THE
GL@ZINE ISSUE 107 27th January 2004
Are
You the UK’s Best Conservatory Designer?
In
a new feature being introduced at Glassex ’04, which
takes place at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
from 14th to 17th March, Britain’s conservatory designers
will get the chance to confirm their skills and showcase their
talents by becoming the Glassex Conservatory Designer of the
Year.
[More
on this Story]
Installer
Pays Heavily for Passing Off – ‘Substandard’
Roof Sold as Ultraframe
Following
recent legal action, the supplier and installer SAJE has
signed a court order, giving an undertaking to the court
not to infringe the ‘Ultraframe’ trademark and
not to pass-off products as Ultraframe, when they are not.
Payment of £10,000 has been made by SAJE for Ultraframe,
with a further payment also for costs estimated at over
£10,000 - a total of over £20,000 to be paid
by SAJE.
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on this Story]
'Fabulous'
New Launch from Fab and Fix
Fab
and Fix, UK PVCu hardware supplier, has launched a new product
suite of fully co-ordinated hardware. From handles, hinges
and locks to letterplates, door knockers and numerals, the
suited hardware comes in a range of contemporary co-ordinated
colours, styles and finishes.
[More
on this Story]
Celsius
Creates a Warm Glow for K2
Less
than a year after acquiring CCG and incorporating it into
the company as K2 Glass, K2 is reporting success for its Celsius
performance glass, with the product surpassing forecast sales
by as much as 300% in a single month.
[More
on this Story]
Sjølund
Gears up for Growth in UK
Sjølund
A/S claims to be the leading profile bending specialist in Europe.
The company bends sections and thin sheets of steel, stainless
steel and aluminium. The company has 65 highly qualified employees
and says that short delivery times and a flexible approach make
Sjølund A/S a reliable business partner for a large number
of companies within a broad section of industry.
[More
on this Story]
FGI
at the Cutting Edge with Promac
Float
Glass Industries (FGI) has invested in the latest For.El vertical
laminated glass cutting line – one of only two currently
installed in the UK supplied by Promac. The new For.El VC3302
with automatic loading and stocking facilities is part of an ongoing
investment programme at FGI’s state-of-the-art glass processing
operation in Manchester.
[More
on this Story]
Flat
Glass Merchants of Corby Invests in Tamglass Plant
Flat Glass Merchants Ltd of Corby, Northants, have recently commissioned
a Tamglass HTF 42/21 furnace capable of toughening glass from
4-19mm at a maximum size of 4200 x 2100.
[More
on this Story]
The
Consultant who Liked the Company so Much he Bought It!
Manchester based window, door and conservatory manufacturer Sureframe,
is set to build upon an impressive sales performance in 2003,
following the announcement of a successful management buy out
and a change of ownership.
[More
on this Story]
'Midlands
Regions Show the most Company Changes in 2003' says Windowbase
'The
year 2003 had more companies changing details than we have seen
so far in the past nine years' says Windowbase in its annual summary
of changes to the Industry-wide database of UK window, door &
conservatory companies. With over 12,300 companies contacted in
the past twelve months, this analysis shows what is happening
in the industry.
[More
on this Story]
Allerton
Windows Becomes HW Plastics 100th AIMS Signatory
Due
to the success of HW Plastics' Approved Installer Membership Scheme
since its launch in Summer 2002, the company has announced that
Allerton Windows of Bootle, Merseyside has become the 100th company
to sign up to the AIMS Initiative.
[More
on this Story]
Dedadiamond
Introduces its Diamond Tools to the UK Market
Dedadiamond
is a growing Singapore investment company in China. Its diamond
tools are made with Japanese technology with Japanese collaboration.
The company's manufacturing activities are as follows:
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on this Story]
Is
the UK on its way to 85% Warm Edge Technology like North America?
With
a quarter of a century in sealed unit manufacture, and one of the
first companies to use Super Spacer® bars in the UK, Holdens
Supaseal have more experience than most. ‘We’ve been using
the Super Spacer for seven years now and about 25% of our 5000 sealed
unit output per week is manufactured using the Edgetech product,’
says Alan Pearse, General Manager of Holdens Supaseal.
[More
on this Story]
Stain
Blocking Primer Research Strikes a Chord
TRADA
Technology Ltd has been overwhelmed by offers of support from industry
for a DTI-sponsored project to research the effectiveness of stain
blocking primers for wood joinery, announced in May last year.
[More
on this Story]
21
Years of Trading Adds Experience to Future Growth Plans
2004
is the 21st anniversary for Status fabricator Window Warehouse,
and to see the New Year in with a bang the company has recently
invested extensively in a conservatory roof manufacturing line for
the manufacture of Ultraframe roofs.
[More
on this Story]
Modplan-
the Home of Customer Support
Over
the last few months, customers of Veka fabricator, Modplan Limited,
have welcomed the improved scheduling and production system resulting
from the installation of specialist software earlier this year.
[More
on this Story]
Scotplas
– Branch Number 14
Scotplas
– the PVCu Merchant to the Roofline, Window and Building Industry
has opened its fourteenth branch in Bangor, North Wales, and brings
the total to ten opened in the last five years.
[More
on this Story]
Duraflex
Moves to New Homes
Family
homes at a new Fairclough Homes development on Merseyside are benefiting
from high performance PVCu windows and doors courtesy of the Duraflex
Diamond Suite. New build specialist, New View, is currently installing
the 360 windows together with patios and French doors in properties
at Victoria Gardens in Rainhill.
[More
on this Story]
Optima
Wins Project for Porcelanosa's UK Flagship Showroom
Optima
Architectural Glass has won a glazing package for Porcelanosa's
new £3.3m UK showroom. The project will include a number of
bespoke architectural glass features including an inclined nine
metre high double glazed, spider-bolted façade supported
by glass fins, a double flight helical glass staircase with balustrading
and laminated sandblasted glass treads, glass cantilevered entrance
canopy, and a glazed entrance with frameless glass sliding doors.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Acquires 44 Million Additional Shares in Chalco
Alcoa announced on 6th January that it has participated in the Aluminum
Corporation of China's (Chalco's) new share placement. Alcoa will
acquire approximately 44 million additional shares in Chalco as
part of the offering. This purchase will maintain Alcoa's approximately
8 percent ownership in Chalco and cost approximately $32 million.
[More
on this Story]
THE
GL@ZINE ISSUE 106 20th January 2004
Double-glazing
Company to Issue Sales Staff with Portable Lie Detectors.
Directors at a TradeMark Windows, based in Berkshire, believe
that they have the only sales force in the world that come
prepared with lie detectors, for use by customers. They believe
that this brave step will set them apart from the traditional
hard sell and dishonest image of the double-glazing salesman..
[More
on this Story]
Ultraframe
withdraw Uzone CD-Rom
Following legal action taken by Eurocell, Ultraframe has been
obliged to withdraw its Uzone promotional CD-Rom. According
to Eurocell, it was agreed that the CD-Rom misuses the Eurocell
logo trade mark and provides misleading information regarding
comparisons with competitor's systems.
[More
on this Story]
Eurocell
Profiles Celebrates 24% Increase in 2003 Turnover
Eurocell Profiles, a major player in the UK window and door
market and part of Tessenderlo Group have reason to celebrate
moving into 2004. The systems company based in Alfreton Derbyshire
have posted a 24 % increase in turnover during the 2003-trading
year (against + 19 % in 2002)..
[More
on this Story]
Solutia
6th International Design Awards - Recognising Outstanding new
Buildings with Glass
Solutia,
the manufacturer of PVB interlayers for the production of laminated
glass, is now accepting entries for the '6th International Solutia
Design Awards'.
Deadline
for submitting entries is February 10th, 2004.
[More
on this Story]
Sentinel
Awarded Replacment Door Contract at Oadby & Wigston
Sentinel
Doors has successfully completed a supply and installation contract
for 480 front, rear and outhouse doors for Oadby & Wigston
Borough Council in only sixteen weeks.
[More
on this Story]
Stuga
Sells Ecoline Prepping Centre to Omega
Stuga
has confirmed another sale of the Ecoline Prepping Centre to Omega
Group of Peterborough for delivery in February 2004. Omega already
has a Stuga Autocut Saw Centre, which is the ideal combination
for the Ecoline.
[More
on this Story]
Ultraframe
Research Starts to Show Results and Customers Increase Sales
Housing
Slowdown to Drive Conservatory Sales: Early findings from
new market research commissioned by Ultraframe show that homeowners
see conservatories as an investment for better quality living
and increased house value.
[More
on this Story]
K2
Delivers Top Service with 100% Order Fulfilment
K2
Conservatory Roof Systems achieved a perfect score for service
levels in both October and November, with 100% order fulfilment
across the company. The feat follows a track record of sustained
99% on-time delivery capabilities.
[More
on this Story]
Total
Success for Partnering Contract
The
securing of a major long-term multi-million pound partnering contract
with a local social housing provider has boosted expansion at
Total Glass Ltd, one of Profile 22’s largest PVCu trade window
fabricators in the North West..
[More
on this Story]
Beaufort
Fabricators Pass with Flying Colours
Two
members of Beaufort Secure Design’s Approved Fabricator scheme
have just passed their first annual audit with flying colours.
Beaufort technicians recently assessed aluminium build practice
at Superglazed in London and Fareham-based GPM Meridian Windows
as part of an ongoing check that quality standards are being upheld.
[More
on this Story]
Eurocell
Building Plastics Newcastle Branch Re-Locates
Eurocell
Building Plastics has announced further development within the
group. Now with 53 centres nationwide, the depot in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
has relocated to a larger, 4000 sq ft site.
[More
on this Story]
Connect
2 Opens More Branches
Connect
2 National Plastics has welcomed 2004 with a double celebration,
following the recent acquisition of Corby Plastics. The national,
plastics building specialist, has already opened its doors to builders,
window installers and roofing specialists in the Corby area, offering
the same benefits enjoyed by customers at the other fourteen, Connect
2 branches across England and Wales.
[More
on this Story]
K2
Expands Key Dealer Network
Cambridgeshire-based
Phoenix Door Panels is the latest fabricator to be appointed to
K2’s Key Dealer Network, bringing the total of high volume
K2 dealers to 12.
[More
on this Story]
Leeds
Glass - First in the UK for Pilkington
Leeds Glass Company, based in Harehills Lane Leeds, recently became
the first appointed Pilkington Team Partner in the United Kingdom.
The European-wide Team Partner initiative is a partnership set up
by Pilkington and independently owned businesses such as Leeds Glass.
[More
on this Story]
Nationwide
Frame Services Ltd (NFSL) Expands its New Build PVCu Supply &
Fit Operation
In
the Autumn of 2003, Nationwide Frame Services Ltd (NFSL) reached
an agreement with a major manufacturer of PVCu Windows and Doors,
to take over its new build PVCu supply & fit operation, which
is predominately active in the South Yorkshire area.
[More
on this Story]
Minimal
Scrap Rate Reinforces High Quality Efficiency at Status
With
a scrap rate that on occasions is as low as two per cent per month,
extrusion expert Status Systems has the best record among all Deceuninck
subsidiaries worldwide.
[More
on this Story]
Mercedes
a Clear Winner for Thermoshield
When
Rochford-based window and conservatory manufacturer Thermoshield
decided to mark its 20th anniversary by increasing its fleet of
vans, Mercedes-Benz was the only name in the frame.
[More
on this Story]
Technology
and Sustainability on the North Circular
Kajima
Design has won planning permission for the redevelopment and reconfiguration
of the existing JVC Business Park at Priestley Way, Staples Corner
adjacent to Brent Cross.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Selected to Collaborate With Ferrari on Next-Generation Aluminum
Space Frame
Alcoa
Advanced Transportation Systems (AATS) announced on 5th January
that it has been selected by Ferrari as the sole provider for the
next-generation aluminium space frame for its new, 12-cylinder,
front engine 2+2 sports car, the 612 Scaglietti (pictured right).
[More
on this Story]
OFT
Refers Proposed Acquisition by Carl Zeiss of the Microscopy Business
of Bio-Rad
The
OFT recently referred the proposed acquisition by Carl Zeiss Jena
GmbH of the microscopy business of Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc to the
Competition Commission (CC).
[More
on this Story]
THE
GL@ZINE ISSUE 105 13th January 2004
Eric
Davis Resigns
Plastmo
Limited announces with regret, that Commercial Director Eric Davis
has resigned from his Board position and as Commercial Director
of the Abbott Group subsidiary, to pursue new interests.
[More
on this Story]
Shepley
Acquires Interframe
Shepley Window Systems (Holdings) Ltd has acquired Interframe
Ltd, a large trade fabricator based in Paignton, Devon, on 22nd
December 2003. Shepley is already one of the largest trade fabricators
in the UK and the recent acquisition moves the group into the industry’s
top three.
[More
on this Story]
Prosperous
Financial Period for Leading Window and Door Manufacturers Reveals
New Business Ratio Report
'The average leading company operating in the window
and door manufacturing industry in Great Britain has experienced
a prosperous financial period over the last three full accounting
years - 1999/2000 -2001/2002.' reveals a recently published Business
Ratio industry report.
[More
on this Story]
Synseal
Produces 800 Patio Doors per Week
Synseal Extrusions Ltd is currently producing 800 patio
doors per week. ‘We are particularly pleased with the growth
we are experiencing and the number of doors we are producing,’
comments Nick Dutton, Sales and Marketing Director of Synseal,
‘because this particular market is one that for many systems
companies is a hassle and a headache.
[More
on this Story]
Pilkington
Architectural Introduces Blast Resistant Pilkington Planar™
Pilkington Architectural has extended the flexibility
of its tried and tested structural glazing system with the introduction
of Blast Resistant Pilkington Planar™. With increasing concern
over terrorist activity on prominent buildings within the major
cities of the world, Blast Resistant Pilkington Planar™ offers
designers a solution to the problems associated with high velocity
glass particles.
[More
on this Story]
Third
Quarter Results provide Christmas Cheer at Safestyle
Safestyle UK, retail supplier of PVCu windows and doors,
has reported record sales for the first nine months of 2003. Turn
over has increased to £70.1m compared to £55.1m for
the corresponding period in 2002 and is now on course to break the
£100m barrier by the end of the year.
[More
on this Story]
Roof-Maker
Expands Globally
Former K2 fabricator Roof-Maker Ltd in Leicester has
announced the successful change over to the new Global roof system.
'Our customers are delighted with the new product and with the help
of Synseal and their engineers it has enabled us to increase production
as now 75% of all roofs can be flat-packed' said Rachel Owen, Sales
Director.
[More
on this Story]
Prince
Andrew gave CGI International the Big 5 at Dubai Exhibition
The
Duke of York opened the world’s biggest trade show, the Big
5 Exhibition held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where 68
UK firms exhibited. The Prince spent two or three hours talking
to the British exhibitors and greeted specialist Fire Glass manufacturer
CGI International’s Sales Managers, John Brown and Richard
Banyard, with a warm handshake.
[More
on this Story]
Doors
and Windows Hall at Interbuild Sold Out
Further evidence that Interbuild 2004 is the place to do business
for the construction industry has arrived with news that a major
section of the show is effectively sold out. With months still to
go before building's premier trade event opens its doors at the
NEC in Birmingham, the exhibition halls housing doors, windows,
facades, security, fire prevention and the Disability Access Zone
is 97 per cent sold.
[More
on this Story]
Mysterious
Glass Spheres in Crop Circles
An
article by Dr Eltjo Haselhoff gives details of white powder found
inside crop circle formations, one instance quoted being a crop
circle at Zutphen in Holland in 1996, which after microscopic investigation
turn out to be near-perfect round glass spheres. .
[More
on this Story]
Recruitment
Drive Steps up a Gear for Ultraframe Registered Conservatory Installer
Scheme
The
2004 recruitment campaign has been launched for the Ultraframe register
of conservatory installers. Approved by the Guild of Master Craftsmen
and championed by trade, the scheme is now in full swing. Installers
are lining up to take the test and grow their business with a ready-made
channel to consumers.
[More
on this Story]
Planet
Opens Latest Franchises in Southampton and Eastbourne
Planet
PVC Group plc, the UK installer of conservatories, has recently
opened another two new megastores. The first, in Southampton was
opened by Matt le Tissier - the ex-Southampton and England footballer.
The second new store opened in Eastbourne, on the busy Redward Business
Park – Eastbourne’s main commercial area.
[More
on this Story]
National
Network 'First' for Glass Sector Customers, as Hi-Tec Spray Acquires
Bollom Finishing Equipment
A
new UK force in surface coating technology for the glass and secondary
windows industry has been created following the acquisition of Bollom
Finishing Equipment by Hi-Tec Spray Ltd..
[More
on this Story]
Everything
Bar the Kitchen Sink
RoofWright has developed new ideas for kitchen/dining room extensions
with its 21st century 3D conservatory software. On a laptop in front
of the customer, using either a standard template or the freehand
editor, RoofWright makes it simple to create the required extension
shape and size.
[More
on this Story]
Ace
Window Systems Come Up Trumps
Ace
Window Systems Ltd, a Premier Profiles fabricator and installer
based in Port Talbot, South Wales started work this month on its
largest new build housing contract yet with Oakview Homes Ltd.
[More
on this Story]
On
Site Restoration and Repair of Damaged Glass in Construction
Chicago
Glass has extensive experience of restoration and repair of damaged
glass on-site for many of the major construction companies and glass
installers in the UK.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Fourth Quarter Income from Continuing Operations up $486 Million
from Year-Ago Quarter; Full-Year Up 117% Over 2002
* $340m of income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter
up from a loss of $146m in the same quarter 2002
* $1.034bn, or $1.20 per diluted share, in income from continuing
operations for the full year - up 117% over 2002
* $1.2bn of debt reduction in 2003 with the company's debt-to-capital
ratio declining from 43.1 to 35.1%
* The company surpasses its goal of $1bn in annual cost savings
* Every segment showed improved profitability over 2002.
[More
on this Story]
Saint-Gobain
Sales up 3.8% at Constant Exchange Rates, up 2.2% Like-for-Like
Consolidated
sales for the Saint-Gobain Group came to £22,236 million for
the first nine months of 2003, representing a contraction of 3.0%
on an actual structure basis and 4.6% on a comparable structure
basis. As for the first six months of the year, the decline in sales
is entirely due to currency effects - which had a 6.6% negative
impact during the period.
[More
on this Story]
IMI
Trading Update and Management Changes
In
accordance with its normal practice, IMI plc, Premier Profiles parent
company, recently issued a trading update in advance of its preliminary
results announcement for the twelve months ending 31st December
2003, due to be published on 8th March 2004.
[More
on this Story]
Automotive
Glass division of Asahi Glass Company Ltd is renamed AGC Automotive
Asahi
Glass Company Ltd is an international group organised into four
divisions, namely Display Screens, Chemicals, Construction Glazing
and Automotive Glass. It has now decided to regroup all the Automotive
Glazing activities under the same name, with the same visual identity.
[More
on this Story]
THE
GL@ZINE ISSUE 104 6th January 2004
ASA
Complaints into 'Part L' advert Upheld
Following
complaints from five window systems companies, a trade press advertisement
on behalf of Synseal Extrusions Ltd was investigated by the Advertising
Standards Authority. The complaints were upheld.
[More
on this Story]
Why
are the Windows Cracking on the Gherkin?
In
an article in The Guardian on 27th November, journalist Alok Jha
asked the above question, unfortunately answering it with: 'No
one is actually sure, although there are theories'.
[More
on this Story]
