WHS Halo, claims to be the first PVCu window profile extrusion company in the UK to gain the prestigious Secured by Design licence holder status.
This means that the company's PVCu window systems pass standards and tests nominated by the police service as 'Police Preferred Specification'.
Secured by Design is supported and managed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and has the backing of the Home Office. It has been drawn up in consultation with the Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions (formerly DETR) as well as trade, industry and standards organisations.
Commenting
on WHS Halo's new licence holder status, Gary Fisher (on the right of the
picture) , Development Officer with Secured by Design says:'Secured by Design is pleased to welcome WHS Halo into the initiative. It is reassuring and comforting to see one of the largest profile extruders adopting this standard. The ultimate benefit of this will be for the public.'
Winston Duguid, Managing Director of WHS Halo (on the left of the picture) adds:
'During the last ten years security has become a major issue for the PVCu window industry. The public sector has always been conscious of the security factor, and recent consumer market research carried out by us suggests that security is the second highest criterion for consumers choosing to replace their windows. Faced with this information, extrusion companies who design window profiles and suites need to have security at the foremost of their design briefs. WHS Halo and many of its fabricators have recognised the importance of security for some years, and therefore we are delighted to be the first UK PVCu window extrusion company to be awarded the coveted Secured by Design licence holder status.'
Tel: 0121 749 3000
Web: http://www.whs-halo.co.uk
Norfolk
Frames Wins Queen's Award for lndustry for 'the ultimate door'
'The
City Collection, manufactured by Norfolk Frames Ltd is the door that the
police recommend, it's widely used by local authorities in the toughest
urban environments, it requires virtually no maintenance, is graffiti-proof,
fire proof and almost impossible to break down.' says Managing director
Paul Preston.
And now it's won the Queen's Award for Enterprise: lnnovation 2002.
Paul Preston lead the research team that developed the technology to build
the City Collection, their success leading to multi-million pound orders
for this North Norfolk firm. 'We're all enormously proud of the Award,'
Paul says. The City Collection's success has been a real team effort,
with everyone pulling together.' The 'team effort' has resulted in the
doubling of turnover in the last 12 months and a forward order book worth
in excess of £15 million.
'Currently we employ 80 staff and our premises are absolutely packed to
the gunwales!' laughs Paul. 'So we're embarking on a major investment
programme to extend the factory. We'll be adding around 7,000ft2, which
will increase the size of the facility by 40%, all of which will be devoted
to the manufacture of doors.
'We'll also be recruiting new staff - we expect to employ another 20 or
so people, mainly in manufacturing, within the next six months.'
The
investment programme, which also covers redevelopment of the entrance
to Norfolk Frames' 2'1/2 acre site, will cost around £1/2 million.
Major building work should be completed by November and the site cleared
by January 2003.
So what is it about the doors that caught the Queen's Award judges' attention?
'We use a unique fibre glass design that makes them hugely versatile as
well as being incredibly tough,' explains Paul. 'lt means they can be
adjusted to fit in any particular space, yet we can still offer the economies
of volume manufacture.'
City Collection doors are available in various designs, finishes and colours,
with or without windows and with security features that resist even the
most relentless break in attempt. 'We can match any style of housing design,'
says Paul . 'From Tudor to ultra modern, simple to sophisticated, plain
to ornate, we have a City Collection door to fit the frame.'
The doors are BSI accredited, specified by Secured by Design (the police
preferred specification), have PAS 023 and PAS 024 (test accreditations
for weather and security) and are Constructionline registered. 'They are
environmentally sound, aesthetically pleasing and as secure as possible,'
says Paul. 'We believe they are the ultimate door.
'The City Collection was developed entirely in-house and is manufactured
on site,' he adds. 'It shows what can be achieved with commitment and
team effort.'
Tel: 01263 734469.
AG
Glass & Glazing Gain Prestigious Five Star Safety Award
Glenn
and Anita Day are very proud to have achieved this award, and comment
'The Company has done very well to achieve a Five Star rating. The Directors
and Management greatly appreciate the commitment shown by all employees
and wish to thank them for their hard work.'
The Five Star Audit was arranged and conducted on behalf of The British
Safety Council by Avril Bairstow DipSM. It is an independent evaluation
of an organisation’s health and safety management system.
The auditing process is based on best practice, which reviews the current
health and safety management systems, as well as checking their effectiveness
in the workplace. It also recognises what is already being done well,
and any areas that need to be concentrated on to continuously improve.
To achieve a Five Star Rating a company must gain in excess of 92 per
cent on the audits numerical safety grading system. AG Glass attained
an overall score of 4109 out of a maximum of 4450; the percentage achieved
was 92.2 per cent.
Tel: 01226 356500
Fax: 01226 356510
Email: mailto:info@ag-glass.co.uk
Web: http://www.ag-glass.co.uk
BBA
Approval for Polygal
Polygal's leading range of polycarbonate multiwall sheets has won BBA
accreditation following a comprehensive testing and quality assessment
programme. BBA approval No 02 -3893 has been awarded to the company's
standard and Titan polycarbonate multiwall sheets in both 10 and 16mm
thickness, as well as to its advanced Thermogal 25mm multiwall sheet.
The official presentation by the BBA's Alan Thomas to Managing Director,
Assaf Shahar, took place on the Polygal stand at Glassex last month.
Comments Assaf Shahar, 'We are proud our polycarbonate structured sheets
fulfil the BBA's stringent criteria. Our policy has always been to develop
excellence in terms of product, performance and service. BBA accreditation
is an endorsement of our efforts and offers valuable credibility which
will form an essential part of our future sales and development strategy.'
Contact: Assaf Shahar
Tel: 01908 217054
Email: mailto:tk.polygal@btinternet.com
Web: http://www.polygal.com
COMBILIFT
LTD IS THE DHL EXPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001
Irish
Co. Monaghan based company, Combilift Ltd., is the DHL Exporter of the
Year 2001. Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and
Employment, Mr Noel Treacy, formally presented Combilift Ltd. with a specially
commissioned trophy, £6,348.69 worth of international shipments
and a further £6,348.69 towards their overseas marketing programme
at a ceremony in Dublin, on Thursday 7th February 2002.
Announcing the winner, the Minister said, "Combilift and the other
finalists are to be congratulated on their commitment to innovation and
persistence in pursuing opportunities in the global competitive marketplace.
All four finalists are examples of Irish exporters who have developed
by successfully targeting overseas markets".
Combilift Ltd., was the first company in the world to develop an all wheel
drive engine powered four-way forklift, which is now being successfully
exported to 29 countries worldwide.
Starting with a staff of just three in 1998, the company occupies a 60,000sq
ft manufacturing plant in Clontibret and now employs over 60 people. Turnover
has increased by 98% in the last year, a remarkable achievement in a highly
competitive marketplace.
"Combilift Ltd was awarded the title of DHL Exporter of the Year
2001 in recognition of strong focused growth built on a clearly defined
strategy, which combines marketing flair and truly innovative products."
commented Peter Lomax, Managing Director, DHL Worldwide Express at the
presentation of the award.
Combilift's innovative multi-directional forklift is the result of four
years of intensive research and prototype development work by Managing
Director Martin McVicar and Technical Director Robert Moffett. Both had
previously worked in the forklift manufacturing industry and saw a gap
in the market for a four directional forklift that could operate both
indoors and outdoors. Designed primarily for the handling of long loads
in confined spaces and with capacities ranging from 2.5 to 9 tonnes, the
Combilift is a combined forklift that can be operated forwards and backwards
like a normal forklift or to the left and right like a sideloader. Operating
in aisles measuring less than 2 metres wide, the Combilift enables users
to achieve space savings of up to 60% in storage facilities.
Combilift Ltd: Tel: +353 (0) 47 80500 Fax: +353 (0) 47 80501
UK Contact Tel: 07968 490051.
mailto:combilift@eircom.net
Maco
Mach II Shootbolt Espagnolette Gets New BBA Assessment
The
Maco Mach II Shootbolt Espagnolette for PVCu windows, has recently passed
an independent assessment by the BBA; report number 1864.
The evaluation process demands that the hardware undergoes rigorous in-situ
cyclic testing and the Mach II comfortably passed a 50,000 cycle test
whilst maintaining 'normal operation'.
Materials and the coating specifications are tested as part of the assessment,
in this instance being primarily the Maco Zinc coated yellow chromate
with wax protection. The salt spray evaluation of resistance to corrosion
when tested in accordance with BS 7479 : 1991 gave the hardware a rating
of 500 hours - British standard requirements are for 240 hours.
The report concluded that the 'lock system produced to the declared specification
would show sufficient resistance to wear under normal use to provide an
expected service life in excess of the 25-year predicted life for the
PVCu window and not be susceptible to mechanical fatigue failure'.
As the report states, if manufactured to 'declared specification,' and
it is just in situations such as this that the Maco support service plays
a major role, utilising the heavy investment in in-house testing and training
facilities.
Tel: 01795 433900
Email: mailto:maco@macouk.net
Web: http://www.macouk.net
Family
Values, Big Company Attitudes From Sash lnstaller Ousebank
Sash UK customer Ousebank Windows has confirmed its commitment to staff
development and training by being granted the lnvestors in People (IIP)
Award, demonstrating attitudes that are more in keeping with a big corporation
than a family owned business.
The
Bedford based company is headed up by Ron Cox, who started Ousebank Windows
7 years ago with wife Colette (pictured left). To underline their commitment
to skills development, Ron became the first person in the country to achieve
NVQ Level 3 for the lnstallation of Architectural Glazing Systems.
In turn Colette took charge of introducing the lnvestors In People scheme,
which involved months of planning before the assessment could commence,
quite a task for a small company. The scheme demands reviewing full business
plans for 1, 2 and 5 years and linking staff targets, objectives and training
into the scheme to give a whole picture of how the business is going to
work.
'We are delighted to have achieved the IIP standard, it took a lot of
hard work on our part but the end results mean we are running our business
to the highest standard.' commented Colette.
'Ousebank is a fast-moving company and the structures and disciplines
required by IIP are helping us to deal with expansion, and to ensure that
our quality standards are maintained and even improved.'
David Ruzicka, joint managing director of Sash UK believes that Ousebank
are setting an excellent example for small installers: 'Ousebank is showing
the way by demonstrating that there are real benefits in training and
developing staff and, indeed, management. The company is showing rapid
growth but with structures in place that ensure it maintains quality levels
to its customers.'
Contact: Nick Hibberd, Sash UK
Tel: 01226 715619
Email: nick.hibberd@sashuk.com
Web: http://www.sashuk.com
Caption: Husband and wife team Colette and Ron Cox with the Investors
for People Award.
Excel
Glass signs up for 'tough new scheme'
BM TRADA Certification has relaunched its Q-Mark BS 7412 Window Scheme,
setting rigorous new standards for PVCu windows, with Excel Glass in Belfast
as its first full member. Several other manufacturers have signed up as
provisional members and are working with BM TRADA to fulfil the criteria
for full membership as soon as possible.
Manufacturers must demonstrate that they either have or are working towards
implementing a quality management system which meets the requirement for
ISO 9000 with respect to enhanced security doorsets/windows. They must
then identify and undertake a programme of testing to ensure that each
of the components in the windows to be included in the scheme meet the
standards called up in BS 7412.
The scheme also demands on-going audit visits at least once a year to
verify compliance to ISO 9000 and at least two audit tests per factory
must be undertaken each year. These tests will in addition cover the corner
weld tests called up in BS 7413.
Jim Maguire of Excel Glass concedes that the scheme is tough, but he believes
that the Q-Mark sets them apart from other manufacturers. 'We have confidence
in ourselves and certification reinforces that. We already have ISO 9002
registration. The scheme sets out procedures for dealing with any situation
and gives us the freedom to do our job properly.'
Excel Glass has grown significantly since it was established in 1981.
It boasts a purpose- built factory with 40,000 ft2 of active working space
and window manufacture represents a quarter of turnover. Windows from
Excel Glass have been installed in High Street chains in several locations
in England and have found their way onto projects across Europe.
Mr Maguire said: 'The company opted for the BM TRADA scheme not because
it's the cheapest but because, like Excel Glass itself, it offers the
best value for money.'
BM TRADA's door and window certification manager Simon Beer commented:
'We offer a flexible approach to initial type test evidence and to accommodating
variations in design, without of course compromising standards. We can
offer testing through our sister company Chiltern Dynamics, but will accept
other test evidence from UKAS-accredited sources.'
Full members will be permitted to use the Q-Mark logo on their products
and literature and company and product details will be included on the
BM TRADA website. Jim Maguire commented: 'We are proud to display our
certificate on all the new build sites in Northern lreland that our windows
are going into.'
The scheme meets the requirements of the NHBC which recommends that all
PVCu windows being installed in new housing should meet BS 7412. Membership
of the scheme is also a major step towards attaining BS 7950 certification,
which in turn is a requirement of 'Secured By Design' licensing. Mr Beer
added, 'The high requirements of our schemes mean that the BM TRADA Q-Mark
is already widely accepted by controlling authorities.'
For more information and how to join contact Simon Beer
Tel: 01494 569821
Email: mailto:sbeer@bmtrada.com
Web: http://www.bmtrada.com
WHS
HALO ACHIEVES INVESTOR IN PEOPLE AWARD
WHS Halo has received the Investor in People award as a result of continued
commitment and investment in employee training and development.
Striving for the award has given WHS Halo a framework to ensure that employees
are getting the correct knowledge and skills necessary to do their jobs
effectively. As Winston Duguid, Managing Director of WHS Halo points out:
'WHS Halo's commitment to lnvestors in People is a vital part of our future.
It means that employees are encouraged to develop their own training needs,
embark on schemes that will lead to more responsibility, and in turn,
increased possibilities of promotion. Overall, training programmes will
help employees to contribute to the overall performance and success of
WHS Halo, providing a feeling of satisfaction greater than the confines
of each individual job.
'For WHS Halo the award will offer a number of benefits such as increased
productivity and enhanced quality, greater competitiveness, and increased
customer satisfaction. Most importantly, WHS Halo employs skilled workers
who require greater involvement, providing commitment to the company at
all levels. This commitment is in turn passed on to our customers.'
For the Sutton Coldfield based window extruder and manufacturer, the award
is another positive step towards meeting world class standards. WHS Halo,
whose vision is to achieve a European Quality Award in 2004, is confident
that the business is heading in a favourable direction and will continue
to deliver world class products and services.
Tel: 0121 749 3000
Web: http://www.whs-halo.co.uk
STRUCTURAL
GLAZING HITS UNUSUAL DOUBLE FIRST
Structural Glazing Ltd, which claims to be the largest company in the
UK specialising in structural silicone bonding, has scored an unusual
brace of successes being awarded Investor in People status as well as
being the first company in the UK to be accredited as a Dow Corning approved
partner for structural glazing manufacture.
Dow Corning, the world's largest silicone company, has awarded Structural
Glazing a Certificate of Quality in recognition of its excellence in structural
glazing manufacture. Structural Glazing had to demonstrate it's manufacturing
capabilities and skills as well as adhering to strict quality control
procedures.
Structural Glazing's MD, John Richardson, sees the award as the result
of many years of hard work. "When we set the business up in 1986,
we aimed to be the best structural glazing company in the UK. That means
working with the best suppliers and Dow Corning undoubtedly have an excellent
reputation for quality within the industry," he comments. "We
have worked closely with the Dow Corning team and we're proud to be associated
with their excellent standards"
The
Investors in People award recognises Structural Glazing's commitment to
train and develop all of its staff to achieve its business objectives.
It was granted after the company had demonstrated its ability to meet
strict personnel criteria and show that it has an on-going commitment
to continue to meet those criteria.
These criteria relate to setting up a partnership between the company
and its staff. For example, keeping employees informed about all developments
at the company and their role in those developments. The Investors in
People award also confirms that Structural Glazing has a commitment not
only to train staff well for the job that they do, but also to undertake
developmental training so that every member of staff can reach his or
her full potential.
John Richardson comments, "We are delighted to receive this Investors
in People award. It is proof of our on-going commitment as a company to
quality, not just in the products we produce, but in the people we work
with and in the service which we give to our customers."
Set up in Telford, Shropshire in 1986, Structural Glazing Ltd is the only
company in the UK specialising in structural silicone bonding, a process
fully approved by Dow Corning, the world's leading silicone producer.
The company has nearly 1000 completed SG contracts to its credit, including
projects in Ireland, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Portugal, Brunei,
Hong Kong and Dubai. Structural Glazing can bond all sizes and types of
glass and panels up to 1000kg. with curves and shapes a speciality.
Contact: John Richardson
Tel: 01952 608019
Fax: 01952 670469
Email: structuralglazingltd@btinternet.com
HW
Systems fabricator is awarded BS 7950
HW Systems fabricator EYG is the first company in East Yorkshire to achieve
BS7950 and Chief Superintendent Paul Cheeseman of Humberside Police presented
the award. The certificate was received by Frank Saunders, Marketing Director
and Gary Long, Commercial Contracts Negotiator.
picture credit to Hull Daily Mail Publications
Hull-based EYG. which manufactures HW Systems' Vinylock 1600 suite, met
the standards currently set by the BSI after eighteen months of hard work
designing a new high security casement window. The new window, which underwent
five separate tests to ensure it met the new security criteria, features
locks on the same side as the hinges as well as on the side which opens,
plus 'anti-jemmy.' metal plates inside to deter unauthorized or forced
entry.
Tel: 01625 423523
Web: http://www.hwsystems.co.uk