More ali

If anyone was in any doubt that aluminium is still in the ascendant, we learn this week that Deceuninck is bringing its Decalu system across the channel to enter the fray, making that the third major incursion in ten months following Epwin’s FIT 2019 bombshell with its Stellar system and the £9million-plus Garnalex start-up. Read more

Speaking of the FIT Show, the decision to ditch the 2020 event was greeted with varying degrees of surprise around the industry. However, it is only fair to add that, from the straw-poll of conversations this week, even the most hardened sceptics of the prospect of an annual outing seem unanimous in their enthusiasm for 2021, so the support for the show in principle has not been at all dented by the reversal. Read more

Elsewhere, UAP has added a double acquisition to its shopping spree of the last couple of years and is as before promising yet more to come. Read more

And Deceuninck’s Rob McGlennon has added his voice to the branded reinforcements debate with a letter voicing the group’s own views on the matter. Read More

So, from such a very mixed bag, we hope there is something of interest to everyone.

Chris Church Editor

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

This Week's News

‘As you were’ as Customade defeats ransomware attack

Customade Group is today assuring customers that all is back to normal after fending off a full-on ransomware attack that led to it closing 11 factories and seven of its Stevenswood depots and reportedly sending home 700 workers.

“We are all one click away from chaos,” CEO David Leng said on social media today after telling customers: “Back to Normal - Last Sunday we were attacked by the RYUK ransomware virus which closed 11 of our factories and 7 of our depots. We had 600 PCs and 60 servers down with no email or phones and could not run a machine.

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FIT pulls the plug on 2020

FIT Show organisers have cancelled the 2020 event only four months before the show was due to open its doors for its first annual outing at the NEC.

A brief announcement this week says the move follows “continuing unprecedented political and economic uncertainty” though many exhibitors and others had expressed doubts about the decision to take the biennial event to an annual format since it was first mooted at the 2019 event.

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Deceuninck goes ali with UK launch of Decalu

Deceuninck UK has launched into aluminium with the decision to introduce the European group’s Decalu window and door system to the UK market.

Decalu, already established in mainland Europe, offers u-values as low as 0.68W/m2K and dual-colour and marine grade as standard as well as the potential to colour-match to the manufacturer’s existing PVC-U foil range.

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UAP acquires Locking Systems and Firemongery

Door hardware manufacturer UAP has acquired Locking Systems, an independent provider of locking cylinders and a personalised masterkeying service.

In a separate move, the company also announced the acquisition of the Firemongery brand, which it plans to run within Intelligent Hardware, the business it added to its growing list of acquisitions last October.

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Fire safety seminars

The Door & Hardware Federation is to host two free fire safety seminars, on 11th February and 17th March at its head office and training academy in Tamworth.

The morning seminars will primarily appeal to those with responsibility for compliance, fire safety, asset management and procurement within local authorities and housing associations in the West Midlands area. DHF plans to offer these seminars to those beyond the immediate region later in the year.

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We Have Email

From: Rob McGlennon,
MD, Deceuninck UK

Recently, Anglo European announced that it’s reinforcement had been independently tested to BS6375-1:2015 for weathertightness for three named system companies. It says tests will soon be completed on another three. Deceuninck was not one of the six companies it named, but Anglo European is claiming its reinforcements are a match for these system companies’ steel reinforcement. It is encouraging PVC-U fabricators to substitute its steel reinforcement for theirs and make big savings.

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