From: Stewart Lamb, MD VITA Hardware UK
& European CEO Schüring

I’ve read with interest the recent news stories about the rocketing price of zinc and the fact that suppliers are offering new and upgraded aluminium alternatives in order to stabilise costs. As a hardware manufacturer, material trends is an area we have keep a close eye on.

From a global perspective, China and India sales continue robustly in the Asian markets. The Chinese Government regulations to reduce the use of timber in windows and doors have spurred on PVC growth and the associated hardware sales accordingly. While France and Germany – both of whom are in election years – have been relatively flat, Poland and Eastern European markets remain optimistic. Spain too seems to be bouncing back and even Italy is showing glimmers of hope.

While it’s vital we keep an eye on market and material trends, it’s not something that drives our development. At VITA Hardware, we’ve offered a range of aluminium based products for over five years now. Take for example our popular Claymore range which is suitable for use with PVC-u, aluminium or timber windows and offers outstanding performance and reliability.

Although the VITA brand may not be as well-known as some other hardware brands in the UK, we have over 30 years global experience (including 18 in the UK) so there is no question we are established in our field. We have developed a product range of innovative and value for money products across all material types. We have driven these developments because we want to offer our customers the very best range of hardware solutions, not because the fluctuating prices have demanded it.