M.G.Windows Cuts the competition Down to Size.

M.G.Windows who have been established for over 15 years now have just re-vamped their depot situated on the Kingsditch Ind. Estate in Cheltenham. M.G have been an important sub-stockist of Eurocell Building Plastics Products for the past four years now and the growth since John Stemp purchased the business from the past owners has been remarkable. 'Our commitment to Eurocell and their product range as well as their Marshall Tufflex guttering has enabled us to satisfy the growth within the local market as well as further afield.'

M.G. also have a specific service, which is tailored to customer's requirements. The company have a cross cut saw as well as a bench saw which enables M.G. not only to cut the Eurocell Building Products to length but also to width as well. Thus when fitters come to the depot they can have their items cut for the job for which the products are intended.

Since Mr Stemp has taken over the business a re-investment programme has been initiated. New working procedures have been introduced to benefit the customer base; after all in this fast moving market service is the name of the game. New racking to store the Eurocell product range has also been installed which allows a quicker pick up service for the customer base.

M.G offer a delivery service to all itís customer within a 20 mile radius allowing goods to be distributed, as well as MG to have their finger on the pulse at the sharp end of the market.
'I feel that the back up of Eurocell over the past four years has been exemplary, the huge investment in their business has been mirrored by myself and we have both seen our businesses grow as a result. The support both from a service and account management perspective has really helped. Eurocell guide me on marketing as well as product ranges to be stocked allowing me to have a better perspective of my business.'

MG stocks the following Eurocell Products - all building plastics, ancillaries, tools, door panels, and all other related products.

Sunrise on Business Growth

Since joining forces with HW Systems last August, Newark-based fabricator Sunrise Window Systems claims it has seen business boom. The company now manufactures doors and windows from HW Systems', HW 70 suite, in addition to the conservatory roofs that was its original business base. It is currently producing around 20 doors and 150 windows per week from its new 8,500 sq ft purpose built factory and now employs 15 people.

'We began working with HW Systems because we liked the overall package they offered us - particularly the quality of their product and marketing support package,' says lan Lawson, Sunrise's Managing Director.

Total Signs up New Platinum Customers

An lsle of Man-based installer is the latest Platinum customer to be signed up by Total Glass, one of Profile 22's biggest trade fabricators.

Owner of Amazing Glazing, Bill Sealley, is the eighth window company to take on Total's new door and window range for selected trade customers. He was presented with his certificate and marketing pack by Frank Deary, Managing Director of Total Glass.

The Platinum range also features a bespoke package of quality supporting literature, including a quotation package. In devising the Platinum range, Total Glass took into account homeowners' requirements for added security and design features.

Total Glass uses the Profile 22 70mm system that incorporates a fourth chamber for greater thermal efficiency and complies with the energy efficiency requirements contained in Document L of the Building Regulations.

Commenting on the deal, Managing Director of Profile 22, Keith White, said: 'The Platinum range enables Total's customers to differentiate their offer to homeowners and to maximise selling opportunities, thus assisting them in growing their businesses profitably.'

Total Glass' other Platinum customers are situated throughout the Northwest, North Wales and Shropshire.

Tel:01952 290910
Web: http://www.profile22.co.uk

Mainstream on the Move

Midlands-based Profile 22 fabricator, Mainstream Windows, Conservatories and Doors Ltd, is swapping its rural location for a bigger and busier city centre site.

The award-winning company is moving from its four-acre rural Portway setting to a 15,000 sq ft site in Yardley Wood next to a major supermarket, garage and bus depot.

Mainstream was founded 13 years ago and expanded into its current premises south of Birmingham several years ago. In 1999, the company won the Local Window Manufacturer of the Year award.

The move, which is expected to be completed by the end of July, will double Mainstream's frame production capacity to around 600 a week.

Substantial investment in new machinery to boost production quality and efficiency is also planned. Directors Richard Elson and Bob Dhillon aim to maintain consistent growth through targeting all sectors, but particularly social housing and local trade installers.

'We couldn't get a better retail site!' exclaimed Bob, Mainstream Sales and Marketing Director. 'It's excellent for passing trade and meets our objectives for developing the business, particularly for supplying trade frames locally.'

Several years ago, the company broke new ground by being one of the first in the industry to achieve the IRL (Industrial Research Laboratories) Accreditation - Birmingham City Councilís own specification criteria.

Mainstream is now part of an elite group of companies currently registered to support Birmingham's vast housing refurbishment programmes. The company also holds the quality standard, ISO 9000 (2000).

'Although our core business is commercial, we're still active in the retail side where our work mainly comes in through referrals,' explains Bob.

Coinciding with the move is a revamping of the corporate image and a new logo reflecting Mainstream's change of direction, its new management team and modern outlook. New marketing literature is also being launched, as well as corporate workwear for staff.
Linked with this activity is the re-development of Mainstream's website at http://www.mainstreamuk.co.uk that features a comprehensive package, including an on-line estimating facility.

As Bob concludes: 'We want to be specialists in our niche markets rather than just being a generalist. Our commercial side has grown considerably and this is shaping our future. Offering a full supply and fit service, rather than just supply only, is just one example of where we are offering benefits to our customers.'

A Double Anniversary for Rustington

Rustington Windows of West Sussex are celebrating their 20th year in business, the same year as their system company Marshall-Tufflex celebrate their diamond anniversary.

Rustington Windows have increased their turnover tenfold since their first year and the staff have over 100 years experience between them.

Managing Director Keith Diggins comments, 'We share many of Marshall-Tufflex's values and pride ourselves on offering a friendly and reliable service with the emphasis on quality and advice, rather than pressure sales.'

Tel: 01424 446262

Email: mailto:ws@marshall-tufflex.com

MB Marks 10th Anniversary with Generous Donation

Status Systems fabricator MB Frames is celebrating its 10th anniversary of trading. To mark the occasion the Bristol based company has been making some generous charitable donations. Directors Andy Burns and Pete Melville matched pound for pound monies raised by one of their employees Dave Williams to sponsor a trek to Everest Base Camp. The total came to £2040 and will go to Homes and Hope for Children, an organisation that houses orphaned children in war torn areas.

Andy and Pete also gave a cheque for £1140 to Status chief executive officer Gary Morton, to go towards his 2002 fundraising activities.

MB has been with Status from the start, and the two companies have built a solid commercial relationship. The ten years have also been marked by a £150,000 investment in manufacturing and operational facilities, including a 50 per cent increase in factory space.

'Ten years is a significant milestone for any business, and Status Systems has been a constant source of support, help and inspiration over those years,' said director Andy Burns. 'The recent investments have set us up to take advantage of the continuing and growing strength in demand for PVCu windows and doors around the southwest from builders and trade installers alike.'

Over the years MB directors Andy Burns and Peter Melville have also been exceptionally generous towards many GM Fundraising activties. The latest donation was raised at the company's 10th anniversary party held in Bristol in February.

`I have been exceptionally touched by Andy and Peter's continued support of all our activities, and by their unprompted generosity on the night of their 10th anniversary party,' said Gary Morton. 'Over the years MB has proved to be a much respected fabricator throughout the industry, and it has been a privilege for Status to have worked so closely with them for so many years.'

Tel: 01457 875731
Email: mailto:info@status-systems.co.uk
Web: http://www.status-systems

Tudor Fabrications

When looking at diversifying into new markets many fabricators think of commercial work, or perhaps expanding their retail side. For Eurocell customer Tudor Fabrications this was not the case. The company, who is based on a smallholding on the Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire border close to Wisbeach, took a rather abstract approach when they decided to expand. The father and son company owners have targeted a number of specific market sectors with their new range of PVCu fabricated products.

  
(l-r above:bird house, potato tester, gazebo)
(below two wendy houses)

The humble potato sparked their first idea, and in turn the 'PVCu Potato Tester' was developed (normally made from Galvanised Steel). The Eurocell Profile provided the ideal framework for the device. Sold through a distributor the tester has now been despatched as far away as Poland and New Zealand, as well as being used at a major UK chip manufacturer.

Tudor Fabrications have also developed a range of Wendy Houses and Gazebos, again constructed from Eurocell Profile and some of their Eurocell Building Plastics products. These 'temporary houses' will be marketed at a number of summer shows across the region to develop impressive early sales still further. With these new products, and the fabrication of Eurocell's Ultimate 70mm Profile for their 'window division' you would think that the company would want to consolidate. Tudor fabrications however have just developed the PVCu dovecote and have a number of other surprises up their sleeve.

Tel: 01773 842100
Email: mailto:marketing@eurocell.co.uk
Web: http://www.eurocell.co.uk

K2 Fabricator Enters the Premier League

The reputation of Bristol based, Premier Conservatory Roofs has moved up a division since it joined forces with its conservatory roof system supplier, K2.

Premier began business in 2000, and since then the company has had to re-locate into larger premises, as a result of the rapidly increasing workload the company has faced since joining the K2 dealer network.

The new premises are nearly three times that of their original facility, providing Premier with the capacity to handle in excess of 75 roofs per month, a target which, they hope to achieve within the next 12 months.

The rise in workload has inevitably resulted in the recruitment of two additional members of staff, with firm plans in place to recruit a further two employees within the foreseeable future.
Premier's directors, David Collier and Darren Adcock, said: 'The development of Premier has been outstanding, with the company's reputation being built upon our ability to manufacture competitively priced conservatory roofs at the highest quality.

'The company's success has been achieved through the rise in public demand for the installation of high quality, aesthetically pleasing conservatories, elements which we have been able to deliver upon using the K2 roof system.'

Tel: 01204 554580
Email: mailto:claireb@theburndengroup.co.uk
Web: http://www.k2conservatories.com

KMR WINDOWS SETS OUT ITS STALL FOR 2002

Following continuous expansion and plant investment at its Newtownabbey, Belfast headquarters, KBE's Northern Ireland fabricator, KMR Windows Limited has set itself a target of manufacturing 800-1,000 windows and doors per week by the summer of 2002. This represents an increase of 40 percent over the last year.

Business is booming for KMR and, although its growth plans seem ambitious, according to managing director, George Kritikos they are achievable. "Our business is growing rapidly and we are securing some important contracts. "Our profile supplier, KBE is playing a pivotal role in our success by providing us with precisely the right products for our market," he explained.

Among the contracts that illustrate this point is the installation of a golden oak on white profile for one of KMR's customers on an exclusive, 250 dwelling development in Bangor, Co Down which is nearing completion. House prices on the development vary from £150,000 to £200,000.
Another KMR customer has won a window and door refurbishment contract for one of Northern Ireland's most prestigious hotels, the five star Culloden Hotel in Holywood, owned by the Hastings Hotel Group, which has opted for traditional white profile.

To support KMR further, KBE is stocking green on white and black on white profiles, which the Northern Ireland company believes will be attractive options for its customers.

Founded in 1980, KBE Window Systems has rapidly become a leading PVC-u profile supplier. KBE Window Systems was brought under the HT Troplast umbrella in 1999. HT Troplast Group has an approximate 20percent share of the European PVC-u profile market with annual production in excess of 200,000 tonnes.

KMR Windows Ltd,
Tel: 02890 854 854,
Fax: 02890 854 855,
Email: mailto:sales@kmrwindows.com
KMR's web-site is http://www.kmrwindows.com

SHEER CLASS OPENS ITS DOORS

Sheer Class Conservatories, Windows and Doors has spared no expense on its new showroom, with special emphasis on residential doors exclusively supplied by Hallmark Panels.

Sheer Class, based in Semington near Trowbridge, has been in business for three years but backed by the experience of proprietor Steve Blanks, who has many years experience within the plastic industry. 'Sheer Class enjoys its success by selling only top quality products' says Steve.
'I have been involved with plastics for many years and realise the risks of offering second rate door panels to our customers; it really is a false economy. We only stock Hallmark.'

Whilst a reputation for quality and integrity are winning customers over, Steve also insists that a low pressure sales environment also counts: 'Visitors to our showroom can study products at their leisure, with our people on hand to advise when required. The products sell themselves!' says Steve.

Tel: 01482 781111
Email: mailto:info@hallmark-panels.com
Web: http://www.hallmark-panels.com

Photo: Steve Blanks, proprietor of Sheer Class

VISION INTO THE FUTURE WITH ELUMATEC

Following a review of its operations, Vision Aluminium has invested in new Elumatec equipment that has helped provide a dramatic surge in orders.

The company based in Cwmbran, South Wales has been trading for 13 years headed up by husband and wife team Malcolm and Janet Calladine. They produce doors, windows and curtain walling and were looking to expand production capacity, which is where Elumatec stepped in. The purchase of Elumatec's SBZ130 has taken over the role of the four employees that used to carry out this operation, giving Vision the flexibility to transfer the staff to other areas of the business.

The SBZ130 represents the cutting edge of profile machining technology, by being able to perform all drilling, routing and tapping operations in a single pass of the section, fully automatically. It has a sophisticated yet easily operated control system that ensures total accuracy for processing profiles up to 9 metres long.

Vision has also purchased the new elusoft software, which consists of a collection of programmes providing an interface between construction CAD-produced drawings, calculations, and glazing production systems. elusoft was previously a DOS based system but Vision has this installed as a Windows based software and it gives the user the ability to view any image in 3D form from whatever angle required.

Simon Hagain, Vision's Production Manager commented 'We looked at all the machines available on the market and decided that the Elumatec would suit our needs exactly. The SBZ130 and elusoft software has made a significant difference to our operations. We have recently obtained many new contracts within the M4 corridor ranging from £250,000 to a £lm curtain walling project at Orbital Retail Park, Swindon and Vision can achieve these orders with ease thanks to Elumatec'.

Tel: 01908 580800
Email: mailto:sales@elumatec.co.uk
Web: http://www.elumatec.com

EXPANDING TIMES FOR ATHERTON

Steady growth of its trade and commercial work has enabled long-established Profile 22 fabricator, Atherton Windows, to expand from 2,000 to some 15,000 sq ft of manufacturing space within its industrial courtyard setting.

The move enables the nine-year-old window company, established by managing director, Neil Halton (pictured right), to increase its 500+ frames per week manufacturing capacity and develop new markets.

Neil attributes the company's success down to steady controlled growth, an experienced workforce and a co-operative, long-standing relationship with its systems company.

He says: 'Many of my staff have been here since the company started and hence have a lot of cross-company knowledge. Since we've moved into the neighbouring industrial units, we've been able to increase the amount of production and warehouse space giving us far more fiexibility.'

Commercial contracts in the Manchester area have proved fruitful for Atherton Windows where much of the work comes via recommendations. Rising sales of the company's in-house manufactured conservatory roof kits have also contributed to growth throughout 2001.

Neil believes that some smaller builders seem to be unaware of the business opportunities in the burgeoning conservatory market and is actively encouraging his customers to investigate it.

He says: 'They seem to be fighting shy of conservatories, yet this is where the growth is. Homeowners see adding a conservatory as a way of increasing space. particularly on the smaller estate-type homes, and this is an area that we are looking at.'

Changes to Part L of the new building regulations, due to come in to force in April, have been addressed by the company. Profile 22 held a week-long series of seminars this month focussing on what the changes are, and the implications for its customers.

Atherton Windows is making preparations in readiness for the new legislation, having held presentations of their own for customers, as well as staff attending the Profile 22 seminars.

As Neil concludes: 'We're prepared for the changes to Part L and have already made changes to our glass supply to accommodate them. It will be good for the industry and is something we welcome.'

Contact: Keith White at Profile 22
Tel: 01952 290910
Web: http://www.profile22.co.uk

ELUMATEC & STATUS BACK UNITED

Tracey Yearn, Managing Director of Manchester based Status fabricator United Trade Frames is proving that women can more than cut it in the tough and competitive world of the double glazing sector.

With over 20 years experience in the industry, including a spell with a major fabricator, Tracey set up United Trade Frames in 1999, supplying frames bought in from a trade supplier. However, in order to control and guarantee customer service and product quality, the company has now moved into a 9,000 feet2 manufacturing facility, manufacturing up to 160 frames per week on a production line designed and supplied by Elumatec.

Whilst many start-up manufacturing operations will seek to reduce their investment by purchasing used or low-end machinery, Tracey decided that to enjoy maximum reliability and performance she should source high quality products from a well-established supplier. Enquiries amongst friends and colleagues in the industry led her to Elumatec.

Tracey Yearn gets to grips with her new Elumatec machines

Tracey was not disappointed: 'We received excellent reports about Elumatec, who have provided strong support and advice from the initial conversation to commissioning. We needed total flexibility, to cope with our current output, but also for rapid expansion -we expect production to double by the autumn.'

Elumatec provided a complete production line, including saws, welders, a transom groover, corner cleaners and various routers and cutting machines, in a combination designed to offer flexibility, whilst providing consistently high accuracy and quality.

United Trade Frames supplies installers and builders in the North West of England with frames manufactured using Status Systems profiles, but also provides a 'one stop' supply service by offering sealants and other consumables, as well as PVCu trims and other building products. These may be collected from United Trade Frames' trade counter close to the M60 motorway, or delivered.

A major area of expansion for the company, says Tracey, is one that is virtually untapped: 'We are going after the virgin market! A huge market exists amongst other Status fabricators faced with surges in demand, or who have reached their optimum production level but have expanding sales. These companies need high quality 'virgin' frames, finishing them themselves by installing beading and gaskets, and using their choice of hardware. They enjoy a price advantage and finish the frames to their own specification, and we save cost whilst keeping our factory busy.'

http://www.status-systems.co.uk

http://www.elumatec.com

TV EXPANSION PROGRAMME

Trent Valley Windows and Doors has moved into new purpose-built premises, as part of a £1 million expansion programme.

The Nottingham-based Kömmerling fabricator has created a 30,000 square-foot headquarters on a one-acre site, comprising manufacturing facilities, showroom and offices.

'Business grew by 20 per cent over the last 12 months - on top of a 20 per cent growth the previous year,' says director David Casswell. 'The new premises will accommodate similar year-on-year growth for at least the next three years.'

This is Trent Valley's fourth move - having expanded into larger premises every two or three years as the business grew. The company now has around 100 employees, and Director Tony O'Brien says they are bringing new people on board at a senior level in sales and accounts to help them build for the future.

Trent Valley's new 30,000 sq ft factory

The original building on the site of the new development was not suitable for Trent Valley's needs, so it was demolished, giving them the opportunity to start afresh.

'We were able to plan every aspect of the factory and offices exactly as we wanted them,' says David Casswell. It also meant a much-improved access -compared to the old factory - could be incorporated, with a one-way 'in and out' system.

Trent Valley's quality accreditations of IS09002 for its manufacturing process, and BS7412 and BS7950 kitemarks for weatherproofing and security ratings of its finished windows, have helped secure recent local authority contracts.

Although the bulk of its work is commercial, the company also has a retail operation across the East Midlands, and David says the quality of the new building has impressed customers visiting the new showroom. 'It shows that we invest heavily back into the business, which we've always done.'

Kömmerling has supplied Trent Valley's PVCu window system for 11 years.

Tel: 01784 464000
Fax: 01784 455764
Email: enquiries@kommerling.com
Web: www.kommerling.com