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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 87 26th August 2003

Pechiney Rejects Alcan's 3.4bn Official Offer and Reports 'Satisfactory' Q2 Results.
Alcan has formally submitted a bid for Pechiney which values it at Euro 3.4bn. The Pechiney Board has said: 'besides the uncertain nature of the unsolicited proposed offer by Alcan, the proposed price is grossly insufficient given the company's industrial, technological and immaterial assets, and in no way reflects its strategic value'.
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Pilkington to Host Architectural Glass Forum at Glass Processing & Technology
Pilkington has reaffirmed its commitment to Glass Processing & Technology (GP&T), the new glass industry event taking place in November at the NEC, by confirming its plans for a 154m2 stand, and using the event to introduce a radical new approach that breaks with conventional exhibition strategies.
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Saint-Gobain and Owens Corning to Build Joint Glass Reinforcement Facility in Mexico
Saint-Gobain Reinforcement and Owens Corning announced recently that they will build a joint glass reinforcement facility in Xicohténcatl, Tlaxcala, Mexico, adjacent to Saint-Gobain Vetrotex America’s facility. This unit will manufacture high quality products for the composites market. Construction work began in early August
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K2 Fabricator Chooses Sky-Vent
Plastics Stockholder Ltd a K2 fabricator in Wolverhampton has become a recognised Sky-Vent distributor
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Simec Cuts a Path Through Worldwide Glass Market, and Focuses on UK
Italian machinery specialist Simec has delivered its glass processing equipment to major companies throughout the world in recent months. Now, since signing a deal with the Thermoseal Group at the end of 2002, the UK is likely to be the next flag on the map for an installation of Simec machinery.
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First Time Taster Offer for Uzone™ from Ultraframe
lnstallers anxious to try the Uzone™ from Ultraframe - the roof system designed to unlock the mass market element of a £40 billion conservatory business opportunity - should hurry to take advantage of a 'first time taster' half-price promotion from the company.
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Evergreen Invests in New Site and Machinery
Evergreen Door, the composite door component supplier, has opened a second site in Leeds to improve customer service and accommodate the growth of its fibreglass door range.
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Posh and Brecks Sign for Quantal!
Real Madrid may have secured Mr Beckham, but Quantal has signed an exclusive two-year contract with both ‘Posh and Brecks’, (Breckenridge), which will result in business anticipated at well over £2 million.
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Pultec is the New Black
Lindman’s Pultec, the new generation of window profile made from pultruded, glass reinforced thermosetting resins, is the only material available in the UK that can provide high performance for black window frames, the company claims
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UKae Offers Next Day Delivery Service for Georgian Conservatory Bends
UKae has announced that fabrication and supply of its range of Georgian bend profiles for conservatories will now be available to customers faster than ever. The company has now introduced a next day delivery service for Georgian conservatory bends to allow customers to fulfil short-notice or rushed orders
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Timber Windows can Overcome Durability Doubts
A new British Woodworking Federation survey shows that awareness of the benefits of timber windows continues to grow, with architects being increasingly pro-timber. However, many volume housebuilders still opt for plastic, despite increasing evidence of their shortcomings in terms of performance and environmental impact
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Expanding Seal of Success
A large UK housing authority has relied on Fillcrete’s Airseal self-expanding, joint filler/sealant to solve a number of major problems encountered when replacing windows and doors during refurbishment of it’s housing stock.
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Insolvencies in the Second Quarter 2003
Statistics showing insolvencies in the second quarter 2003 were published on 1st August by the Department of Trade and Industry.
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New Director to Strengthen OFT's Consumer Protection Team
Colin Brown, currently Chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, has been appointed the new branch director of Co-regulation and Coordination in OFT's Consumer Regulation Enforcement Division.
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Alcoa Prepares for Shutdown of Intalco Smelter
Alcoa announced on July 30th that it is preparing to temporarily curtail production at its Ferndale, Washington ('Intalco') aluminum smelter on September 30th, 2003 because of an expected Bonneville Power Administration ('BPA') rate increase, sharply increasing costs at the plant.
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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 86 19th August 2003

'Tailored Roofing Systems Found Guilty of Breach of Contract in a Six-Figure Payout to Ultraframe'
In a ruling recently, Tailored Roofing Systems (TRS), fabricators of conservatory roofs, were found to be in breach of contract and ordered to pay an initial £126,000, within 14 days, to the conservatory manufacturer, Ultraframe.
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Ultraframe sues Eurocell for Patent and Design Right lnfringements Relating to Pinnacle 500
Legal proceedings have been commenced by Ultraframe (UK) Limited against Eurocell Building Plastics Ltd and Eurocell Profiles Ltd claiming an injunction and damages concerning supplies of 'Pinnacle 500' roof system components.
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Eurocell Responds…
In response to the above, Roger Hartshorn, Managing Director of Eurocell said: 'This is not a new claim and we have been aware of this since January
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Pilkington Sells Aerospace Division to GKN for £42m
Pilkington plc has entered into an Agreement for the sale of the whole of the issued share capital of Pilkington Aerospace Limited and Pilkington Aerospace Inc. to GKN plc at a price of £42 million. The consideration will be paid in cash. Pilkington Group Chief Executive, Stuart Chambers, said. 'This disposal is consistent with our strategy of concentrating on our core Building Products and Automotive businesses and strengthens further the Group's financial position.'
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Hunter Douglas Acquires French Blindmakers Filtersun and Goeland
Hunter Douglas has acquired Filtersun and Goeland from Arquati, an Italian company listed on the Milan Stock Exchange. Terms were not disclosed. In May Hunter Douglas acquired three blindmakers from Arquati in Sweden, Switzerland and Spain, and last month acquired Timberblinds, a US manufacturer of window coverings.
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Pilkington AGM Statement Warns of Continuing Difficulties
At the AGM of Pilkington plc, the Chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, made the following statement: 'As I said at the time of our results announcement in May, last year we experienced some of the toughest trading conditions for many years. However the improvement in our competitiveness following the restructuring of recent years meant that we were still able to produce respectable results. Operating profits fell by 9%, but our increased emphasis on cash generation enabled Pilkington to deliver its strongest cash performance for a decade
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Anticipated Acquisition by GKN plc of the Aerospace Division of Pilkington plc
The Office of Fair Trading is considering whether arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002.
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illbruck Acquires Alfas Group Share Capital
illbruck Building Systems GmbH of Leverkusen, Germany, through a UK subsidiary has acquired the entire issued share capital of Alfas Group Limited, the Tyneside and Leicester based manufacturer of sealants, adhesives, security glazing tapes and movement joints. The deal, which was signed in London on 31st July, follows a long term and highly successful co-operation between Alfas Group and illbruck in the UK through a joint venture company, Compriband Limited.
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Saint Gobain Group Slips in First Half due to Exchange Rate Losses
Saint-Gobain Group consolidated net income for the first half of 2003 amounted to EUR 470 million, a decrease of 5.6% on the same period of 2002. Net income before profits and losses on sales of non-current assets came to EUR 471 million, down 8.5% on the year-earlier period.
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Tender: Supply of Window Ventilators and Door Infill Panels - Barnsley Metropolitan Council
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Housing and Property Services Directorate Tender for the Supply of Ventilators for PVCu Windows - Ref PC/03/13; PVCu Door and Window Infill Panels - Ref PC/03/12.
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Visitor Registration Hotline Now Open for GP&T 2003
The Visitor Registration Hotline has now opened for The Glass Processing & Technology Exhibition (GP&T), the new exhibition and conference created for UK glass professionals, set to take place at the NEC this November (11th – 13th November 2003 inclusive)
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Laird Group Pre-Tax Profits up 24% for First Half
Laird Group Chairman, Nigel Keen, commenting on the results, said: 'Laird has continued to make good progress in the first half of 2003. Further improvements in operating performance this year, together with the divestment of loss making businesses in 2002, have resulted in profits before tax, exceptional items and goodwill amortisation increasing by 24% to £16.9 million, or by 35% had exchange rates remained constant'.
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Rogerson Teams up with DJ Glass Consultants
Wayne Rogerson, formerly a business development manager at the BSI, has set up his own company – Fenestration Consultancy Solutions - to work with DJ Glass Consultants Ltd (DJGC). The demand for the EN 1279 consultancy services of DJGC since Dave Frost established the business in September 2001 has become overwhelming and Wayne is taking on all business in northern England and Scotland
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Eurocell Launches New Off the Peg Conservatory Roof Offer
Last year Eurocell, of Alfreton Derbyshire, launched its Pinnacle Conservatory Roofing System as well as introducing the Pinnacle 500 Modular system; complementing the company's range of window and door systems and array of Building Plastics.
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A Further £250,000 Extrusion Investment
A quarter of a million pounds has recently been invested by PVCu profile extruder Status to contribute towards the company's drive in quality and efficiency. Three lines have been installed with a combined output of 250 kgs of profile per hour..
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Business is Booming for Boisse as it gets Trim
Business is booming in Dorset for Veka installer Boisse Windows Ltd which has decided to give sales a helping hand by opening up a trim shop. Boisse Windows Ltd based in Weymouth is owned by Michael Boisse who has glazing in his blood – his grandfather, father and brother were all in the trade - so it was only fitting that he would follow in their footsteps.
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New Dedicated Wood Grain Production Line
Production of all Planets’ wood grain products got under way at the recently extended 12,000 square foot Bamber Bridge factory earlier this year. Two new 8 Series SOMACO computer controlled welders (one four head and one three head) have been installed, together with a new URBAN SV 530 corner cleaner.
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CPA to Advise on Building Regs
The Construction Products Association (CPA) has been asked by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to select members for an advisory group that will look at how Part L of the Building Regs can drive energy efficiencies forward.
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UK First for Metal Technology's New Machine
An advanced thermal break machinery has been purchased by aluminium systems company Metal Technology, as part of a £2.5M, three-year investment plan. With contractors and fabricators demanding ever shorter lead times and business growing rapidly Metal Technology decided to install the Belgian Aluroller thermal break machine
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Kyro Corporation - Clear Growth in January-June Net Sales and Operating Profit
- Net sales grew with acquisitions by 53% to EUR 109.5 (71.6) million
- Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill grew by 38% to EUR 10.6 (7.7) million
- Profit before taxes grew by 19% to EUR 9.2 (7.8) million
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