24th JANUARY 2012 VIEW ONLINE
 
Weekly Email News for the Glass, Glazing & Fenestration Industries
Jobs

Business Development Executive
VEKA Recycling Ltd is part of the VEKA Group, with three recycling facilities in Europe - the leading designer, extruder and recycler of high quality PVCu products. Read More

Software Support Technician
To be responsible for the continued development of First Degree Systems Window Designer software, including the maintenance and validation of manufacturing data.
Experience with building structures, particularly conservatory roofs, would be an advantage but not essential.
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Design Engineer (hardware)
Working alongside an experienced design team, to create innovative hardware solutions for use with existing and future Liniar products.
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Quickslide - The UK's Brand leader in PVCu Vertical Sliding Sash Windows and Winners of the G11 'Fabricator of the Year' award are keen to recruit a
Field Sales Executive
to seek out and bring on board suitable partner companies, who can benefit from the consistently evolving range of products and services Quickslide offer.
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People

KAT UK has been successfully reviewed at its recent Investors in People assessment. This will be their 7th year of success working with the organisational development framework.
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Universal Trade Frames has appointed Graham Saunders as operations manager.
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Machinery

German glass scanning manufacturer, Viprotron, has recently appointed The Glass Machinery Company as sole UK distributor for its range of products.
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Window Widgets has brought profile lamination in house with the purchase of a FUX 83-PLM-300D model lamination machine.
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Polyframe has just installed a new Rotox SMK 506-8K Horizontal 8-head welder and linked it to the existing 30-metre Rotox EKA 577 12-AxisCNC Cleaning and Operator Delivery Line, supplied and installed by Winmac UK last year.
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Exhibitions

Adams Rite will be attending this year’s Ecobuild exhibition, as part of Assa Abloy Security Solutions, showcasing security products suitable for the sustainable design and construction market.
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Viking Balcony Systems makes its debut on Stand S180 at Ecobuild 2012 with a range of glass balustrades, Juliet balconies and curved sliding patio doors.
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CAB is supporting Ecobuild (Stand N285) to highlight its central role in promoting aluminium as a sustainable 21st century material.
READ MORE

Visitors to the Internorm stand at this year’s EcoBuild will find a range of Passive House windows and doors.
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Profine Group will be at Fensterbau/Frontale 2012 on 21-24 March in Nuremberg.
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Schueco UK, the lead sponsor of Ecobuild 2012, has major stands (N2940 and S310) in both halls.
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Veka is set to double its presence at Fensterbau when it returns to the international event this year.
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Planning for Glasstec 2012 in Düsseldorf is underway and the show is filling up fast.
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The first complete set of complementary hardware components developed specifically for timber bi-fold doors will be launched by Carl F Groupco at Ecobuild 2012.
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ISO-Chemie will be hosting a series of on-stand (N1020) demonstrations of its high performance foam sealing tapes at Ecobuild 2012 to show how quick and easy they are to install.
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Demonstrating both sustainability and thermal efficiency, Reynaers Aluminium will be showcasing a number of thermally improved systems at EcoBuild 2012 including its window and door system, CS104, ideal for passive construction.
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Solent Glass & Glazing Products will be at Ecobuild exhibiting the Rehau Geneo composite window system.
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Exhibition Calender
For upcoming Exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world
GO HERE

Brochures / CDs

A comprehensive new guide to architectural panels has been released by Panel Systems.
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Deceuninck
Products

Splash back company Opticolour has doubled in size in the last six months.
READ MORE

Freefoam now stocks the award-winning Hedgehog gutter brush.
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Mann McGowan recently received its first order for Palusol SW fire resisting boards from the United Arab Emirates.
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Park and leisure homes manufacturer, Lissett Homes, only uses Veka windows in its luxury, custom built homes.
READ MORE

Fabricator Focus

Universal Trade Frames has been a customer of Solidor and sister company, Nice Door Panels, for more than two years.
Read More

pvc
Projects

Black Millwork provided more than 50 windows and doors, as well as feature windows for the front and back, of a 1970s bungalow in Derby that was transformed into an eight-bedroomd home.
READ MORE

Friction stay manufacturer Cotswold Architectural Products has had its market leading hardware specified in another high-profile project, this time in China.
READ MORE

A trio of architectural aluminium systems from leading UK supplier Kawneer proved a “key element” to the redevelopment of a city college, for reasons including sustainability, robustness and aesthetics.
READ MORE

pvc
Construction

Confidence in the building industry has collapsed with only 5% of small building companies expecting workloads to increase in 2012, according to the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
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More than one in five small building firms report being forced to cut jobs as a direct result of last year’s VAT increase to 20%.
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Awards/Standards

Fensa has announced that most of the winners of the prestigious G11 annual glass awards were won by Fensa registered businesses – nine out of 12 awards.
Read MORE

The Mila Test Centre in Daventry has added two further British Standards to its testing schedule and can now offer customers both neutral salt spraying testing to BS EN1670:2007 and weathertightness testing to: BS 6375-1:2009.
Read MORE

Marketing

Leads2Trade is offering a discount for the ‘SolarCare Plus’ product range.
Read MORE

The NSG Group has announced that it is changing its visual identity to support the company’s international presence and geographical expansion as it moves into new areas of glass technology.
Read MORE

Training

Veka trade fabricator Modplan has been investing in the training of its staff.
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Zoom has opened a dedicated customer training centre.
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Environment

An independent omnibus survey commissioned by the Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) shows a marked change in traditional reasons for fitting new windows and doors.
Read MORE

Bedfors-based DGU manufacturer, Clearglaze, recently took delivery of a recycling waste compactor from Landfill Alternatives for its cardboard and plastic film packaging waste.
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The SmartSash window developed by Halo has enabled a new build development in Cwmbran, Gwent, to meet Level 3+ of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CFSH Wales) without the need for bolt-on technologies.
Read MORE

Charities

Local Berkshire based charity Daisy’s Dream, which provides support and counselling to children who have been bereaved, has received a £500 boost from Rehau.
Read More

Internet

Pioneer Trading has launched the new website for the company’s Signature Network (www.signature-windows.com), the consumer marketing scheme created by the Chelmsford-based trade fabricator.
Read MORE

Avocet calls in the administrators

Avocet Hardware went into administration yesterday (January 23), putting 150 jobs at risk.

Andrew Stoneman and Ben Wiles, of financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, were appointed joint administrators, and said that discussions are ongoing with a number of parties who wish to acquire all or parts of the business.

The administrators are continuing to trade the business while a buyer is sought.

Andrew Stoneman, joint administrator, Duff & Phelps, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity, and anyone who is interested in the business should contact us immediately for further information. We are actively trying to identify a buyer and to rescue the jobs of the employees.”

Veka

Ian Jones, director, Avocet, added: “This has been a tough trading period as we have experienced a major contraction in the UK DIY market compounded by the insolvency of one of our largest clients. We are hopeful a buyer will be sought and we are working closely with Duff & Phelps to ensure we reach a satisfactory outcome for all concerned.”

Rumours of Avocet’s troubles have been bouncing around the industry for a number of weeks now. Some have even suggested that this has contributed to the position that Avocet now finds itself in.

Richard Gyde, managing director of Mila Hardware, told the Gazine: “There had been widespread concern in the market about the long term future of Avocet for some time so I am not surprised by the news.

“However, I am obviously very sympathetic to the position of the management and staff at a business which was a worthy adversary to Mila for so many years.
 
“The news will inevitably cause problems though for all those fabricators who rely on Avocet for continuity of supply, and it is a stark illustration of just important it is to choose suppliers who are able to offer long term stability and security.”
 
The administrators and Avocet’s employees are understandable tight-lipped about the situation. However, it appears that the company got itself caught in that sticky situation where it was adversely affected by the fortunes of others in its supply chain – both suppliers and customers; it sold its Chinese factory in December, which had suffered losses, and, as Ian mentioned above, it was hit by the insolvency of a major customer.

I remember when the company was bought by its management team in November 2007, and there was great enthusiasm for the future of the company. This, of course, was just before we were hit by the credit crunch, and everyone in our sector felt the market contract.

Despite the UK hardware and fixing market being worth some £220m per annum, if your customers don’t pay, and you are hemorrhaging cash elsewhere, then the future is always going to be shaky – even if you keep designing new products and targeting new sectors. Hopefully, a buyer can be found.



Nathan Bushell
Editor

We Have Email


Dear Nathan

Last week was a bad one for the eurozone and the UK is teetering on the brink of another recession. That’s the bad news, if you want it – the glass half-empty story.
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This Weeks News


Green deal formal response

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has issued its formal response to the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Consultation to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Read the Rest Here...

Housing starts up 4%

Private housing construction increased 4% year on year for the three months to December according to the latest data from construction industry analyst Glenigan.
Read the Rest Here...

Falling output

Latest GDP figures for the Scottish economy have shown a fourth consecutive quarter of stagnation in the Scottish construction industry.
Read the Rest Here...

Business streamlined

Economic pressures have forced Bystronic to restructure its business, and encouraged closer cooperation with Hegla.
Read the Rest Here...

Changing face of specification

CAB launches the first of its 2012 Regional Meetings and mini-conferences in Bradford on 23 February looking at ‘The Changing Face of Specification’.
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Eight-year payback

A new pan-European report has found that PVC-U windows can pay for themselves in as little as eight years when assessed against the total cost of ownership.
Read the Rest Here...

Network hat-trick

CAB’s fourth Breakfast Network event of 2011 saw over 60 members and guests gain valuable and practical insight into the latest market sector forecasts, the Construction Act and the Association’s work in supporting them.
Read the Rest Here...

Proposed SAP improvements

BRE has, on behalf of DECC, launched a public consultation on the latest proposed changes to SAP – the Standard Assessment Procedure for the Energy Rating of Dwellings.
Read the Rest Here...

Something for everyone

More than 10,000 products for glass processors are now available to purchase online via the new Bohle Group web shop: www.bohle-group.com.
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Political reception

Representatives from the Alumet Group recently shared their ideas at a green organisation reception in the House of Commons.
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Don’t miss the deadline...

Almost a quarter (24%) of British tradesmen have missed an income tax deadline, according to research findings by Wickes.
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New Brighton branch

Simon Kirby MP opened the new Eurocell Building Plastics branch in Brighton on Monday 16th January.
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New index

Developed by Insight Data, the Index combines an online product finder, supplier directory and dedicated search engine, and over 300 suppliers are already listed.
Read the Rest Here...

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