Faith in the Future

Amid all the jitters and uncertainty of the last few weeks, it is reassuring to see that the directors of one of the industry’s biggest fabricators have put their names to an undisclosed, but doubtless significant, sum of money to invest in the industry’s future by buying the company Read Story. Meanwhile, we may discover later this week whether the Lords’ Committee has come up with any solutions to bringing a brighter future to those still dreaming of a roof over their heads. Read Story

And in letters this week: Jerry Webb of CDW calls for industry leaders to show their faith in the future and avoid the same power vacuum that ‘the political kingpins’ are suffering.
Read Letter

Guy Hubble of Regalead has an eye on the immediate future – Oct 1 to be precise as the deadline for relevant work to begin on site before the new Doc Q kicks in Read Letter. And, speaking of which, Gareth Mobley of Solidor wonders whether Brexit and the plummeting pound are being used as a smokescreen for some manufacturers to hike their prices to pay for the thicker door skins needed to comply. Read Letter

Still with the letters, Deceuninck’s Rob McGlennon is replying to Peter Dyer from a couple of issues ago by re-stating his faith in a multi-coloured future. Read Letter

However, optimistic, pessimistic, futuristic – or even thick-skinned – you may be, we do hope you enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

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

This Week's News

Polyframe acquired
by MBO

…'an elegant solution’ – Nick Dutton

Polyframe Group, said to be the UK’s biggest independent window and door fabricator with sales in excess of £50million, has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by a team of its senior managers led by CEO Ian Macdougal (pictured).

The acquisition, backed by investment firm Cairngorm Capital, was prompted by the retirement of the group’s Chairman and founder Martyn Buckley. Alongside Ian Macdougal are fellow directors Jeremy Stott, Peter Dyson, David Eagle, Richard Lee and Nick Summers. Oliver Robinson will join as interim COO and Jim Faulds joins as non-executive Chairman.

The deal was largely overseen by former CEO Nick Dutton, who has since moved on to focus on his part in Brisant Secure, and who this week told The Glazine the move was ‘an elegant solution’ for the Chairman and the team.

Read More Here...

Lords set to report on
UK homes crisis –
‘bold recommendations’ promised

The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee will this week publish its report: Building More Homes.

As reported previously in The Glazine the Committee was set up to investigate the crisis in the UK housing market which has seen home ownership levels fall and many unable to afford either to buy or rent suitable housing.

The Committee’s wide ranging report will assess the scale of the problem and set out bold recommendations to deal with the housing crisis. The report will also look at whether the Government’s ambition to build a million new homes by 2020 is sufficient or achievable.

Read More Here...

Construction
uncertainty ‘only just beginning’ – FMB

New construction statistics for June, which show the weakest sector performance for seven years, are a cautionary sign of the damage that current uncertainty is causing to the building industry, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: ‘June’s PMI figures, which show a huge dip in construction output, reflect our fears that uncertainty over the outcome of the EU referendum would hit our sector. In the wake of the UK’s vote to leave the EU, there is a growing concern that this period of uncertainty is only just beginning. Construction is an industry that is particularly vulnerable to dips in confidence and it appears that many clients were hesitant to commit to new projects as they were unsure of what the future held.  An exit road map is needed to show what steps are going to be taken to withdraw from the EU.

Read More Here...

We Have Email

From:
Gareth Mobley,
CEO,
Solidor & Residor

Whatever your views about Brexit, you can expect to see it blamed for things not even remotely connected with it. The ‘spin’ has started.

On 11th September 2001, after the World Trade Center towers had been hit in terrorist attacks, Transport Secretary Stephen Byer’s special advisor Jo Moore emailed the department’s press office saying: ‘It's now a very good day to get out anything we want to bury’.

Read More

From:
Guy Hubble,
Joint Managing Director,
RegaLead

We are now nearing the point at which exemptions to the amended Approved Document Q no longer apply, as any work which passed planning approval before 1st October last year and was therefore exempt must begin on site prior to 1 October 2016. If it doesn’t, then it may be a case of back to the drawing board when it comes to planning, as you will need to ensure that all products comply. You may be confident that your door has passed the much publicised PAS 24 cut through test, and the hardware complies with PAS 3621, 8621 or 10621, but what about the glazing?

Read More

From:
Jerry Webb,
MD,
CDW Systems

As someone who’s been in business for more than 30 years, and has been running a business for more than 20 years, I’m already fed-up with the post-Brexit political posturing and media frenzy.

It is uncertainty and lack of willingness to invest that causes a recession. What we need as a country, and as an industry, is strong leadership and a decision to be made asap regarding the future of this country and its role within the EU.

Read More

From:
Rob McGlennonn ,
SD, Deceuninck UK & Ireland

In his recent letter, Peter Dyer MD Dempsey Dyer argues that in the exploding popularity of colour we shouldn’t forget white.

I think it’s premature to call the end of white, as Peter acknowledges. Colour is growing from one in four to one frame in three in England & Wales. Ireland (55% colour) and Scotland (45%) are ahead. Colour is even more popular on the continent.

Read More