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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 80 24th June 2003

Beware of False Profits?
Our coverage of Epwin's end of year figures last week, prompted a quizzical response from some quarters of the industry as to why we had given undue prominence to the Group's operating profit. There are several things to be said about this
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Heywood Williams Timely US Disposal Opens Growth Options
Heywood Williams Group Plc, the UK producer of PVC window systems, cellular foam and hardware has reached a definitive agreement for the sale of the Creation Group to Dura Automotive Systems Inc for a consideration of US$60m (£35.7m)
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Deceuninck Business Plan Aims at Sales 700m Euro in 2007 through Growth and Consolidation
Deceuninck, worldwide producer of PVCu window systems and profiles for the construction industry, released its 2003-2007 Business Plan on June 10th. This revised Business Plan underscores the importance Deceuninck attaches to establishing a long-term vision for the group.
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Indigo Poised to Make Inroads with Elite
'Indigo Products is on the threshold of significant growth and will be pursuing an active and targeted sales campaign to drive our business among current and potential new customers' said Danny Hague, Indigo's Sales and Marketing Director
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Construction of the UK First Magnetron Coating Plant Begins
Construction of the UK's first magnetron coating facility began last week at Saint Gobain's float glass plant in Eggborough near Selby in Yorkshire. The new £15-million coater will enable Saint-Gobain Glass to produce its soft coat low emissivity (Low-E) glass 'Planitherm' in the UK
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A Fond Farewell to Roy
Status Systems sales and marketing director, Roy Shipley, has announced his departure from the company. Roy has been with Status for some 12 years, during which he has played a major role in firstly turning the business around in the early nineties, and its profitable growth thereafter.
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Pilkington Plc - Final Dividend Scrip Price
The scrip dividend share value in respect of the final dividend payable on 1st August 2003 has been calculated at 70p based on the average of the middle market quotations of Pilkington plc shares on the London Stock Exchange for the five dealing days 11th to 17th June 2003 inclusive.
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Penalty Shoot-Out Ends Mila's 5th Trinity Challenge with a Joint First Place Victory
It's the sporting finish that has made for many a nail-biting moment in England footballing history, and it was no different at this year's Mila Trinity Challenge when Bryco Windows' triumph in a penalty shoot-out placed the company in joint first place position with Golf and Karting champions Hoppe.
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BWF Strengthens Audit Testing for Fire Door Accreditation Scheme
The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has implemented a more rigorous audit testing regime for its Fire Door & Doorset Scheme. This follows Members' comments on a proposal drawn up by CERTIFIRE - the BWF's partner in the Scheme - in response to a recent strategic review
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ACDM Welcomes GBW to its Membership
GBW Panels Ltd has joined the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), increasing the number of members to eleven
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New Body gives Network 'Installer-Power'   
Network Veka is giving installers a bigger say in the running of the organisation with the launch of the Network Veka Installers' Committee.
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Shepley is First to Manufacture the Latest in Integral Gaskets
Shepley customers are the first installers to receive the new integral gasket for the Rehau 70mm PVCu window and door system launched at Glassex 2003
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The UKDPN Enters Export Market
The UK Door Panel Network, the UK group of independent door panel producers has started to look overseas for expansion, and is delighted to have signed up its first contract in Dubai
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Versatile Joints for Windows and Conservatories
The Hoffmann system of using special dovetail keys to create a variety of joints is now in wide use throughout various sectors of industry. But this system is also suitable for the modern window, door and conservatory manufacturer
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Budding Inventor Big Brother's Jon Tickle Blows his Chance, says Patent Office
Jon Tickle, the boffin from Channel Four's Big Brother House, made a terrible mistake in discussing his would-be inventions with his Housemates, and in front of millions of TV viewers. His disclosures have cost him all hope of patent protection for his ideas.
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Alcan Commits to Achieving ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 Certification for all Facilities
President and Chief Executive Officer of Alcan Inc., Travis Engen, committed on June 10th that the Company will work to ensure all its operations, including its head office in Montreal, Quebec, achieve ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification by 2004.
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Caring Interseal Replaces Hospital Windows
Devon based Profile 22 fabricator, Interseal, was praised by senior management at a hospital in Plymouth for the professional, caring way that the company worked on the wards while installing new windows
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Reduce Shipping Costs of Glass Products with Container Dri II Moisture Control System
Manufacturers of glass, and products incorporating glass, can significantly reduce moisture damage and shipping costs with Container Dri® II from Süd-Chemie Performance Packaging
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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 79 16th June 2003

Alternative Win for The 4th annual Jotika Golf Day
Now a firm fixture in the Glazing industry events calendar, The 4th annual Jotika Golf Day was held last Friday, 13th June – a date that offered a great excuse for having a bad round! Despite which, the overall standard of play was excellent, even from the novices, and there were some very close scores.
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United Technologies Corp Agrees to Acquire Chubb plc in $1.0 Billion Deal
United Technologies Corp. announced on 11th June a $1.0 billion offer to purchase Chubb plc, a leading provider of electronic security and fire protection products and services, in an all-cash deal that the boards of directors of both companies have approved unanimously.
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Insolvencies, winding up orders, petitions and creditors' meetings
The following Notices have appeared in the past couple of weeks. They include notifications of creditors' meetings, winding up orders and final creditors' meetings. These include Essex based Liberty Windows, Direct Windows Leicester, Buman Doors, Manchester, Ross Glass Ltd, Norwich and Tradeglaze Conservatories & Fascias.
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GP&T Set to be Biggest Glass Show in UK as Glaverbel, Bystronic, Pearsons and Jotika Join Exhibitors
Glass giant Glaverbel, leading international machinery manufacturer Bystronic, top processor Pearsons and software house Jotika are the latest companies to sign contracts to exhibit at Glass Processing & Technology.
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KAT Announces Future Investment Plans       
With turnover on track for £6.5m this year - 28 per cent up on last year - Macclesfield based KAT UK has made known its ambitions for continued organic growth towards a target of £10m turnover in three years time.
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Kolorplas Keeps on Growing
It's been a record year for PVCu fabricator and colour coating specialist, Kolorplas. The Oxon-based group reports a 20% overall increase in sales for the year, double the usual rate of growth for the company's trade operation, with retail sales up by 15%.
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Masterdor Offers DDA Compliance
Manse Masterdor Ltd gave public specifiers the low-down on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) at Windowfab last month and highlighted the urgent need for service providers to take an in-depth look at how the new legislation will affect them.
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Software is Jewel in the Crown for Royal
A Merseyside based commercial aluminium specialist has set its sights on growth with an ambitious investment package from Promac. The new machinery - from the high-end Emmegi range of aluminium fabrication equipment - will be made more flexible, efficient and productive through the integration of the latest software package - also from Emmegi - called Frame Project Pro.
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Building Airtightness - the Honeymoon Period is Nearly Over 
BRE's airtightness experts are reminding designers and contractors that, from 30th September 2003, all new commercial and public buildings with a gross floor area of 1000 m2 or more must demonstrate that they meet the new airtightness standard of 10 m3h-1m-2.
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Neslo joins the Linkspan Group - 'Life Begins at 40'
Already a success story, borne out by celebration of it's 40th birthday this year, Neslo is set to grow following its take over by Linkspan - the UK's largest independent partitioning contractor.
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Radway sets up 2000 Units Per Week Capacity
Redditch-based Sheerframe windowmaker Radway Door and Windows Ltd has invested over £250,000 in new machinery at its main manufacturing plant, and established a new production unit at nearby Aston, to meet demand for its Sheerframe windows from the social housing sector.
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BWF Best of Breed Testing Timber Windows to the Full
The British Woodworking Federation's Showcase Project, being run in partnership with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), is successfully pushing the boundaries of timber window manufacturing and finishing techniques across a wide spectrum.
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23 Times Round the World with Profile 22       
With its unique number plate, J22 PVC, one of Profile 22's fleet of lorries, has proved to be a reliable workhorse. The Scania lorry was first registered in September 1997 and has notched up some impressive statistics.
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Shepley Never Sleeps with new Auto-Fax service
Shepley has launched a new auto-fax service to provide glass sizes and frame order details overnight. When customers order their windows, doors or conservatories from Shepley, their details are logged. With the new auto-fax they will automatically be faxed with glass sizes and a confirmation of their frame order details that night.
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Better Homes Provides Better Publicity for West Yorks Windows
Status fabricator West Yorkshire Windows has just completed its fourth conservatory installation for the ITV home improvement show Better Homes, featuring Carol Vorderman.
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Carl F Launches 'Paint to Order' Service for Vents
Carl F Petersen Ltd has enhanced its capabilities with regard to Duco, Ventilation & Sun Control products.
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Alcoa Chooses Bechtel and HRV To Build Project in East Iceland
Alcoa has chosen Bechtel and its partner, an Icelandic engineering consortium, HRV (Hönnun, Rafhönnun, VST), to design and build its new plant in East Iceland, which is being designed for production of 322,000-metric-ton-per-year of primary aluminium.
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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 78 9th June 2003

Stand Sales Gather Pace for GP&T   
Almost half of the targeted exhibition stand sales had been sold for Glass Processing & Technology (GP&T) by early May, with over 6 months to go until the event takes place. This milestone was reached after a flurry of activity that has resulted in over 2000 square metres of exhibition stand space being contracted for the event, which will give the UK glass industry its own dedicated exhibition and conference showcase.
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Major Report on the UK Commercial Glazing Market 2002
AMA Research has recently published the third edition of the UK Commercial Glazing Market Report. The report presents a comprehensive and up-to-date review, looking in detail at the industry trends to date, as well as future opportunities and threats. The report represents an aid to sales and marketing professionals in, or interested in, the industry.
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Network Veka's Back on the Cowboy Trail
Network Veka has launched another crackdown on bogus membership claims after receiving a tip-off about a company in Somerset. The organisation has issued warnings to local media, stressing that genuine members' employees all carry centrally-issued identity cards and urging householders to ask to see the ID if they have any suspicions at all about the caller.
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Pilkington Crew Faces the Elements in Major Sailing Event       
A plucky crew of Pilkington employees recently braved severe weather conditions to finish eighth out of 17 teams in a first round of the Industry Sailing Challenge 2003, the largest corporate sailing event in the world. The Pilkington team - led by skipper John Brighouse - faced gusty Force 7 winds of up to 40 knots to complete the challenge successfully.
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Lister Trade Frames with Stuga - Consistent Growth from Consistent Quality       
Lister Trade Frames of Stoke on Trent has built a reputation over the last 27 years for the company's quality window frames. To further guarantee consistency of that quality Lister has recently invested in the latest machining centre from Stuga, and at a total cost to Lister of around £250,000.00 it had to produce tangible results..
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CGI International in New Partnership for North America       
Haydock based fire glass manufacturer, CGI International Ltd has concluded an exclusive North American Distribution Agreement with the Oldcastle Glass Group. CGII’s Pyroguard Clear Fire Rated Glass will now be stocked nationally by the OG Group across North America..
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Sales Soar with Synseal's Global       
Synseal Extrusions Ltd has seen intense activity in recent months preparation for the landmark launch of the Global Conservatory Roof. And it seems to be paying off.
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Avanti Systems Doubles Production with new Kombimatec Machining Centre
Having recently moved into larger premises to fulfil further growth potential, partitioning manufacturer Avanti Systems has given its expansion plans a kick-start with its purchase of a state of the art machining centre manufactured by UK supplier GTI-Kombimatec
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Versatile Opportunities in New Build
Millgate Windows and Conservatories has been a valued customer of the Burles Group since its inception and is reaping the rewards of the combination of Veka frames and Versatile Roof System, which has caught the eye of elite house builders throughout the east of England.
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Hallmark Provides an even Smoother Service with New Vehicle Datatrack System
Hull-based door panel, GRP and laminated products manufacturer Hallmark Group has pledged to significantly improve its service levels by fitting its entire commercial vehicle fleet with a Siemens Datatrack System..
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Guardian Systems Ltd Continues to Expand in the New Build Market
Window fabricator, Guardian Systems of Stirling, has recently been employed by MCA Homes of Alloa to manufacture and supply windows, doors and French doors for 250 new homes..
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Essex Yacht Club Chooses Goldline for Mine-Sweeper 'HMS Wilton'
The Whiteline Group, the South East specialist trade fabricator of Goldline PVCu windows and doors, has announced the specification of Goldline windows and doors for what is most probably Goldline's, and installation company Special F.X. Windows, Benfleet, Essex, most unusual installation application to date; aboard Essex Yacht Club's ex-navy Mine-Sweeper, 'HMS Wilton'.
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ACDM Welcomes SBD Certification
Members of the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers are preparing for a new Certification process for composite doors that is to be introduced later this year by Secured by Design (SBD), the UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of designing out crime..
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Synseal's Solution for Aluminium Woodgrain top Capping
Synseal Extrusions Ltd is launching aluminium woodgrain top capping in response to customer concern about top capping distortion that has occurred on other brands. The systems company researched the market and found that in very specific geographical areas, distortion can occur.
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Living Colour at UKF
UK Fasteners has launched colour coded labels to make its screws easily identifiable for fabricators on the shop floor.
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Modplan - The Home of Customer Service
'Longevity of customer relationships, combined with positive response to regular customer surveys, is a clear testimony to the satisfaction felt by Modplan customers.' says the company..
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MPH Windows - Making sure your House becomes your Home
The Bryant Homes housing development at Euxton, near Preston will result in some 236 premier houses when the project is completed. Bryant Homes' window requirements for the prestige housing project, was for 4 ranges of window, with 30 to 40 different types of window in each range, for the standard houses on their site.
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Unitec Launches the new Roto TSL
Unitec is now stocking and promoting the new Twin-Cam Security Lock (TSL) from Roto.
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Saint- Gobain Solaglas Joins Current Solutia UK Partnership
Saint-Gobain Solaglas has joined the current Solutia UK partnership to produce laminated architectural glass with Vanceva Design, a new range of coloured, patterned and textured polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers specifically created for laminated glass.
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Vitro Cristalglass Supplies Glass for Expansion of Madrid National Museum
Vitro Cristalglass was selected to provide close to 15,000 square meters of its extra-clear, double-glazing lsolar Multipact glass to expand the Reina Sofia Center National Museum in Madrid. Supported by Spain's Culture and Education Ministry, the museum is one of the most significant icon buildings in Europe
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Pilkington Reports Best Cash Performance for a Decade in Mixed 2002 Results
Chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd reports a robust set of results from Pilkington, produced against the backdrop of continuing depressed trading conditions in most of the Group’s major markets. Pressure on selling prices in Europe and North America pulled operating profits, including joint ventures and associates, down to £217m (2002 £238m).  'Despite the lower operating profits, our emphasis on cash generation enabled Pilkington to generate cash inflow before dividends of £138m (2002 £5m outflow); the Group’s strongest cash performance for a decade', he says.
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Chemetall sells Glass Sealants and Casting Resins Business to Kömmerling
Chemetall GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, will sell the sealants and casting resins business of its Glass Division to Kömmerling Chemische Fabrik GmbH, Pirmasens/Germany. A corresponding agreement was signed on Friday, May 23rd. The transaction has been approved by the anti-trust authorities and is expected to be closed in June.
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Epwin Reports Strong Performance in 2002, Dented by Refinancing and Acquisition Costs
The Board's successful strategy following the company's return to private ownership has produced a further set of record results, with increases to both turnover and profits. The company's programme of product and market diversification, most notably with the acquisition of the Swish roofline, cladding and window business in 2000, has secured growth despite a maturing market for PVCu window products.
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Hunter Douglas Acquires Thomas Sanderson Blinds
Hunter Douglas has acquired Thomas Sanderson Blinds, a Southampton based window covering assembler, from ISIS Private Equity Partners plc, a UK private equity firm, and other investors. Terms were not disclosed.
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Plastmo Ltd Acquires Plastmo Profiles and Abbott Group
Plastmo Limited has been formed by the senior management of Plastmo Profiles Limited, to acquire the entire share capital of Plastmo Profiles Limited of Northampton and the Abbott Group of Hailsham, Sussex.
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Bringing Colour to Better Homes
A twin gable conservatory, colour coated by Kolor-fast in Anthracite Grey and fabricated and installed by West Yorkshire Windows, was one of the stunning designer makeovers featured in 20th May's edition of ITV's popular home improvement programme, Carol Vorderman's Better Homes.
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Synseal Buys Second Polycarb Line
Synseal has recently invested in the installation of a new polycarbonate line, the company's second in less than a year. 'We wanted our own polycarbonate lines to stay ahead of the extraordinary demand for our roofs,' explains Nick Dutton, Sales and Marketing Director of Synseal Extrusions
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Nürnberg Global Fairs Opens a Window on China
The lnternational EuroWindoor Pavilion offers European window and door manufacturers the opportunity to present their products to the Chinese trade public for the first time from 20-23 November 2003. Together with EuroWindoor, the trade association of the most important European window associations, Nurnberg Global Fairs is organising the pavilion for companies at Fenestration China 2003.
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TRADA Research on Primers will put Block on Stains
TRADA Technology Ltd has won £70,000 of DTI funding under the Partners in lnnovation programme for a new research project to evaluate the effectiveness of stain blocking primers for wood joinery. Peter Kaczmar, TRADA Technology's Coatings and Treatments specialist, will head up the research.
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Piper Calls the Tune with Major Expansion
Long time Veka fabricator and family owned company Piper Double-Glazing Ltd of Kent has undertaken a major expansion programme. Its primary business is conducted with local authorities, housing associations and commercial organisations, for whom the company has undertaken work on many prestigious projects.
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Pilkington Invests £3.5m at Greengate
A £3.5m investment in extra storage space has helped boost customer service performance at Pilkington's Greengate float production site in the UK.
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GGF Grasp the Thorny Nettle at ConventionGrasping the nettle - issues the industry cannot ignore was the theme of this year's GGF Convention held at the Queen Hotel Chester recently, attended by nearly 100 members, delegates and guests.
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RoofWright's Victorian goes West
RoofWright's offer of free software to create Victorian conservatories in 3D has paid off with copies reaching as far as Canada's west coast. Hundreds of CDs have been sent out from the South Manchester headquarters
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Tenants get their Hands on a Masterdor
Tenants of South Bedfordshire District Council were able to get their hands on a Masterdor when bespoke door manufacturer, Manse Masterdor Ltd, attended tenant meetings to demonstrate how its door-set works
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Popular Partners with Profile 22
A second seminar on Project Partnering organised by Profile 22 proved to be an even greater success than the first with more than 90 delegates attending the Telford event.
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