More or less

Anyone expecting to read of seismic changes to the industry from the latest Insight report might be disappointed, but then it is very unlikely that anyone would expect such a thing right now. Instead, it paints a complex picture of many smaller changes combined with continuing trends as various sectors and subsectors gain or lose a little here or there. Unlike earlier reports, it may not have you on the edge of your seat but a more detailed inspection may prove worthwhile. Read Story

Speaking of complexity and detail, all of us who have ever been phoned, spammed mailshotted otherwise assaulted with the promise of ‘green’ grant aid to have our windows replaced should be grateful to the GGF, BFRC and Chartered Trading Standards Institute officers for the lengthy and complex investigation that led to the convictions of three such offenders.
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Meanwhile, the GGF had dismissed as myth any claim that it is in ‘turmoil’, thus handing the word to the media and, by doing so, inviting all readers to judge whatever extent of mythical status it deserves. Read Story

And elsewhere, there is the mystery of the door company waking one day to find a rival has taken on a rather similar name, if only for one day. Read Story

Myth, mystery or misrepresentation, we hope we have something for all to muse over in this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

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

This Week's News

Insight report highlights winners and losers

Mergers and acquisitions …increasing dominance of larger PVC-U fabricators …emergence of large national timber operations …growing brand recognition and ‘trust signals’ …an emerging e-commerce market …all against a backdrop of many businesses seeing significant slowdowns despite an increase in the overall number of businesses in the industry: The 2017 Insight Data Industry Report paints a complex picture of emerging leaders, continuing trends and a few paradoxes among the winners and losers since its last report.

Multi-material fabricators continue to grow, especially with traditionally PVC-U manufacturers adding aluminium to the extent that the 243 companies now doing PVC-U alongside ali now accounts for more than double all other combinations put together. While the proportion is growing, it is still relatively small against the 4,178 total number in all materials.

Despite the trend of major consolidations and mergers, the report says the number of businesses in the industry has increased overall by 328 to 15,099 since the last report in 2014 but based on 1,920 new players against 1,592 disappearing from the database.

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GGF ‘not in turmoil’
– Pluck

The GGF has labelled as ‘myth’ any talk of turmoil at the organisation, with President John Agnew telling its annual members’ meeting this week that ‘all changes have been in the best interests of GGF Members.’

Group Chief Executive Phil Pluck delivered a speech that the GGF said ‘shattered the myth that the GGF was in turmoil.”

Their comments came in reply to extensive media coverage of a number of departures from the organisation, including the then President, Alan Burgess, who left in July saying with regret that he was unable to continue a year after his predecessor Andrew Glover resigned citing pressure in the light of structural changes at the Federation.

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BFRC and GGF back ‘Green’ fraud conviction

BFRC has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of three company directors for their fraudulent business under the trading name of “Green” that falsely offered funding grants for “A” energy rated and/or Pilkington Glass windows and doors.

The prosecution earlier this year was the result of a lengthy and complex investigation by Chartered Trading Standards Institute officers with the help of BFRC and the GGF acting as expert witnesses on the case.

Mold Crown Court had heard how between January 2010 and August 2014 the three defendants operated a business that advertised and sold PVC windows and doors trading under the name of “Green”. The defendants deliberately created the false impression that “grant funding” from Local Authority or Government supported products being sold by them.  They dishonestly claimed to be using “A Rated” and/or Pilkington Glass in its product, to be FENSA registered and that the product complied with applicable quality/safety standards.  All such claims were false.

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Dortek warns customers of mystery rival
name change

Confusion surrounds the decision of door supplier Envirodoor to change its company name to Doortekch Ltd, to the surprise of long-established manufacturer Dortek Ltd, less than five miles away – and then apparently change it again after one day, just as another company changed its name to Envirodoor.

Alan O’Keane, MD of Dortek has now written to Doortekch asking for an explanation. He told The Glazine yesterday: “We’re not really sure what’s going on. All we are concerned about is clearing up any confusion among our customers and getting across the message that we are Dortek, as we have been for many years, and that we have no connection with this other company.”

Records at Companies house show that Envirodoor Ltd changed its name to Doortekch Ltd on September 27 ‘following a resolution agreed and passed by members on 1st January 2017’ but then changed to ‘LHY Developments Ltd’ the day after, following a similar resolution on January 2nd.

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Hydro/Sapa deal complete

Norsk Hydro yesterday (Oct 2) announced that its NOK 27 billion acquisition of Orkla’s 50% ownership in Sapa was completed, giving Hydro full ownership in the extruded aluminium business and making Hydro ‘a leading force in the global aluminium industry’.

The company says the acquisition, first announced in July “makes Hydro the only global company in the aluminium industry that is fully integrated across the value chain and markets, and gives Hydro unparalleled strength in technology, R&D, innovation and product development, as well as an unmatched product and service offering to the benefit of more than 30,000 customers throughout the world.”

President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg said: “Today symbolizes the start of our exciting journey as the leading force within the global aluminium industry, fully integrated from bauxite to end-user products and with the best-possible platform for further growth and optionality, innovation and product development, and sustainability and responsibility.”

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Five steps to check
a fire door

A new fire door checker has been launched in Fire Door Safety Week by the British Woodworking Federation to help boost the knowledge and confidence of tenants concerned about fire safety.

It follows the publication of new research which reveals a lack of action by landlords to reassure or communicate fire safety advice to their tenants, more than 20% of whom have noticed damage to their building’s fire doors.

The interactive fire door checker provides simple tips on what to look for to make sure fire doors are in working order. This includes checking the door itself, gaps around the door and how it sits in the frame, its certification, the state of fire and smoke seals and the condition of hinges, handles, closers and other door hardware. Tenants will be able to click on different areas of the door to see what a correct fire door should look like.

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