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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 392 15th December 2009
News
VAT opportunity missed
The Chancellor has missed a golden opportunity to offer the UK construction industry a much needed end of year boost with his refusal not to change VAT on residential refurbishment – said the Get Britain Building (GBB) campaign – following the Pre Budget Report.
‘Double-dip recession risked’
The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has reacted angrily to the Pre-Budget Report, presented to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
Journey to C
Edgetech has announced plans for a nationwide series of free workshops branded ‘Journey to C’ to help the industry achieve a C rating in time for the proposed Building Regulations, due to come into force in October 2010.
Turbulent New Year for small business
Small businesses in the construction industry are worried about their prospects in the New Year as costs are still rising and trade continues to be slow.
Ladder to success?
Missing rungs and bent sides – these are just a small selection of the ‘dodgy’ ladders that have been surrendered so far under this year’s ‘ladder exchange’.
Proskills has been relicensed
Proskills, the Sector Skills Council (SSCs) for the Process and Manufacturing sector, has been relicensed, Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary Lord Mandelson announced recently.
Membership a priority
Membership development and recruitment will be a key priority for 2010, said Ian Chisholm, deputy chief executive of the Glass & Glazing Federation, and the person chosen to head the drive.
Taxing vote
Attending the first meeting of the Innovation and Growth Team on Construction, Peter Mandelson laid down a challenge to members: to ensure the industry is "fit for purpose” for Fensa is urging its 9,000+ installation companies to sign up to a Downing Street Petition to challenge the government’s latest proposal which changes the law around taxation rules for self employed construction workers, that would reduce workers’ take home pay because taxes would be increased.
Modular qualifications for the glass industry
A new suite of modular vocational qualifications will be available for the glass and related industries from January 2010.
Glass cricket bat extends the boundaries
A glass cricket bat that could never face up to a googly or be used in a match has just gone up for auction and raised £1,000, and really extended the boundaries of what can be produced in glass!
How to sell to...
Brian Webb of super-fabricator Sierra, continues his tongue-in-cheek look at consumer stereo-types and provide top tips on how to maximise your appeal to them.
Steadman art comp a winner
Geze UK’s competition to design a brand new entrance to London, with the chance to win an original Ralph Steadman work of art, has been highly commended in the Built Environment Marketing Awards (Bema).
Films on the web
Madico Graphic Films has re-launched the on-line portal for its growing range of environmentally friendly, UV and eco-solvent inkjet, and thermal transfer printable window films.
The Dorma Show goes live!
Dorma has launched a new micro site – www.Dormashow.com – a showcase of its award winning products and services to tie in with a new advertising campaign, which is now under way, with an opportunity to win an iPod touch.
New database for Window Widgets
Window Widgets has switched to Insight Data to find new customers.
Success first time
Ayrshire-based Darby Glass (Scotland) has achieved EN1279 Part 3 at the first attempt using Swisspacer V.
Vaccinations against breakdowns
With various exotic bugs and viruses floating around the atmosphere adding to the woes brought on by the recession, Elumatec is offering ‘vaccinations’ to ensure window fabrication machinery isn’t stricken by any of the ills that can afflict expensive kit if it is neglected.
Positive response
New World has won orders for a number of composite doors thanks to the G09 exhibition in Wembley at the beginning of October.
More space for Swisspacer
Swisspacer has invested in additional production capacity at one of its manufacturing facilities, near Dresden, Germany.
Beating the mail
DoorStop has said that installers have got another two days to order their doors in time Christmas – two days longer than the Royal Mail guaranteeing delivery in time for Christmas
Fabricator Focus
New showroom
Kalglass has opened a new showroom in Hindhead.
Selling gallery doors
Not all composite doors are the same and gallery composite doors are one of a very rare breed of dual rebated composite doors, Lister Trade Frames has claimed.
People
Geze team expands
Geze is expanding its sales team to meet increasing demand, with two new appointments and a number of internal changes.
Second novel for 91-year-old
A 91-year-old retired glass businessman from the west of Scotland has today (15th December) published his second novel to show that, with the right attitude, old age can still be about achievement.
New chair for alliance
The Property Industry Alliance has announced that Sir Robert Finch is to succeed Sir David Clementi as its chairman.
Products
Door launch
Homesafe has launched the new Classic Range or doors.
Opportunity knocks
Beaufort has launched a brand new suite of aluminium doors to complement its award-winning Advanced Plus aluminium window range.
Italian collection
Solidor has now added a little continental flair with the introduction of its new design-led Italia Collection, which sits alongside its more traditional design of solid composite door.
Crystal clear benefits
Windowlink’s new orangery design-to-sell software is enabling specialist retail installer Crystal Window Systems in Poynton, Cheshire to produce sales-winning presentations for its stunning range of orangeries.
New efficient glass
AGC has launched Planibel A, a new energy efficient glass for the UK market with a high performance, low-emissivity hard coating specially developed to perform to the highest ratings within the WER scale from C to A, without the need for edge deletion.
Projects
Student choice
ISO-Chemie’s impregnated expanding foam tapes ISO-Bloco 600 and ISO-Bloco T-Max have been used to provide high performance weather seals at Leeds Metropolitan University’s new student accommodation.
Blue room
Pilkington Activ Blue has been specified in a conservatory in the village of Sarnau, Wales.
First for schools’ programme
One of the first schools to be completed in Bradford’s £400m Building Schools for the Future programme features facade systems from architectural aluminium specialist, Technal.
Courting fire safety
Pilkington Pyrostop has been specified in a comprehensive refurbishment of a Grade II listed Magistrates’ Court in Bedford to integrate the County Court into the building and improve accessibility to the public areas.
Moving with the tide
The architects of the new headquarters of Cathelco – a designer and manufacturer of marine corrosion control equipment – has specified Schüco’s systems.
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 391 8th December 2009
News
‘Financial restructuring’ for Bowater
Bowater Building Products Group which comprises WHS Halo, Bowater Windows and Doors, and The Prime Connection, has announced the completion of a financial restructuring.
GGF moves offices
The Glass and Glazing Federation has moved into its new headquarters building and into what its chief executive Nigel Rees says will be a “new and exciting” era for the organisation and the industries it represents, with facilities that encourage “bold and original thinking”. It was opened by Simon Hughes MP at a ceremony on December 3.
Jeld-Wen closes factory
Jeld-Wen has announced plans to close its factory in Lowestoft.
Daily Mail corrected
The British Plastics Federation, through its PVCaware.org team, has acted quickly to correct an article on PVC relating to the Camberwell fire that appeared in The Daily Mail on Monday 30 November 2009.
New MD at SGG
Saint-Gobain Glass UK has announced two key management changes.
Better bank lending needed
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is calling for bank lending to be made more accessible and affordable following a report identifying a ‘permanent gap’ in small business finance.
Road to recovery
The commercial property lending boom is over and the market is taking its first tentative steps on the long road to recovery, according to recent research.
Low carbon construction launched
Attending the first meeting of the Innovation and Growth Team on Construction, Peter Mandelson laid down a challenge to members: to ensure the industry is "fit for purpose” for delivering a low carbon future.
Back to school
Veka has declared 2010 to be its ‘Year of Learning’ after making the Learning and Skills Council’s Skills Pledge for employers.
Foreign secretary briefing
The GGF was recently invited by the Foreign Secretary and the Department of Energy and Climate Change to be briefed on the UK government’s priorities for the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen
Glasslam chief in air rescue drama
Glasslam’s chief executive Steve Howes was called on to perform duties other than carving the Thanksgiving turkey during his holiday in The Bahamas.
New company
A new company – Fenzi- Alu Pro Iberica – has been established in Lalin, Galicia, in order to be closer to the strategic Spanish market.
GPD set for launch in Brazil
The conference on glass & solar technology, the Glass Performance Days, will launch in South America.
Wolseley backs ‘Get Britain Building’
Merchant Wolseley UK is the latest business to lend its backing to the Get Britain Building (GBB) campaign.
Green apple for Halo
WHS Halo has won a Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice for its energy efficient windows.
Back to school
Veka has declared 2010 to be its ‘Year of Learning’ after making the Learning and Skills Council’s Skills Pledge for employers.
GGF roadshow
The GGF is presenting a series of roadshows, designed to answer some of the perplexing questions surrounding the planned publication of the Building Regulations in April.
How to sell to Newbies
Brian Webb of super-fabricator Sierra, continues his tongue-in-cheek look at consumer stereo-types and provide top tips on how to maximise your appeal to them.
Database collaboration
Two of the building industry’s database providers, Insight Data and Focal Research, have reached agreement to work together on a number of future database projects.
Return to sender
Veka is claiming a recycling world’s first after one old window was transformed into a new one using its recycling facility.
Homeline switches to calcium zinc
Homeline Building Products has switched to calcium zinc in its production methods. All harmful heavy metals such as lead and tin, which are still commonly used, have been effectively removed from the manufacturing process five years before it becomes mandatory.
Site spruce
Liniar has given www.liniar.co.uk a new look, and customers can now buy decking, fencing and piling online.
Saint-Gobain’s silver status
Eggborough-based Saint-Gobain Glass has been awarded ‘Silver’ status by Investors in People, coming very close to the ultimate ‘Gold’ status.
Ride 4 Hope in print
You’ve heard the rumours, read the blogs and now you can buy the book.
Hardware matchmaker
A web-based matchmaker service to help specifiers choose the most suitable fire rated door hardware forms a part of the new look Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) website (www.dhfonline.org.uk).
Filling the sealant gap at Ecobuild
ISO-Chemie will be showing for the first time its range of impregnated foam tapes for the UK eco housing and construction sector at Ecobuild 2010 (stand 2503, Earls Court 2).
Two decades of Edgetech
Edgetech is celebrating 20 years in business this month.
Showing off green
The Epwin Group will be showcasing its range of advanced sustainable and energy efficient PVC-U products at Ecobuild 2010.
Products
Dorma on tour
Dorma’s Showbus has been touring the UK and Ireland during 2009 to demonstrate a wide range of door controls, automatics, and glass products.
Strong locks
A new cylinder lock, with many enhanced security features, will now be standard on all New World’s Apeer, Monno and Diamond composite door ranges.
Securing awards
Timber doorset manufacturers Hanson and Beards has achieved the BM Trada Q-Mark for enhanced security doorsets, as a vital part of its Secured by Design certification.
New range fired up
Float Glass Industries (FGI) has extended its range of processed glass products to include fire-rated units using Pilkington’s fire resistant glasses.
Audit service
Solar Gard has announced the availability of Capsol, an internationally recognised energy-efficiency audit tool that helps businesses measure the impact of solar heat gain on – and the likely cost of cooling – their office buildings.
New profile launched
Liniar has launched Liniar Energy Plus.
Plus point
ERA Security Hardware Solutions has launched the Vectis Plus multi-point door lock into the UK fenestration market.
‘LouvreSol Expands Product Range’
LouvreSol SP has introduced a new range of products to supplement its solar shading portfolio.
Projects
Seniors supports BaleHaus
The BaleHaus at Bath University is fabricated from a straw panel system know as ModCell. The experimental building, which has now been commissioned, is being rigorously tested by the university to determine its suitability for our future construction needs. The small building at Bath locks away almost 30 tonnes of atmospheric CO2 – that’s after the carbon used in its construction has been taken into consideration.
First grade addition
K2 recently helped to add an additional meeting room to the Grade I listed Moresby Hall in Cumbria, thanks to its aluminium roof system.
Final phase awarded
Anglian Building Products has been awarded the final phase of the window contract by Mansell Construction Services at RAF Lakenheath’s new-build project of service family accommodation ‘Liberty Village’.
Keeping St Helens Cool
LouvreSol SP is helping St Helens College to be a ‘cool’ place to be. The campus in the town centre is undergoing some major changes currently to provide new and improved facilities for students.
Super Sound Spacer
The residents surrounding Birmingham Airport are now enjoying a little more peace and quiet thanks to the installation of new windows by Profix, which have drastically reduced aircraft noise and have also provided enhanced thermal insulation.
Sealing zero carbon
Dow Corning InstantGlaze hot melt silicone was recently specified on Britain’s first carbon-zero home constructed on a live development.
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 390 1st December 2009
News
Environmental uncertainty
Small businesses divided over environmental measures, according to an FPB survey.
Whose fault is it when a window breaks?
CCTV footage shows an internal window of a Chinese restaurant in Basildon inexplicably shattering, covering dozens of diners, including children, with glass.
Increase in window company numbers
Insight Data has seen an increase in the number of active window, door and conservatory companies in the UK, rising to over 14,000 businesses.
More conservatory companies, but fewer fabricators
According to Windowbase, the overall number of conservatory firms has risen compared to 2004, with 500 more conservatory companies overall.
Under the sun
The next big opportunity for the UK glass and glazing industry is solar power – domestic and commercial, thermal and photovoltaic (PV).
Fensa prices frozen
Fensa is keeping its prices for all services at the same level for the ninth consecutive year running.
Zero carbon buildings from 2018
The country’s biggest property developers have welcomed government plans to introduce zero carbon commercial buildings from 2018, but have warned that carbon reduction targets will be missed unless existing buildings are tackled.
Self promotion
The GGF is promoting itself as the ideal partner when it comes to buying windows, conservatories, and other glass and glazing products.
Acquisition completed
Arran Isle has completed its acquisition of all of the subsidiaries of Heywood Williams plc including Mila Hardware, under the terms of the agreement which was announced on 20 October.
Pot luck for KJN
Snooker ace Steve Davis has been given a new job – as an apprentice window fitter for Network Veka installer KJN.
Lock manufacturer digs deep
Multi point lock manufacturer, Paddock, recently raised £6000 for Children in Need.
How to sell to... baby-boomers
The success (or otherwise) of the industry to a large extent rests on the ability of installers to sell effectively.
New Vista brochure
Vista Panels has launched a new composite door brochure showcasing several new designs, new colours and enhanced security.
New GAP in Wigan
GAP has opened a new depot in Wigan due to an increase in demand for products and services in and around the Northwest. This latest expansion takes GAP’s depot network to 14.
Robot wars
Denmark’s largest manufacturer of sheet glass and mirrors – is adopting automation to give itself a competitive edge on pricing and to protect its volume business in both home and export markets.
Flying the kite of quality
The Rockdoor range has been recognised with the accreditation of the BSI Kitemark.
MP applauds energy efforts
Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, applauded Anglian Home Improvement'’ efforts in helping its customers save energy, during a recent tour of the factory near Norwich.
Vicaima invests in Swindon
Vicaima will extend its UK range into architectural door sets, as part of an extensive investment programme at its Swindon site.
New eBrochure from Purplex
Purplex Marketing has launched a new eBrochure highlighting its range of services.
Batimat a success
Exhibiting at Batimat proved successful, Swisspacer has claimed.
Powder coating repairs
Qualicoat UK & Ireland has added a further guidance note for specifiers and building professionals which is now available as a download from the association’s website.
Century reached
Renson recently celebrated being in business for 100 year, and claimed that it is still growing its market share.
TGI moves
Warm edge spacer supplier, Technoform Glassinsulation (TGI), has moved to a larger and more modern plant at its home town of Kassel in Central Germany.
Fabricator Focus
Profit following switch
Luton based fabricator, DJL Windows is celebrating an 18% growth in the past year, following a switch to fabricating WHS Halo’s Eclipse profile system.
Fitrite against the recession
Lakeland Verandahs has turned over £250,000 in the first quarter of its second year of operation despite the recession, thanks in large part to the success of Fitrite PVC-U decking and fencing from Sash UK.
Peace of mind secured
Lister Trade Frames has just opened a brand new trade showroom at its Govan Road Site in Stoke on Trent, and celebrated the launch with an all day and evening event.
Green with Finesse
Cumbria based Kömmerling customer, Finesse PVCu, was a finalist in the recent CN Group Business Awards 2009 in the Environmental Awareness category.
Final phase reached
LDG Group has just announced that its work on the prestigious £100m Lytham Quays Residential Development has entered its final phase prior to completion.
Hardware hat trick
The Veka Composite Door System provides good looks combined with a range of security features. Window Glass has expanded its range of hardware with three flagship products from the Siegenia-Aubi-KFV range.
More than just colour
Network Veka fabricator Blair Neill can take high quality Veka frames and bond a tough, permanent colour layer to the conventional white base.
People
Peace of mind secured
Danny Basden has joined Luton–based hardware distributor Windowparts where he takes up a senior sales and marketing role.
Rising golf star
Schüco has congratulated its youngest brand ambassador on an extraordinary tour season.
Award winning teams
Team Crystal’s ladies netball team and Team Crystal football, two of four sports sponsored by national trade fabricator Crystal Direct, were recently awarded trophies for their continuing winning streak last season.
Products
Hardwood for Sash Timber
Sash Timber’s range of windows, doors and conservatories now benefits from the use of Red Grandis, a 100% FSC-Certified hardwood which combines high-grade quality and structural stability with significant cost savings in comparison to similar types of timber.
Taped up
Iso-Chemie has launched a new aluminium tape for sealing joints in building and industrial applications
Taking the heat
Profix has just added the new Pro-Door FD to its product portfolio which is aimed at the social housing specifier. This new door set has been designed and engineered to exceed the standards laid down in the Building Regulations for fire doors.
New woodgrains
Eurocell has launched two new colours in the Eurologik profile range.
Coloured panels that last
Nice Door Panel provide lasting performance, thanks to their Tough-Tech technology, the company has claimed recently.
Tooling up
Dremel launches its new Dremel 4000 today – a highly powered multi-tool.
Integrated door automation
Record UK has launched the new System 20 range of integrated systems.
PFI project details
A marked pick-up in detailed planning approvals since the start of the new financial year suggests that additional government funding is now filtering through, and that NHS trusts have begun to deploy their refocused investment programmes.
New hybrid from Everglade
Everglade has launched Harmony, a new hybrid window.
Projects
Slip-free decking
A new school development in Wiltshire has incorporated John Brash’s JB Antislip Plus decking to create a sustainable and safe walkway.
Music to the ears
Curtain walling, windows and doors from Kawneer have helped to make the new foyer to the south-west’s leading music venue a stunning destination building in its own right.
Building progresses
Installation of 6,000m2 of Wicona unitised curtain walling is now well underway as part of the construction of a 32-storey tower, which will be Sheffield’s tallest building.
TuffX for showroom
Northwest Rooftech Conservatories, based in Southport have recently installed the Aqua-Green tint roof glass in its new showroom.
College refurb
Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, and its approved fabricator Alimatic, have recently completed a full refurbishment project to provide a whole new building envelope to Collingwood College, Camberley, Surrey.