Ali up

At the risk of sounding repetitive after last week’s observations on the aluminium sector, we now see further confirmation that the metal is showing its mettle once again. First comes a report of not only three new fabricators entering the sector but no fewer 30 other companies expanding their aluminium offering with additional systems … two of which are reported this week (Read here and here). Then FIT Show organisers tell us that the ali crowd will be going large when the event makes its NEC debut next year Read Story. Plus of course, there’s a sizeable new member for the Qualicoat organisation. Read Story.

And finally, for anyone a bit nervous about offering a 20-year guarantee on their windows, the 1,000 year-old Strasbourg Cathedral has a massive new, digitally-printed one that Saint-Gobain says will last 1,000 years more Read Story. – though they don’t actually say whether that guarantee includes parts and labour.

Do enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

Fabricators going for
more aluminium

Three new aluminium fabricators set up in three months and 30 existing ones taking on an additional aluminium system in the same time – those are among the findings from research by Insight Data on the state of the aluminium market.

Jade Greenhow, operations manager at Insight Data said the three new fabricators showed that systems companies are becoming more active in developing their fabricator base, but added: “It’s the number of companies taking on additional systems that is truly remarkable.”

The increase spans the residential, light commercial and architectural glazing markets. Fabricators are offering trade and residential customers a wider choice of products and specifications, while systems companies are becoming more active in having their products specified by architects, presenting commercial and architectural glazing contractors with new opportunities.

Read the Rest Here...

GGF launches 22 Data Sheet updates

The Glass and Glazing Federation has relaunched 22 technical Data Sheets to keep members and the industry up to date with the correct technical information and latest guidance.

The full list with associated details can be seen in full here.

AGC partners with Kinestral for ‘active’ glass development

The AGC Group, the world's largest glass manufacturer, and Kinestral Technologies, a US developer of active glass, have formed a strategic partnership to produce active glass capable of fast-switching between clear and dark mode.

AGC says the choice of Kinestral Technologies as its partner is based on: “the unrivalled technological advantages of the solution: excellent optical quality of the glass and neutral colour, fast and uniform switching speed along with all intermediate modes possible between clear and dark.”

The partnership is also financial, industrial and commercial; AGC will acquire a financial stake, while the two partners will collaborate in building a large-scale production plant and combining their marketing networks, thus exploiting their geographical complementarity.

Read the Rest Here...

Partners sought for ‘impermeable’ sliding
door system

Roto is launching its ‘typhoon-tested’ Patio Inowa sliding door and window hardware system into the UK and is seeking partner companies to incorporate the ‘impermeable’ system into their products.

The move was announced at a press presentation last week where Mike Piqeur, General Manager, Western Europe, showed how the mechanism enables an entire sash to be moved inwards to create an unbroken weather seal.

“This has proved to be very popular where it is available in other countries,” he told The Glazine, “We are talking to some large UK companies about using the system in patio doors and windows and we also want to speak to some big housebuilders about the potential for them.”

Read the Rest Here...

Sword and Globe
safety awards

The British Safety Council has launched its 2016 Sword of Honour and Globe of Honour awards, designed to recognise health, safety and environmental management excellence worldwide.

To be awarded a Sword of Honour or Globe of Honour, an organisation must be able to demonstrate to an independent adjudication panel that it has a proven track record and a culture of best practice for excellence in health and safety or environmental management that runs throughout the business – from the shop floor to the boardroom. The Sword of Honour and Globe of Honour are an important part of the British Safety Council’s drive to recognise and celebrate exemplary health, safety and environmental management in the workplace.

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, said: “The Sword of Honour and Globe of Honour awards shine a light on businesses which are at the forefront of achieving safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces and business practices. The awards celebrate their efforts and encourage other organisations worldwide to follow their lead.”

Read the Rest Here...

We Have Email

From:
Peter Dyer,
Managing Director,
Dempsey Dyer

We all know that colour has exploded in popularity over the last few years, with a bigger selection of finishing options than ever before. For consumers, that’s great – it means more choice, and the ability to match products to a specific project or property. But is it possible that as an industry we’ve become too prejudiced against traditional white finishes, and too fixated on colour?

We hear a lot about the benefits of colour, of which there are many. But very rarely do we hear anything about the potential pitfalls. Colour for colour’s sake can produce some unpleasant results. We’ve all seen houses with eye-wateringly garish doors and windows that clash with their surroundings – and personally, I believe that one unexpected effect of the colour revolution will be a renewed appreciation of traditional white.

In order to work, colour has to be used extremely sensitively. Strong colours can only be used in certain contexts and look in-keeping. The beauty of white lies in its versatility – the attribute that lies at the roots of its widespread use for so many years. It perfectly suits older, traditional-style properties, it suits contemporary-style new-builds, it can fit with practically any property or project, and, given that the majority of homeowners still opt for white windows, blends perfectly into any residential area.

Read More