This Week's News

Grouphomesafe streamlines its composite door business sale

Door and window component specialist grouphomesafe has announced the sale of its composite doors business to the Britdoors Group as part of a strategic realignment of its product offer. This sale closely follows grouphomesafe’s acquisition of Fab & Fix, the UK’s leading designer and distributor of perfectly matching hardware.

Darren Waters, chief executive officer for grouphomesafe, said: “Following my arrival in February this year, we undertook a complete strategic review of the business, evaluating our entire product offering. We concluded that composite doors was not a good fit with the rest of the grouphomesafe portfolio and that we wanted to refocus the business as a supplier of quality door and window components.
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GGF Raises REAL Concerns with Government

The GGF recently received a reply to a letter sent in August to the office of Energy Minister Greg Barker regarding the decision to appoint Gemserv in the role of Green Deal Oversight Body in conjunction with REAL (Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd).

In the GGF’s initial letter, the Federation raised some major concerns over the attitude of REAL towards the Replacement Window Industry. These concerns stem from several derogatory statements about the Glazing Industry on the REAL website.
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BIG news from Rehau

Rehau is about to reveal some big news and is hosting a series of events around the UK where it will tell all to existing and potential customers.

The BIG week starts on Monday 19 November with an event at the Best Western Garfield House in Glasgow and continues with similar events at locations in Leeds/Bradford, Birmingham and Reading over the following three days.

Rehau is keeping the exact details of the events under wraps for now but says that it will be revealing an exciting opportunity for customers to enjoy improved performance, added flexibility and even better value for money.
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Yale Door and Window Solutions makes its TV debut

Yale Door and Window Solutions is making its prime time TV debut to promote its new innovative range of digital door lock solutions.

Innovators in hardware, Yale Door and Window Solutions has created a dynamic campaign to be aired on ITV meridian, starting on 15th October during the commercial break in Coronation Street, to promote its new collection of digital door locks to a potential target of 1.7 million people.

The Keyfree digital door lock for PVCu doors and Keyless rim latch lock that can be easily installed on 44mm composite door slabs or timber doors, will be presented to offer customers a more stylish and convenient approach to home security.
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Government planning proposals welcomed

Government proposals to speed up the planning system and allow householders to extend their homes without the need for planning permission are a welcome boost to both householders and the building industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today’s Government announcement.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said:
“Proposals to make it easier for householders to extend their homes make perfect sense at a time when many people are unable to move house in the current market. It is also encouraging that the Government has recognized the need to help people get into the housing ladder. The extra £280 million as part of the ‘FirstBuy’ scheme to help would-be home owners with a deposit is a welcome boost.
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Small businesses urged to use appeals process following dire bank lending figures

Figures showing almost half of all new small business lending applications have been declined by banks are being greeted with disappointment by the Forum of Private Business, which is urging frustrated business owners to appeal against decisions they feel are unfair.

The latest quarterly ‘SME finance monitor’ from the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) shows that, since January 2010, banks have turned away 49% of new small business loan and overdraft applicants – and overall just a third of new applicants have received the finance they needed.
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GlassTalk 2012: New Format

GlassTalk, in its fifth consecutive year, returns in November 2012 (November 15th 2012, Hinckley Island Hotel) in a brand new format and set to tackle two of the most compelling issues the glazing industry has to face: the future of PVC-U against demands for greater sustainability; and the Green Deal and the role of the ‘Provider’.

The focus of GlassTalk 2012 will as ever be on networking, providing the opportunity to meet other industry professionals with common goals and interests. But this year the organisers have also introduced a new format in which delegates will discuss the topics presented as part of the programme and produce feedback for policy makers.
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Chiltern Fire invests £250k in latest facility upgrade

Chiltern International Fire (CIF) has invested £250k refitting one of its fire testing laboratories to include a new combination furnace, completing the company’s four-year development programme of its fire testing facilities.

The four-year investment now sees CIF positioned as a centre of excellence in its specialist service area, offering clients state-of-the-art, versatile and cost-effective facilities backed up with high-calibre technical expertise.

This most recent upgrade complements previous investment, which includes a new vertical fire resistance test furnace, and a horizontal 3mx2m test furnace.
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