Ultraframe acquires Synseal/Aperture
roof systems – but Global and Celsius remain mothballed
5th May 2020

Ultraframe last night confirmed that it is behind the acquisition of the former Synseal Global, Celsius and Stratus roofing systems from administration, saying it will resurrect the Stratus system using its own factory but the other two are to remain mothballed pending talks with industry stakeholders.

The deal, which includes tools and equipment but not customer or supply arrangements, was announced yesterday by Aperture Group administrators KPMG as acquisition by two new entities backed by Ultraframe principal owner Brian Kennedy, followed by a second statement confirming Ultraframe as the named purchaser.

The statement says Global sales had fallen from £30million to under £5million in five years due to ‘fundamental issues within the wider Global product offer’ as well as the market shift from glass roofs. Relaunching Celsius and Global in the current climate would not be feasible, it says, with thousands of parts formerly made at the mothballed Huthwaite site, and it is now taking to industry stakeholders: “to understand the future potential of reintroducing elements of these roofing systems at a later date.

It continues: “The Stratus lantern is different, being a much simpler product with just over 100 parts and therefore it is more feasible for Ultraframe to manufacture Stratus from its existing facilities. We hope that with our track record of improving roofing products, and the fact Stratus is a much simpler product, we can restart production of the Stratus lantern soon.”

The original Synseal operation collapsed in March 2019, with its business being bought out of administration by Aperture Trading. A year later, the business failed a second time, going into administration again in March read story.

Administrators later gave up on finding a buyer for the entire group, ceased production and offered to sell it on a piecemeal basis.

The Global and Celsius brands had originally included a sizeable glass operation as well as the roof systems but the glass business was sold in November 2019 to Clayton Glass Read story

Some large elements of the former Synseal business remain for sale after the Ultraframe deal and sources say talks are continuing with potentially interested parties.