fabricators secure work in this busy market.
There’s no denying the fact that the world
and the construction industry has changed
as a result of the disruption and devastation
caused by the coronavirus. For the fenestration
sector, this means that work that was all but
guaranteed may now be in serious question and
many fabricators may find themselves having to
compete for contracts that are outside of their
usual area of experience.
One market where construction has been able
to continue, albeit under heavy restrictions,
is education. Although work to build and
refurbish schools, colleges and universities
has understandably slowed down considerably,
contracts are still there for the taking and
fabricators need to be ready and able to hit the
ground running to secure these opportunities.
Teaming up with a supply chain partner like
Senior that has a proven track record of
successfully delivering education contracts is a
good place to start, but by brushing up on their
“Contracts are still there for the taking and
fabricators need to be ready and able to hit the
ground running to secure these opportunities”
knowledge of some of the key requirements of
this complex sector, fabricators and installers can
further improve their chances of winning work.
Design lessons
When it comes to specifying windows, doors and
curtain wall systems for education facilities,
the learning curve can be steep. Architects
and contractors working in this sector face
the challenge of creating educational facilities
that move away from a traditional reliance on
mechanical heating, ventilation and cooling
systems to reduce carbon emissions and lower
energy bill costs.
As a key aspect of the external envelope,
fenestration systems, and windows in particular,
have a huge impact on determining the overall
energy efficiency of a building as well as helping
to influence the internal environment. With
multiple boxes to tick, finding a system that
can provide the required U-values, acoustic
performance, aesthetics, safety, security,
durability and cost can be a challenge, and this
has greatly influenced the way that window
systems are both manufactured and specified.
Carbon savings
The need to reduce the carbon footprint of a
building is a challenge that has long faced
specifiers working in the education sector. Cost
constraints inevitably mean that this reduction
needs to be made, at least in part, before
renewable energy solutions are considered.
As a result, specifiers are increasingly looking at
22 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
ways that more traditional products can provide
better results. The development of aluminium
window systems, such as Senior’s own patented
PURe range, which offer low U-values but are
competitively priced, are providing the ideal
solution by enabling carbon savings across the
whole lifecycle of the building. Robust enough to
stand the test of time, aluminium windows also
offer cradle-to-cradle recyclability.
By cutting back on CO2 emissions through the
specification of low U-value windows, the project
team has the flexibility of looking at making
monetary savings in the overall build cost by
reducing the need for other, often more expensive,
sustainable features such as photovoltaic roof
panels or underfloor insulation.
Inspirational interiors
To help reduce the use of central heating systems
and air conditioning within schools, specifiers
must look at alternative solutions to control the
internal temperature of a room and create a
pleasant environment for both the students and
teachers to work. Thermal mass, which refers to
a building’s ability to absorb and store heat, is
now a key part of school building design and is
most effective when combined with appropriate
ventilation and shading.
Windows are an obvious way to maximise the
flow of natural light and fresh air and as summer
overheating is a common problem within schools,
night time ventilation and the use of trickle vents can
help remove any excess heat and carbon dioxide.
Flexible solutions
The unique requirements of a school environment
also influence the size, shape and positioning of
windows. For example, it is vital that all window
openings are both safe and secure, particularly at
low levels to prevent falls or trapped fingers.
Windows must also be of a significant size to
provide adequate daylight penetration to reduce
lighting costs but also need to be easily operated
and controlled by occupants, either via automatic
or manual controls, to avoid excessive solar gain.
The development of thermally-efficient aluminium
window systems has provided specifiers with the
additional advantage of having greater flexibility in
terms of the positioning of radiators. Traditionally,
radiators would be installed in the coldest part of
the room which would usually be along an exterior
wall where cold air would enter via the windows.
The use of more thermally-efficient windows
removes these limitations, allowing greater
freedom when planning interior layouts.
Benefits of aluminium
The characteristics of aluminium frame window
systems also make them ideally suited for use
in school environments. Robust and durable,
aluminium frames are easy to maintain and
are fully recyclable. High performance frames
that provide exceptional thermal performance
and require minimal maintenance can also be a
cost-effective alternative to using energy efficient
triple glazing which, when used in a high-traffic
environment such as school, has a higher risk of
breaking and would be more expensive to replace.
With the urgent and ongoing need to create more
effective educational establishments and provide
additional school places, designing and building
schools that are built to last has never been
more important. Fortunately, the new generation
of aluminium window systems provide a host
of flexible solutions to meet the sector’s often
inflexible design challenges.
Contact Senior Architectural Systems:
01709 772600
www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk
@Senior_Systems
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 T F 23
Sustainability
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
With ‘building back greener’ at the heart of the Prime Minister’s strategy to rebuild Britain
post-lockdown, Calvin Wilson, MD at Metal Technology, talks to Total Fabricator about the
company’s extensive efforts to increase sustainability and reduce its environmental impact.
How sustainable is aluminium?
As one of the most abundant elements on
earth, with its infinite recyclability, strength and
lightness, combined with aluminium’s durability
and low maintenance qualities, it’s one of the
most sustainable building materials available.
What percentage of the metal used in
Metal Technology products is recycled?
As part of the company’s agreed programme of
sustainability, approximately 70% of the extrusion
used in the production of Metal Technology’s
glazing profiles is recycled. This metal requires only
5% of the energy necessary for the production of
primary aluminium, with a consequent reduction
of 95% in the green house gases produced,
improving our environmental footprint.
Tell us about Metal Technology’s
commitment to waste reduction
The business is committed to minimising
all waste, both within the company and our
activities, as well as through the supply of our
range of window, door, curtain wall, brise soleil
and louvre systems. Through our ISO14001
environmental quality accreditation, we have
been able to reduce the impact of our operations
on the environment year on year and bench mark
ourselves on this basis.
What other related accreditations does
Metal Technology hold? What do they
demonstrate and how were they achieved?
We are also certified to BES6001 for responsible
sourcing of construction products. This enables
us to work within a framework which analyses
and assesses your supply chain, ensuring that
the products used in the manufacture of our
product range have been responsibly sourced with
traceability, using a documented environmental
and sustainable management system.
Above: Energy-efficient curtain walling and window configurations from Metal Technology have helped optimise the
sustainability of the award-winning DAERA HQ building. Inset: Calvin Wilson, MD at Metal Technology.
Tell us about Metal Technology’s
implementation of Environmental
Management Plans
Implementing environmental plans are not just
about seeking and securing accreditation. It has
to be an ethos in the business, from the recycling
of waste paper, to the use of solar energy, to the
packaging you use, the logistics methods you
implement to transport your goods to your energy
consumption as a business and as individuals.
What criteria does Metal Technology use
in developing its energy efficient products
and systems?
Over the past 25 years the thermal and acoustic
efficiency of aluminium window, door and façade
systems has increased fourfold. So thermal
efficiency is key to any new product development.
However, this must also be married with a design
which can be adapted while offering optimum
performance, while still maintaining a value
engineered solution. Our THERMAL range of
window and doors is testament to that philosophy.
Metal Technology glazing systems are
featured in the new headquarters of the
Department of Agriculture, Environment
and Rural Affairs (DAERA). How did the
system help to optimise the project’s
sustainability and energy efficiency?
We were asked to be involved at the early design
stage of the project. The overall build was
5175m 2 with bespoke brise soleil used on the
south facing elevation. The project was to achieve
a BREEAM rating of excellent and U-values of
.85 W/m 2 K. We were able to achieve this in
a combination of curtain walling and window
configurations, with the building picking up a
number of awards, winning CEF Construction
Excellence ‘Commercial Project of the Year’ in
2018 and the ‘Design through Innovation’ award
at the RICS NI Awards 2019.
Contact Metal Technology:
02894 487777
www.metaltechnology.com
@MetalTechAlumin
24 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Window Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk
FOILING UNDERWAY AT NEW PROFINE UK FACILITY
Profine UK has begun the foiling of Kömmerling 70 profiles at its new facility in
Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, along with the newly acquired PVC-U systems, which
include the Legend platform and the Evolve vertical sliding sash window.
With demand notably up on pre-Covid-19 levels, its integrated on-site foiling
operation has been fully utilised to cope with the significant increase in demand. From
an extrusion perspective, Profine UK will be looking to bring the Kömmerling 70 tools
over from the Pirmasens and Berlin facilities in Germany in the next couple of months,
with 32 tools in total transferred by the end of 2020.
Robert Long, production director, Profine UK, said: “With an extrusion facility that
includes a mixing plant and the post-extrusion process of foil lamination, we’re looking
to respond to immediate demand and also to reduce the lead-times on special orders in
the coming months.” www.profine-uk.com
SUPER SPACER T-SPACER IS NOW 'EVEN BETTER'
Edgetech has launched an ‘even better’ version of its celebrated Super Spacer T-Spacer.
Super Spacer T-Spacer SG is a metal-free, silicone-based warm edge spacer made of structural
foam with an integrated desiccant that’s been designed for the toughest commercial applications.
On demanding glazing projects using extra-large glass panes, its extremely durable edge seal
guarantees decades of exceptional performance and stability.
T-Spacer SG offers enhanced shape memory, which is critical for the long-term integrity of the edge
seal. Its elastic structural foam follows climate-related movements of the glass, relieving a large
proportion of the load from the butyl seal. This, says Edgetech, is a huge advantage in parts of the
world that experience fluctuating temperatures. www.edgetechig.co.uk
SMOOTH ANTHRACITE GREY FOIL AS STANDARD
Auplast has expanded its standard foil offering with the option for smooth anthracite grey on both
interior and exterior surfaces.
The new contemporary finish is available on the new Aluplast grey substrate, providing a strong
match to aluminium. It’s available across the German system leader’s complete PVC-U product range,
including Ideal 4000, Ideal 70, and the recently launched Smart-Slide patio door.
According to Ian Cocken, sales and marketing director, Aluplast, the new offer gives consumers “the
flexibility to match into aluminium with superior energy efficiency and performance and at a much
more attractive price point.” Aluplast’s foil range, which consists of 30-plus foils, is bolstered by
Aluskin, its unique aluminium external cladding system, and Woodec, the ‘next generation’ foil that is
designed to replicate both the aesthetics and feel of timber. www.aluplast.co.uk
REHAU: FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT
Some 3,000 of Rehau’s Total70 fully-reversible white windows with lockable handles have been used for a
premium Scottish housing development, alongside 180 of Rehau’s French doors, all compliant with Part L of
the Building Regulations.
‘Seamless collaboration and a resilient supply chain’ involving partners Dessian, Rehau, and DP Windows and
Doors enabled Raith Developments to stick to its strict build schedule, for new-build development, Lochty Meadows.
Paul Crawford, director of DP Windows & Doors, said: “Having the best-looking windows was very important for
Lochty Meadows as first impressions count. However, at the same time, they needed to ensure they were the most
efficient and high-performing in order to include in the sales brochures. Having worked with Rehau profile for many
years, it was the obvious choice for the Lochty Meadows development.” www.rehau.uk/windows
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT T F 25
Advertorial
EQUINOX ECLIPSES THE COMPETITION
Eurocell, the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U building products,
has announced a raft of updates to its market-leading Equinox solid conservatory roof.
Launched in 2013 as an alternative to
replacement and new conservatory
polycarbonate and glass roofs, Equinox
offers the excellent thermal performance and
ventilation that allows conservatories to be used
all year round. Its accurate prefabrication and
easy-to-make and fit system design make it a
firm favourite with fabricators and installers.
Now Eurocell have made a series of updates and
improvements to ensure it continues to meet the
evolving needs of the trade and homeowners.
To meet end users’ desire for natural light as well
as a comfortable living environment, Eurocell
engineers have designed full height glazing panels
to feature in the system. Individual panels up to
one metre wide and three metres high of clear
glass allow lighter, sunlit conservatories, and
several panels can be accommodated that give an
impression of even more space. The new glazed
version is known as Equinox Vega, named after one
of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere.
In terms of system design, the aluminium rafters
in the lightweight roof have been separated from
the deck, enlarging the air gap. This means that
Equinox is currently the only fully ventilated solid
roof solution available in the UK.
A new fixed pitch option increases installer choice
and helps make common pitch angles even easier
to fit, while the variable pitch option remains for
more complex roofs.
Other changes include the use of battens to
create the air gap necessary for better ventilation;
a switch from Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation to
Styrene, which is 100% recyclable and contains
no harmful CFCs or HCFCs; and upgraded 18mm
OSB3 boarding to increase structural strength
in line with regulations for flat roofs with a
pitch of 10 degrees or less. OSB is also a more
sustainable choice than plywood because it is
produced from younger, faster growing trees.
Seamless finish
The innovative SlateSkin sheet tile system now
features a mechanism that provides a neater
vertical joint between 6m strips of tiles, resulting
in a seamless finish for roofs over 6m long. And a
new method for fitting the front row of tiles means
all fixing screws are completely hidden, providing
a neater look and better sightlines.
Eurocell has increased customer tile choice further
with the introduction of slate-effect envirotile
composite tiles as an option. Available in Grey,
Brown, Terracotta and Black and made from 75%
recycled materials, multiple tiles can be fitted
together, making envirotile more attractive to
installers than single-tile fit composite products.
Commenting on the updates to Equinox,
Conservatory Roofs Manager Sean Bunyan said:
“The latest version of our Equinox conservatory
roof shows how committed we are to continually
improving and developing our products. As styles
change, new regulations emerge and materials
technology evolves, installers know they can rely
on Eurocell to give them the products they need to
adapt and compete.”
What hasn’t changed, Eurocell are quick to
point out, are the quality assurance and service
support they have always provided. The complete
Equinox system is guaranteed for 10 years and
carries Local Authority Building Control (LABC)
and LABSS certification.
Kit quotation requests are turned around within
an hour, roofs are delivered in 6 working days,
and a dedicated technical support team means
help is always at hand. All components needed
to install a complete roof come as part of the
Equinox ‘one-box’ kit solution, including tile
sheets, hip end caps, ridge and hip top caps and
all fixings.
Contact Eurocell:
01773 837490
www.eurocell.co.uk
@eurocellplc
26 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
GARDEN MAKEOVERS
WITH EUROCELL
With summer well and truly in full swing, and
customers having spent months in lockdown or
working from home looking at their gardens, now
is the perfect opportunity to provide some well
needed inspiration and solutions.
kyube
GARDEN BUILDINGS
equinox ®
SOLID TILED ROOFS
DECKING
SOLID AND HOLLOW
FENCING
COMPOSITE FENCING
for more information visit
eurocell.co.uk/outdoor-living
or call us on 0800 988 7310
MADE & RECYCLED
IN THE UK
Customer Relations
DUE CARE AND CONNECTION
Sarah Denham, customer service manager at composite door supplier Distinction Doors,
explains why it’s important to maintain communication with colleagues and customers in
socially distanced times.
Distance has been the name of the game
for the past six months, but when it comes
to customers we must now be closer than
ever. The colossal disruption of the pandemic
has made an enduring impression on customers.
Like many, they have been rocked by uncertainty,
instability and change.
“The health and wellbeing
of your employees has a
direct impact on the care
and response they show
to a customer”
With video conferencing and telephone calls
replacing most face-to-face meetings, the
experienced and proven role of the customer
service advisor is going to be pivotal in the
months ahead. It is critical that this role is
central to progressive plans and developments.
Day-to-day they represent you and your business
and they are often the only customer interaction.
Considerate interactions
A customer interaction with a company can have a
lasting effect on his or her sense of trust and loyalty.
At a time when businesses are under
considerable pressure, particularly with the
current levels of demand, communication is
critical; every interaction must be managed and
handled to the very best ability.
At Distinction Doors, for example, we assign
a customer service representative to every
customer, this ensures they have a constant point
of contact. We find this approach is invaluable for
both parties – it helps develop a strong bond and
a safe space for open and honest dialogue.
Prioritise employees
The health and wellbeing of your employees has a
direct impact on the care and response they show
to a customer. In June, the Office for National
Statistics (ONS) revealed a sharp rise in the
number of people reporting high levels of anxiety
during the pandemic (3rd April – 10th May 2020).
While mental health is now openly discussed,
there’s no denying that the coronavirus outbreak
has severely tested the nation’s wellbeing.
While home schooling and working from home
both contributed to stress and anxiety levels,
it’s vital that we stay alert to the mental health
of those around us – employees, colleagues
and customers, as we return to normal working
environments.
Here at Distinction, we have an award-winning
team of Health & Wellbeing Champions who
are commited to improving the lives of their
colleagues. They provide a supportive outlet
at work for those that need one. Poor mental
and physical health can easily go unnoticed,
especially during times such as these. Our
Champions are there to make a conscious effort
to engage with staff to help ensure that this
doesn’t happen.
Deliver on your values
Customers are looking for brands they can trust.
Staying true to your company purpose and values
is more important than ever, either through direct
or indirect actions. Many businesses, across all
sectors, have contributed to the national effort
in helping to control the virus. In doing so, they
have demonstrated genuine care beyond their
immediate customer base. This, we believe
will help generate goodwill and build positive
customer relationships that will last long after the
crisis has ended.
Continued on page 30
28 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
NEW
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Reach out
It may seem unlikely but customer support goes
hand-in-hand with marketing. With a displaced
customer base it’s about meeting their needs in a
way that works for them. For now, being digitally
present is preferable to physical presence.
SMART AS STANDARD
Consider how you engage with your customers,
digitally. Do you provide digital brochures
and manuals; is your social media monitored
for mentions – best practice would be a
quick response; is your website up-to-date
– if products are out of stock, is this being
communicated? Could you add a call-to-action
for an email notification when it returns?
Above all else, maintain that human connection.
We’re all now well accustomed to video
conferencing tools so keep using them!
Be fluid
The business landscape has changed and
with it, the customer. Customer data gathered
pre-pandemic will need to be reviewed and
as such, is currently unreliable. Social media
provides a good barometer for measuring the
state of the nation. Use it to gain a quick insight
and read your customers – LinkedIn is proving
particularly powerful as people share business and
employment news, product and manufacturing
requirements, and comments on the state-of-play.
And so, as we all navigate a way through, be
there for your customers. Give your employees
the new tools, training and support they need to
enable them to deliver an outstanding customer
experience in the new world.
Contact Distinction Doors:
0345 2000 816
www.distinctiondoors.co.uk
@DistinctionDrs
Door manufacturer, Hurst Doors, has teamed up
with Avantis, producer of state-of-the-art locks,
to offer the Avantis Kubu Equipped 750 Series
composite multipoint door lock as standard.
Designed and developed specifically for composite
doors, not only does the lock offer the largest
hooks and bolts in the market, the Kubu equipped
door lock is set for smart technology, offering
security conscious homeowners the ability to
check whether their door is locked or unlocked at
anytime from anywhere via their Smartphone.
Hurst composite doors will now be produced with
Avantis Kubu Equipped door locks as standard,
meaning its trade partners and their customers
can access a whole host of innovative features
and benefits.
Hurst says it is the largest dedicated composite
door manufacturer to standardise its doors to be
compatible with smart technology, a move which,
the company reports, has been well-received by
its customers.
Hayley Barker, marketing manager at Hurst Doors
explained: “Increasingly, homeowners are looking
to smart technology to enhance the security of their
home and to enjoy the peace of mind it brings. Our
new Avantis Kubu Equipped lock responds to that
demand and means that our trade partners can
offer their customers an innovative, future-proof
product that they can trust.”
Kubu locks offer the following features and benefits:
• Simple and affordable smart technology,
easy to install and easy to use
• Long-lasting and battery powered solution
(batteries lasting 12-18 months)
• No hardwiring required. Kubu is engineered
to be a neat and compact smart product
• Kubu is fully supported by an in-house team
of technical experts to take hassle away
from installers and fabricators
• Works with Amazon Alexa and other devices
• The Kubu App can be downloaded from
Google Play and App Store
• A Kubu Smart Lock doesn’t alter the
appearance of the door in any way
Mark Bromley, CEO of Avantis, said: “Hurst is a
trusted name in the industry so partnering with
them to embed our state-of-the-art technology in
their range felt like a natural fit. It’s great to see
an established, national company such as Hurst
leading the way by embracing innovation and
technology to elevate their range and enhance
their customer offer. Both Kubu and Hurst have
the highest standards in quality and security
at their heart, so we’re delighted to be working
together on creating stylish solutions for tech
savvy consumers.” www.hurstdoors.co.uk
30 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
We do things
differently
At Kestrel our approach to aluminium door and window
manufacture is a little different. Not only do we stock
an unrivalled range of sections in a wide variety of lengths,
we also supply standard, half and quarter lengths too. This
means the most economical option is invariably available
for your project.
Minimal waste and high sustainability in profiles of the
highest standard from a company with a 30 year pedigree.
For more information please call
0121 333 3575 or email
info@kestrelaluminium.co.uk
WINDOWS DOORS ROOFING SHOPFRONT CURTAIN WALL
BIRMINGHAM’S BEST KEPT SECRET
www.kestrelaluminium.co.uk
Tel: 0121 333 3575
Door Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk
EMPLAS: OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR DOORS
Emplas has said the Green Homes Grant has the
potential to create ‘substantial’ new demand for
door replacements.
While the inclusion of single to double glazing
as a secondary measure offers limited scope for
window replacements, the trade specialist has
highlighted the opportunities that the scheme
appears to offer for door replacements.
Ryan Johnson, managing director, Emplas, said:
“The opportunities for replacement windows are
limited because you need to be replacing a single
glazed product, and with 95% of the market
already on second time replacements, there aren’t
a lot of those to go at.”
Despite also being classified as a secondary
measure, doors, however, have the potential to
“drive future sales at volume” according to Ryan,
with funding available for the replacement of any
door fitted before 2002.
Ryan said: “Given the number of PVC-U panels
fitted pre-2002 that we know are still in
circulation, the market potential is substantial –
even as a secondary measure.”
Homeowners and landlords will be able to apply for
Green Homes Grant vouchers from September that
will cover at least two-thirds of the cost of updating
their property, up to £5,000 per household.
Ryan added: “There are so many pre-2002 PVC-U
panel doors out there. They account for a massive
proportion of the market and while a lot have been
replaced, many more, particularly back doors,
haven’t been. Even if half of the PVC-U panels
fitted in the decade before 2002 had been replaced
already, we would still be looking at a potential
market of anywhere between 2-3million doors.
“How big that market ultimately is depends on
uptake of the scheme, where consumers put their
money and how much is left over after it has been
spent on primary measures – but what is clear is
it has the potential to be big.” www.emplas.co.uk
VBH INTRODUCES NEW LIFT/SLIDE DOOR SYSTEM
Hardware company VBH has added the ClearLift hardware system for aluminium lift/slide patio doors
to its greenteQ range.
Lift/slide doors are gaining in popularity due to their ability to carry very large and very heavy sliders. They
also provide large glazed areas that allow uninterrupted views and maximise the natural light.
ClearLift can carry sashes weighing up to 300Kg and measuring up to 3.33m wide or 2.7m high, subject to the systems company’s recommendations. VBH
advises that stock holding is reduced as all door heights are achieved with just two gear heights.
The system has been cycle tested to 25,000 operations and is covered by Q-secure, VBH’s multi-brand consumer hardware guarantee.
Gary Gleeson, VBH marketing manager, explained: “Our greenteQ designers have gone to great lengths to make sure that ClearLift is a premium product,
fit for a premium ‘lifestyle’ door. Precision ball bearings in the bogies ensure a smooth and quiet sliding operation, as do the built-in brushes that sweep the
tracks clear of grit as the door slides. Sprung drive gears also make the initial lifting action very easy for the user, even on the heaviest doors.”
ClearLift joins the greenteQ Lifestyle product portfolio that already includes Clearspan bi-fold hardware, the Invisifold slide and fold door and window
system and the Aspire lift/slide handle range. Aspire handles are available in nine finishes to match or complement all door finishes. www.vbhgb.com
NEW PREMIUM PRODUCT RANGE
Extrudaseal has developed its new Premium product range with integrated fibre technology for anti-stretch
performance to help a fabricator customer who was struggling with stretching and shrinking issues on bubble gasket.
Chris Byers, managing director at the UK specialist manufacturer of seals and gaskets for windows, doors and industrial
applications, said: “Fabricators often ask us to help with specialist products and we create bespoke extrusions for them. The
issues the fabricator was having was on bubble gasket fitted on bi-fold doors on the factory floor. He told us there were issues
with shrinkage and stretching with the gasket they were using, so we went back to the drawing board to create a product that
stays in place. The new Premium product is designed with integrated fibre technology for anti-stretch performance. It’s the stable properties of the fibre
inside that keeps the gasket from moving, while still maintaining its flexibility to do its primary function as a seal; it’s a great combination. We wanted to
make sure it was spot on, so during the development stage we took samples to the fabricator for him to test on the factory floor. It’s really easy because
we manufacture everything at our West Midlands production facility. The fabricator is really pleased. He told us it is more stable and the issues they
were getting with shrinkage and stretching have gone... Our new Premium range includes a series of gaskets that are prone to stretching, and we are now
rolling them out to all customers.” www.extrudaseal.com
32 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Viewpoint
KEEPING YOUR HEAD IN A CRISIS
Covid-19 has been damaging, but now is the time for positivity, sound choices
and actions says Neil Parton, MD at Elumatec UK...
There is no credibility in
glossing over the damage
that Covid-19 has done to
manufacturing. Few industries
have escaped, incomes have taken
a tumble and soul-searching has
become a national pastime.
This virus may be around for some
time and we need to develop
resilience to it and its impact as
soon as possible.
We can start by seeing this not as a
disaster but rather as a challenge to
be overcome. How big a challenge
depends on many factors, not least the state of the
operation before the virus hit. No doubt some will
find recovery a bigger mountain to climb than others.
Many operations which appeared sound just a few
weeks before the pandemic have been thrown into
disarray. Others have stalled, wondering when to
restart their production and at what levels. Yes
there are problems, but we shouldn’t ignore the
opportunities − and they are out there. This could
be an ideal time for a fundamental reappraisal of
an organisation’s structure and ambitions.
This crisis has exposed the perilous financial
state of companies that were household names,
and many individuals and families are indeed
struggling, but it’s still important to look at the
bigger picture and remember a key fact: before
this virus hit, the economy was healthy. It can be
in that state again and probably far sooner than
many commentators predict.
Unlike a slow decline in economic activity which
chips away at prosperity and erodes confidence
across the board, this crisis arrived when things
were on the up. What’s more, the impact has hit
different sectors in different ways and certain
industries have never been busier. With more
time on their hands, furloughed workers are
spending more on home improvements. The
housing market is healthy. Online sales are through
the roof. What’s more, because this was a crisis
that demanded drastic action, support has been
put in place which will protect livelihoods, jobs
and future prosperity. It’s not perfect but there
are foundations on which to rebuild.
Doom-laden voices are almost drowned out by
deep reserves of optimism. There’s a burning
desire to return to a positive pre-Covid state
and that desire will drive recovery. But there’s
an important caveat: recovery will be difficult if
we’re too tentative about cracking on. This isn’t
to say that this is a time for throwing caution to
the wind and taking bold leaps into the unknown,
but rather that we will be best served by blending
positivity with sound choices and actions.
An Elumatec SBZ 122/75 CNC machine
was used to make components to help
in the fight against Covid-19
“Yes there are problems,
but we shouldn’t ignore
the opportunities − and
they are out there”
One of the qualities valued in times
of crisis is a safe pair of hands.
When levels of uncertainty are high,
it makes perfect sense to eliminate
some of the unknowns.
That’s why we see people making
investment decisions based on
long-term quality rather than kneejerk
choices made on a tempting
headline offer. It’s why they revert
to dealing with people they can
trust, rather than falling for false
promises, smoke and mirrors.
At Elumatec, we’ve kept our heads
throughout this pandemic, and we’re going to
keep on doing that because it’s in our DNA. Our
approach is simple: stand firm, do our job, support
our customers, now and in the future − virus or
no virus. We’ve got the people and the systems
in place to support that. We’ve got a reputation
for competence that few can match, and our
engineering proves its value year after year. If
you’re firing up your production lines, building up
again, wanting to improve efficiency and precision,
we’re here to support you. If you’re thinking of a
bigger shake-up of your processes, you’d be hardpressed
to find a better team to help.
At the height of the crisis, one of the key
messages on social media was #staysafe. That
concept is cautious, but the words also imply
longevity: stay safe over the long-term. You do
that by choosing partners who are ready to stand
right by your side, whatever your ambitions and
whatever is happening in the world.
Contact Elumatec:
01908 580 800
www.elumatec.com
@elumatecUK
34 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Machinery Updates
MACHINERY
For further info on all these updates visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk
SPECTRAL CHOOSES EMMEGI (UK) FOR LAUNCH
Emmegi (UK)’s ability to supply a brandnew
twin head saw right in the middle of the
lockdown confirmed to industry veteran Jason
Wilder that he had chosen the right machinery
partner for his new fabrication business,
Spectral Windows.
Working from home, the team from Emmegi (UK)
was able to source the Precision TS2 cutting centre
from its Italian HQ and arrange safe delivery direct
to Spectral’s East Midlands factory within just a few
days of the order being placed, making sure that
the company was ready to open its doors as soon
as lockdown was over.
Jason said: “The PVC-U saws we had bought and
paid for way back in January got well and truly
stuck with a different supplier during the lockdown,
but Emmegi (UK) pulled out all the stops for us and
got our saw to us within a week. That gave us a
real head start in terms of getting our aluminium
production up and running. And, as a result, when
it came to ordering the machining centre to work
alongside the new saw, there was no question that
we would choose Emmegi (UK) again and we went
for a Phantomatic M4 to complete our set up.”
The Precision TS2 and Phantomatic M4 are a
popular combination for fabricators because they
use the same software and operator interface.
The 3-axis Precision TS2 offers angled cutting to
45° inwards and 15° outwards, and a patented
innovation by Emmegi achieves both virtual
rotation of the cutting units on the saw and
absolute rigidity so that positioning and profile
blocking are always accurate.
The Phantomatic M4 is a 4-axis machining centre
featuring a high torque electro spindle which
continuously rotates from 0° to 180° to machine
on three sides of a section up to 170mm x
210mm. It can work with bars up to 4m long, with
a moving work plane which makes loading and
unloading easier.
Jason added: “I’ve got many years’ experience
in this industry and I know the quality of the
Emmegi machines is always first class. Spectral
Windows will be producing a quality product, so
it’s important that our production environment
reflects that.” www.emmegi.com
SEE FOR YOURSELF: LIVE DEMOS AT HAFFNER MURAT
Machinery expert Haffner Murat now offers live demonstrations of a range of its
machinery to potential customers from the company’s state-of-the-art showroom
in Staffordshire.
Dave Thomas, managing director of Haffner Murat, said: “We promote our machines
through various digital, video and offline platforms, but for potential customers to
truly appreciate how our machine technology makes a difference to the quality of their
fabrication businesses, there is no substitute for seeing the machines in action, and
this is something we now offer.”
A range of aluminium and PVC-U machinery from Haffner, Italmac and FOM are on
display at any one time. Currently on show is the popular TT405 PVC-U and aluminium
profile cutting centre. The impressive machine has been proving a popular choice with
fabricators due to its point to point cutting accuracy and automatic transom and short
cut facility, delivering superb automation. The double-cut saw is suitable for both
aluminium and PVC-u profiles up to 70mm and has the choice of USB data control or a secure network connection with touch screen technology.
Dave said: “Previously, potential customers would see our machines in action at either an existing customer’s premises or at exhibitions such as
the FIT Show and Fensterbau. But with exhibitions postponed and existing customers quite rightly limiting the number of non-essential visitors to their
premises, it made perfect sense to demonstrate our machines on our premises as we had always planned. We now have the space to do this effectively
while meeting all social distancing and health and safety protocols.” www.haffnermurat.com
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 T F 35
Machinery Updates
MACHINERY
For further info on all these updates visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk
KALL KWIK: ON A MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
With the introduction of a new face, a new brand and a new mission, window machinery expert Kall Kwik says it is providing customers with
an unprecedented level of support through every stage of the production process. With almost 20 years at machinery software
company, Business Micros, Chris Bailey has been enlisted as UK and Ireland business development manager, enabling
customers to benefit from his extensive industry experience.
Referring to the effects of Covid-19 and the lockdown, Chris said: “It’s no longer good enough to just make a sale, install the
equipment and then move on to the next potential customer. Fabricators need much greater support and service... Understanding
the end to end demands for a fabrication business, from supplier through to customer, is crucial to making the right choices in
machinery and that’s where my expertise comes into play.
“Kall Kwik are dedicated to building partnerships with our customers. If you want to find out more about how exactly we can work
with you to improve your operations, feel free to give me a call on 0161 486 1911 to discuss this in more detail.” www.kallkwik.uk.com
LATEST LOGIKAL PACKED WITH NEW FEATURES
BM Aluminium has released the latest update of its LogiKal software, which is ready for customers to
download and install now from their update accounts.
There are lots of new features included in this latest 11.4 version, designed to save time on processing and
make LogiKal even more intuitive to use. It now allows users building complex positions to import grids from
one position to another with just a few clicks, and automatically adds machinings to thresholds. In addition,
greater levels of customisation are now achievable, with users able to add in as many free articles as they
choose under their supplier option and standardise more hardware configurations for use as pre-sets.
Horizontal ventilation sashes have been added and new functions to process lift and slide door combinations
with 90° corners and 90°corner mullions with cover cap profiles in facades. www.bmaluminium.co.uk
DEDICATED MASK FACTORY
Haffner Murat is set to expand its face mask manufacture operation to meet growing global demand, having
secured a ‘10-digit £’ contract with the USA. The automation machinery specialist pivoted to manufacturing
face masks to help overcome a worldwide shortage at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company is opening a new dedicated factory in Istanbul and building 25 machines to fulfil growing order volumes.
Dave Thomas, managing director of Haffner Murat, said: “By opening a new facility to focus on face mask production,
we can maintain lead times for our core operation, which is automation machinery.”
Dave reports that demand for automation machinery is also on the rise since the Stafford-based company reopened
in June. He said: “Fabricators realise they are going to have to look at new ways of working to be able to operate
efficiently in the new normal. Automation machinery allows them to maintain social distancing without compromising
quality or efficiency and we are seeing increasing order volumes as a result.” www.haffnermurat.com
FLEXIBILITY AND SPEED WITH SBZ 140
When the team at Elumatec were approached by a company specialising in plastic
sheets, rooflight systems, polycarbonate and aluminium framing who were looking
for more flexibility, faster production and improved efficiency, the SBZ 140 CNC
machining centre was the ideal choice.
With two separate working zones enabling machining in a shuttle operation, coupled with an on-board tool magazine for rapid tool
changeover and continuously adjustable machining angles, the SBZ 140 would allow the production of either one or two components at a
time. This provides extra capacity while maintaining the ability to respond to changing needs.
The SBZ 140 is a 4-axis machine designed for economy and efficiency and perfect for the materials the company work with, according
to Elumatec. It’s powered by eluCam Software and has a familiar Windows operating system. www.elumatec.com
36 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
SMR-5
THE FASTEST AND MOST ACCURATE
WELDER ON THE MARKET TODAY!
1 x Quad Welder = 1 x Square every 2 minutes
Total per week = 1,200 squares
1 x SMR-5 Welder = 4 x Squares every 4 minutes
Total per week = 2,400 squares
1 x SMR-5 Welder = 1 Complete Window every 4 minutes
Total per week = 600 Windows
Sums it up nicely!
For fast precision manufacturing take a closer
look at the SMR-5 Welder from Haffner Murat today!
The Accolade Building,
Common Road, Stafford,
Staffordshire, ST16 3EQ
Tel 01785 222421
FIT Show 2021
IT'S ALL GO FOR THE FIT SHOW!
FIT Show Director Nickie West provides her top five reasons to exhibit at the FIT Show
2021, which promises to be the best FIT Show to date...
What’s the point in exhibiting at FIT Show 2021? Well, on the back of two record breaking sales
months, it seems a lot of brands don’t need convincing of the benefits of exhibiting at the UK’s
only dedicated event for the glass and glazing industry.
Our 2021 exhibitors are gearing up for what we are predicting will be the best FIT Show to date. We
might be biased, but with the fenestration industry in the midst of a 30 year peak, we would ask brands
if they can afford not to be part of FIT?
If you’re a fabricator of PVC, aluminium or timber products within the home improvement sector and you
are looking to connect your brand with window and door installers, builders and property developers,
architects and specifiers, fabricators or systems manufacturers, then FIT Show will help you to do just
that. Still need convincing? Here’s our our top reasons to exhibit at FIT Show 2021 next May:
1
UK’s Only Dedicated Event
FIT Show is the UK’s only dedicated event
for the glass and glazing industry. Exhibiting
at FIT Show will give you access to a projected
audience of almost 10,000 builders, property
developers, local authorities and installers
looking for additional product options to stay one
step ahead of their competition. Over 59% of
our visitors are reported to be decision makers
with buying power, from business owners and
directors through to CEOs.
2
Broadened Proposition
FIT Show has evolved to become much
more than a windows and doors event.
Alongside the show’s core UPVC, aluminium,
timber and hardware lineup, we’ve introduced
‘Visit Glass’, a dedicated ‘show within a show’
with flat glass and processing machinery on
display. We’ve broadened our proposition
specifically for installers and this is your chance
to get in front of them.
3
New Event Features
A whole host of new features have been
developed including our ‘New Talent Zone’
which will include showcases from brands
that are either newly established, or who have
been operating for less than three years. We
are introducing new product features such
as our ‘outdoor living zone’ which will feature
complementary products such as composite
decking, awnings, garden rooms and much more.
4
Don’t just take our word for it
Adrian Baraclough, chairman at Quickslide,
said: “FIT Show is paramount. Coming
here, it’s not just the event, it’s the evenings,
it’s spending 3 or 4 days with your staff, visiting
situations where people want to evolve, seeing
clients and competitors on a personal basis.”
Likewise, Sioned Roberts, AluK marketing
director, explained: “The FIT Show is important
for the whole industry – whether that’s
presenting new products, networking, learning
or just exploring new opportunities. It’s definitely
been an important element in AluK’s growth in
the trade market over recent years, and we want
to see it go from strength to strength.”
Above: Nickie West, FIT Show director
“The FIT Show is important for the whole industry
– whether that’s presenting new products,
networking, learning or just exploring new
opportunities” Sioned Roberts – AluK
5
Unleash the Power of Exhibitions
If you’re wondering what the value of
exhibiting might be, these stats should
help build your business case for exhibiting at
FIT Show 2021; it costs 22% less to contact
a potential buyer at a show than through
traditional channels; over 90% of attendees
plan to purchase in the next 12 - 15 months
of visiting a show; 86% of exhibition
attendees have not been seen before by your
sales force.
FIT Show, the UK’s number one event for the
glass, glazing, window, door, hardware and
components industry, will return to the NEC next
May 25th-27th. Will you be part of FIT?
Find out more about the FIT Show 2021:
0207 886 3100
www.fitshow.co.uk
@fitshow
38 T F AUG/SEPT2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Smart Technology
HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES
FIT AND READY FOR 2021
Giovanni Laporta, inventor and innovator of Smart Ready, discusses the importance of
planning for the future, and talks to FIT Show event director, Nickie West, about why she’s
so excited to have Gio and his team on board for 2021 with not one, but two stands...
Over recent weeks, I’ve been talking to lots of
customers about how, as an industry, now
is the time to draw a line under lockdown
and set the reset button. For us, there is a no more
public way of showing that the button has been
hit, than to announce a commitment to having two
stands at FIT 2021 – which before we know it, will
be here and the NEC Birmingham doors will be
open and welcoming in visitors.
Why has nobody done this before?
The only mention I’m going to make of Covid
lockdown is to look back at it with a certain
amount of pride at the productive time my
innovation team spent working on some truly
ground-breaking and inspirational innovations,
including from SAC, a locking range that will
change the way fabricators do things forever.
I can’t go into too much detail at this point, but
let’s just say we can’t wait to see the look on
“I want people
to glimpse the
future at FIT 2021”
the visitors’ faces in person when they visit us
at FIT, with one question on their mind: why has
nobody done this before? And what better place to
launch something genuinely new than at FIT 2021?
Planning an awesome visitor experience
Our second stand – expect a more awesome
exhibitor experience than ever – will house SAC
in association with Smart Ready. Again, I can’t
say too much, but rest assured, alongside new
mechanical tech, smart tech will be centre stage
on a stand that would not be out of
place at the electronics show, CES,
in Las Vegas.
On the issue of smart, I really hope
that FIT 2021 will attract more brands
with a smart flavour to show just how
important this emerging sector is to us, in the
industry. I’m also expecting to see lots of Smart
Ready branded products throughout the show.
For everyone, FIT 2021 will be the climax of postlockdown
recovery and a chance for everyone
to show how they’ve spent the lost time of the
pandemic. As an innovator, I’ve been listening
to the universe and my instinct to drive belief
Continued on page 42
“Smart tech will be centre stage on a stand that
would not be out of place at CES in Las Vegas”
40 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Fabricators
Grow Your Business!
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PRACTICALCONTENTFORTHEGLAZINGINSTALLER & HOMEIMPROVEMENTSPECIALIST
JULY/AUG 2019
PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST
SEPT/OCT 2019
PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST
TI Talk: Pro-Fitter
Product Updates
Business Focus
Top Tips: Bi-folds
Total Talk Q&A
Step by Steps
Product Updates
Total Talk Q&A
Business Talk
FEATURES
• FIT & FOCUSSED: WHAT’S IN STORE
FOR INSTALLERS AT FIT SHOW 2019?
• AVOID THE PAY GAPS: TOP TIPS TO
OVERCOME CASH FLOW PROBLEMS
• SMART STUFF: MAKE SURE YOU’RE
READY TO SELL SMART
FEATURES
• MONEY TALKS: CERTASS’ NEW
OFFERING MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE
• ON THE UP: UP-SELL WELL TO MAKE
THE MOST OF YOUR DOOR SALES
• HOT TOPIC: WARM WEATHER
WORKWEAR – STAY COMFY ON SITE
>>> • NEWS • ENTRANCEDOORS • HARDWARE • GARAGE AG
DOORS • WORKWEAR >>>
FEATURES
• COMPETENCY ENCY CLAIMS: SKILLS
AND THE FUTURE OF GLAZING
• COVER UP: INSURANCE ADVICE
FOR SELF-EMPLOYED INSTALLERS
• LIGHTING THE WAY: A GUIDE
TO INSTALLING LANTERNS
>>> • ROOFLINE • ENTRANCE DOORS • TOOLS & VEHICLES • WINDOW FIXINGS • >>>
>>> • WIDE EXPANSE DOORS • SMART HARDWARE • SOCIAL MEDIA ADVICE • >>>
Put your company in-front of 9,000 Glazing Installers for as little as £250
Total Installer is read exclusively by glazing installers including:
All CERTASS
Approved Installers
The Leading FENSA
Approved Installers
Contact Andy or Jake on 01892 732 047
Email: andydunn@media-now.co.uk or jakeroxborough@media-now.co.uk
And they will advise you on the best marketing package for your budget.
www.total-installer.co.uk
+ Distributed from
Trade Counters
throughout the UK
Smart Technology
HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES
Smart Ready made a “show-stopping
debut” at the FIT Show in 2019
...Continued from page 40
– and ultimately investment – into not only
refining current solutions, but developing new
products that I didn’t give one second of thought
to developing pre-Covid. I want people to glimpse
the future at FIT 2021.
Design is intelligence made visible
Nickie West, FIT Show’s event director, said of
Smart Ready’s return: “We are delighted to see
the return of Smart Ready to FIT Show 2021 after
their show-stopping debut in 2019.
“Gio and the team were so creative and forwardthinking
in their whole approach to exhibiting at
FIT – from marketing through to their physical
stand space. They started their campaign from
the moment they signed which allowed them
to completely capitalise on the wider FIT Show
campaign. Smart Ready set the bar extremely
high with their 2019 stand space, which made its
product technology the hero and culminated in the
most beautiful display.
“A number of industry figureheads have
highlighted their belief that FIT Show 2021 will
act as a barometer for staying power in business
and we’ve secured a number of the industry’s
brand leaders with over 50% of the space now
sold. To have Smart Ready’s support for 2021 is
both exciting and a real vote of confidence for the
market. Our visitors will not want to miss out on
seeing Smart Ready’s latest innovations.
“FIT Show will be a real showcase of the very
best that our industry has to offer, and a great
checklist of the best brands to do business with
for our visitors. We’re delighted that Smart Ready
will be at the forefront of this.”
I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how
everyone else has used the downtime, and to
explore what they bring to FIT 2021. I love all
great innovation from wherever it comes. Staying
power is the best way forward and we should all
now pledge and commit to a positive future.
Contact Smart Ready:
hello@smartready.com
smartready.com
42 TF AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
IN UNCERTAIN TIMES YOU NEED
A PARTNER YOU CAN TRUST
Sometimes, you need a safe pair of hands to help you navigate your journey.
Purplex is the trusted marketing partner across trade, retail and commercial
sectors. With deep industry knowledge and commercial insight, we have the
skills and resources to grow your brand and attract loyal customers.
Marketing Strategy
PR & Social Media
Branding & Creative
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Advertising and Lead Gen
Contact us now for a no obligation review or confidential advice.
@Purplexuk
/Purplex-marketing
/Purplexmarketing
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Call 01934 808 132
E: grow@purplexmarketing.com
www.purplexmarketing.com
Hardware Updates
HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk
BALANCING SECURITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
The new DC6113 slimline transom door closer from Assa Abloy Opening Solutions UK & Ireland promises ‘the perfect balance between safety and
security and the need to make buildings accessible for all users’.
With increasingly heavy doors, many people in Britain – especially the old, young and people with disabilities – struggle to access buildings. At the same time,
doors that open easily but do not close properly pose a security risk and do not comply with fire regulations. A balance of the two is therefore required to make
buildings safe and accessible for everyone.
The high-quality DC6113 enables fabricators to reassure their customers that they are specifying and fitting products that meet all relevant standards. This means
BS 8300-2:2018 – the British Standard setting out how buildings should be designed, constructed and maintained to create an accessible
and inclusive environment for all; Approved Document M, the building regulation for access to and
the use of buildings; and The Equality Act, the basis of anti-discrimination law in Great Britain.
Moreover, the DC6113 door closer is the only product on the market that achieves both BS 8300-
2:2018 and Approved Document M at EN power size 3. Many transom door closers only achieve these
standards at EN power size 2, and are therefore not compliant with heavier doors that require EN
power size 3. www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk/dc6113
FIRST RATE FASTENER SUPPLIES DESPITE COVID-19
Despite reports of shortages of some raw materials in the window and door industry, Rapierstar says its deep UK stocks of specialist fasteners
and 30 years of sourcing and supply chain experience have enabled it to guarantee supplies of fasteners to its fabricator customers.
The company continues to hold £4m of window screw and fixings stock and more than one billion items at its 100,000ft 2 warehouse and distribution
centre in Cheshire, from where it serves window and door manufacturers across Great Britain and Ireland, as well as exports across mainland Europe.
By holding many months of stock, the warehouse absorbs the short-term impacts of disrupted
global trade of the kind caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
David Furness, MD of Rapierstar, said that while the Covid-19 pandemic “has rocked
global supply chains in every market” leaving some competitors to experience supply issues,
Rapierstar has been unaffected. He said: “We achieved 99.4% OTIF deliveries while smashing
our best ever monthly turnover in July (up 23% YOY) and August is also flying. Our long-term
manufacturing partners are located in Taiwan, so our supplies were never particularly under
threat even when the strict economic and social restrictions started. We continued to accept
and pay for pre-ordered monthly deliveries from our respected supply partners during the
Covid-19 shutdown, so our stocks have never been so healthy.” www.rapierstar.com
MAKING THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS
Yale has joined forces with Schneider Electric, Somfy and Danfoss to provide new solutions for
the modern home in an increasingly digital world.
The Connectivity Ecosystem is a partnership between Schneider Electric, Somfy, Danfoss and now
the Assa Abloy group, which Yale forms a part of.
With a combined vision of offering simple, safe and seamless solutions to homes across the globe,
the partnership aims to deliver a superior value proposition to homeowners, combining expertise in
‘comprehensive solutions to bring connectivity to the next level in this increasingly digital age’.
For occupants, property developers and managers, this means that having an even smarter home
ecosystem that combines smart access with features like energy saving, heating and blind management
has become a reality.
Thanks to interoperability of products, it will be possible for a Yale Smart Lock to work with other solutions and
create different scenarios which will simplify the lives of consumers.
As partners in the Connectivity Ecosystem, Yale is addressing specific touchpoints like door handles, access code panels and door entry systems to
create a completely touch-free solution, made possible with the newest Yale Smart Locks. www.yaledws.co.uk
44 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
DESIGNED TO GIVE AN AUTHENTIC SHINGLE EFFECT
DID YOU KNOW?
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RAISING THE STANDARDS IN LIGHTWEIGHT ROOFING
Workwear
COOL AND SMART THIS SUMMER
Everyone needs to be cool, dry and safe at work
– to maintain wellbeing and efficiency on-site.
That’s why Snickers says its new Topwear will
make work ‘a real breeze’ this summer.
With brand new LiteWork trousers and shorts, plus
a special-offer 100% cotton t-shirt ‘two-pack’,
Snickers says there are three different easy-care
colour and design options to complement whatever
you’re wearing – at work or play.
There are also new hoodies, sweatshirts and hi-vis
ProtecWork protective wear in a range of styles and
colours that are super-light and quick-drying with
advanced ventilation to keep you cool when it’s warm.
They all feature body-mapping designs for what
Snickers describes as ‘an amazing fit, outstanding
functionality and long-lasting comfort – all day,
every day’.
www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
4-WAY STRETCH FOR MAXIMUM MOBILITY
Hi-tech fabrics and body-mapping designs in the new
multi-purpose AllRoundWork 4-Way Stretch Trousers from
Snickers Workwear ensure maximum working mobility
wherever you are.
Snickers says the four-way stretch fabrics integrated into these
work trousers deliver maximum freedom of movement for all
kinds of work, all year round, as well as improved ventilation
and overall comfort.
With ‘great fit and superb value for money’ they have a slimmer
tailored fit for better all-round looks and protection against
snagging. They also have reinforced stretch Cordura in the
certified KneeGuard system for greater flexibility, comfort and
durability. They’re specially designed to take the new D30
ERGO Craftsman Kneepad.
Check out all the Stretch Garments from Snickers Workwear
– billed as ‘the optimal choice for craftsmen and women who
need to get every job done comfortably and efficiently’.
www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
46 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Market
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Open up new customers
and routes to market across
commercial, new build, trade
and merchants.
Insight Data’s online platform, Salestracker TM , is designed
to help sales and marketing people win more business.
Call 01934 808 293,
or email hello@insightdata.co.uk
for a free online demo.
www.insightdata.co.uk
@insightdata
Glass Options
GLAZED EXTENSIONS
THE GLASS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Jenni Young, market manager - Premium Residential and Design & Deco at Saint-Gobain
Glass, explains why choosing the right type of glass is so important when it comes to glazed
extensions, conservatories, orangeries or bi-fold doors...
Lockdown has seen homeowners gain a
new appreciation of their homes and an
increased appetite for home improvements.
Plus, the recent spell of good weather has
generated a renewed desire to bring the outdoors
in. With long haul holidays put on the back
burner for the time being, and more working from
home on the agenda, investment in the home is
certainly on the rise.
It’s no wonder that fabricators and their network
of installers will be experiencing high demand
for glazed extensions and bi-fold doors as
homeowners seek to create more practical and
comfortable living, entertainment and working
spaces in their homes.
It’s important that these new living areas do
not fall into the age-old trap of being too hot in
summer and too cold in winter, and therefore
become a costly, unusable space. The key to
getting it right is to use the right type of glass.
The choice of glass depends on issues such as
whether the property is north or south facing,
whether there is a busy road nearby that
the homeowners want to block out, and how
important security is.
It’s tempting to fabricate windows, doors and
glass roofs using the same glass throughout, but
you are doing your installers and their customers
a disservice – and also missing out on a profit
opportunity. Tailoring your choice of glass for each
project is essential, as is upselling premium, high
performance glazing where required. Saint-Gobain
Glass offers three types of glass for conservatory
side walls and glazed areas of extensions offering
different levels of light reflection, light transmission,
U-values and energy efficiency: Planitherm OneT,
Planitherm 4SII, and Cool-Lite SKN 176.
For lanterns, conservatories or glazed extensions
our choice of roof glass with low maintenance,
self-cleaning properties comprises Mariana,
Azura and Solara, while our self-cleaning glass
range with added solar control properties includes
Azura+, Aqua+ and Natura+. If security,
furniture fade and noise reduction are the priority
then upgrade the inner pane of the double-glazed
unit to laminated glass. Choose from Stadip or
Stadip Silence.
Thermal efficiency
Manufacturing sealed units and windows using our
range of glass creates double glazing that is 60%
more thermally efficient than a standard doubleglazed
unit and can significantly reduce energy
costs. The lower the U-value of the glazing, the
more thermally efficient the glazing is.
“It’s tempting to use
the same glass
throughout but you are
doing your installers
and their customers
a disservice”
Solar control
The heat from natural daylight can make rooms
uncomfortably hot on sunny days. Each of our
glazing options contains solar control properties,
with some specifically designed to encompass
even more technically advanced solar control
coatings to further reduce the amount of heat that
passes through the window.
48 T F AUG/SEPT 2020
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
GLAZED EXTENSIONS
The solar control coating is able to reflect the
heat from the sun back outside of the room,
significantly reducing the amount of heat that
can pass into the extension and resulting in a
more comfortable living space. It’s important
to remember that solar control coatings have a
neutral appearance and don’t interfere with the
clear views desired by the homeowner.
Self-cleaning glass
Conservatories and large glazed areas can be
difficult to clean or have hard to reach areas, so
coatings on the outer pane such as BIOCLEAN
which makes glass easier to clean and maintain
are a great option. Our self-cleaning products are
certified to EN 1096-5, the European Standard for
self-cleaning glass.
Laminated glass for UV protection
and enhanced security
Larger glazed areas create amazingly bright rooms
but with that comes the fading effects of sunlight
and UV rays on furniture, floor coverings, curtains
and other contents. Not all glass protects against
these damaging UV rays, but choosing a laminated
glass provides 99% UV reduction. The laminated
interlayer also provides enhanced security as it
makes the glass much tougher to break through
than standard, non-laminated glass. Used in an
approved window system, they’re designed to
meet the official police security initiative ‘Secured
by Design’ standard – a real selling point for your
installers and their customers.
For safety reasons, all glazing in and adjacent
to doors must include one pane of laminated
glass to a minimum thickness of 6.4mm and it
is to be securely fixed in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications. In order to meet
the Secured by Design standard the laminated
glass must be a minimum thickness of 6.8mm.
Acoustic glass
Upgrading the interlayer on your laminated glass
to an acoustic interlayer provides noise reducing
properties and will provide a 20% better noise
reduction than traditional double glazing. If
a property is on a busy road or close to other
disturbing sounds, acoustic control glazing should
be the classic upsell.
There are a number of considerations when it
comes to choosing the right type of glass for
each project. In the Saint-Gobain range for the
side walls the standard choice is Planitherm
OneT, for south facing windows we’d recommend
Planitherm 4SII, and for projects that require high
levels of solar control whilst allowing the highest
levels of sunlight to enter the room then Cool-Lite
SKN 176 should be your first choice.
One size does not fit all, but it’s reassuring
that you can certainly work with just one glass
supplier to meet all your needs.
Contact Saint Gobain Glass:
01977 666100
http://uk.saint-gobain-glass.com
@SaintGobainUK
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUG/SEPT 2020 T F 49
Talking Point
PRE-PACK DEALS: FRIEND OR FOE?
With controversial ‘pre-pack’ adminstration deals rocking the glazing sector in recent
months, Dominic Dumville, corporate restructuring partner at accountant Mercer & Hole,
argues that, if carried out correctly, pre-packs can deliver ‘the best outcome for all’...
What is a pre-pack? To many it’s a term
synonymous with shady deals but this
does not do justice to a process that often
delivers the best outcome for all, including creditors.
In order to answer the question, it is first
necessary to appreciate the key characteristics of
an administration as you cannot do one without
the other. Unlike liquidation, when a company
enters administration it is not necessarily at the
end of its life. Trading can continue, value is
preserved, while the administrator formulates
their strategy.
Upon appointment, the administrator’s primary
goal, by law, is to rescue the company as a going
concern, i.e. get the company back on its feet.
If a rescue is not possible, taking advantage
of the fact that trading activity is ongoing, the
administrator must seek to achieve ‘a better
result for creditors as a whole than would be
achieved if the company were wound up’ and
put into liquidation. It is this requirement of
insolvency law that has made the pre-pack a
common component of corporate rescue culture
in the UK.
The Insolvency Practitioner (IP), with the
creditors’ interests in mind, will set about selling
the company’s business and assets for the
highest value possible. A pre-packaged sale is
one where the terms are negotiated and agreed
over a compressed timetable during the period
preceding the formal appointment and executed
soon after. In concluding that a pre-pack is the
right direction to take, the IP will have considered
the viability of alternatives. The decision may
have come down to the benefit vs cost associated
with a prolonged trading period and the
availability of the necessary working capital.
In preparing for a pre-pack the IP performs a
critical role to ensure best value is achieved,
conducting a discrete marketing process and
fielding as many bids as possible.
There is nothing in the law which prohibits
directors of the failing business, or others
connected with it, also making a bid to acquire
the trade and assets via a new corporate vehicle.
Indeed, with their detailed knowledge of the
business operations it is not uncommon for a
connected party bid to be the strongest; the bid
which constitutes the best result for creditors.
This is one of the most criticised elements of
pre-packs, the fact that those responsible for
the failure are able to carry on unscathed. While
the IP may sympathise with that view and may
comment to that effect in their report on directors’
conduct to the Insolvency Service, the IP’s duty is
to enhance the return to creditors; suppliers can
choose not to trade with the new entity but the IP
cannot turn down a better offer on a matter
of principle.
Dominic Dumville
“One of the most
criticised elements of
pre-packs is the fact
that those responsible
for the failure are able
to carry on unscathed”
Licensed insolvency practitioners operate in a
highly regulated environment with far more at
risk than disapproval and criticism. Any IP selling
a business back to directors should have taken
time to explain the decision as being in the best
interests of the creditors. Indeed, each time a
business is sold back to connected parties, the
IP’s report justifying that decision is reviewed by
their regulator.
A widely praised requirement of a business
sale out of administration is the treatment of
employees; the purchaser cannot pick and choose
individuals or departments but must take on
all employees associated with the division of
the business they are buying. Furthermore, the
employees’ existing rights transfer with them to
the new employer, including length of service. An
employee of a business in administration should
never come out in a worse position than had the
company immediately entered liquidation.
Like many schemes designed to promote success
in the economy, pre-packs are vulnerable to
abuse. Rest assured however, the minority
who do take advantage are not untouchable.
Insolvency practitioners have tremendous powers
to investigate and bring claims against directors
who have breached their duty to the company. It
is a continuing goal of mine to educate boards of
directors: creditors have a say, an administration
can be followed by a liquidation, and the creditors
choose the liquidator. I have seen circumstances
where the creditors have forced a change of
IP when the company exits administration into
liquidation with a view to the new IP investigating
the conduct of the director and if appropriate,
bringing legal proceedings.
Contact Mercer & Hole:
www.mercerhole.co.uk
50 T F AUG/SEPT 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Fabricators
Grow Your Business!
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MAY/JUNE 2019
PRACTICALCONTENTFORTHEGLAZINGINSTALLER & HOMEIMPROVEMENTSPECIALIST
JULY/AUG 2019
PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST
SEPT/OCT 2019
PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST
TI Talk: Pro-Fitter
Product Updates
Business Focus
Top Tips: Bi-folds
Total Talk Q&A
Step by Steps
Product Updates
Total Talk Q&A
Business Talk
FEATURES
• FIT & FOCUSSED: WHAT’S IN STORE
FOR INSTALLERS AT FIT SHOW 2019?
• AVOID THE PAY GAPS: TOP TIPS TO
OVERCOME CASH FLOW PROBLEMS
• SMART STUFF: MAKE SURE YOU’RE
READY TO SELL SMART
FEATURES
• MONEY TALKS: CERTASS’ NEW
OFFERING MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE
• ON THE UP: UP-SELL WELL TO MAKE
THE MOST OF YOUR DOOR SALES
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Contact Andy or Jake on 01892 732 047
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Patent registration:
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Classic
Ultra-slim,
ultra-secure
aluminium
windows
Prestige
Ultra-thermal,
full eurogroove
aluminium
windows and
doors
ARRIVING
L ATE
SUMMER
All our systems feature a patented corner jointing method,
speeding up fabrication by removing the need for crimping
and specialised machinery while helping prevent stepped
frames. All delivered with unbeatable service from our own
UK based manufacturing facility.
11 COLOURS IN
5 WORKING DAYS
INCLUDING DUAL
COLOURS
EXCEPTIONAL ALUMINIUM SYSTEMS
DELIVERED WITHOUT COMPROMISE
CALL US TO
FIND YOUR
NEAREST
SHEERLINE
STOCKIST
sheerline.com | 01332 883960 info@sheerline.com