Editors Comments
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Does the world stop when you are stuck at home?, asks Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell. Imagine that you can have the undivided attention of your customers – actual or potential. Imagine that they stopped what they were doing; they no longer had factories to run, showrooms to man, or projects to complete. Imagine that they were sat at home,...
We may be living one day at a time, but we must keep an eye on the future, argues Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell. Normality is what we crave, even as we sit at home waiting for the all clear from the government. Thankfully, ministers have wasted no time in putting together packages to help support everyone – businesses, employees,...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell is counting his loo rolls. It was impossible not to feel some sense of alarm at the prime minister’s daily briefing on Monday afternoon; after all, we haven’t felt a disruption to our daily lives like this for more than a generation. I can’t remember anything like it in my lifetime. However, I think it...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell reports on a recent European Development. The EU’s Environment Committee has objected to a proposal to allow lead in recycled PVC, which could have a significant impact on manufacturing PVCU windows from post-consumer waste that would otherwise go to landfill. It was decided that the proposed amendments do not protect human health and the environment...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell has coronavirus advice for employers. It is troubling when something like coronavirus (officially Covid-19) potentially affects the way we do business – especially after the uncertainty caused by Brexit. Already, Fensterbau has been postponed due to fears surrounding the spread of the virus. The exhibition duo of Fensterbau Frontale and Holz-Handwerk 2020 will not take...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell wonders if we are seeing the beginning of the end for traditionally built homes. Two stories that sit (un)comfortably side-by-side this week concern new-build homes. On the one hand we have the announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) the homebuyers buying new homes will be protected by a new, independent...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell reports on a significant retirement. Veka UK’s Dave Jones will retire as MD after 26 years with the company. Dave will be stepping down from the role at the end of December 2020 allowing someone else to take the helm at the PVCU systems manufacturer. Steps are already in place to recruit a successor to...
A biennial show wins support from the industry. FIT Show’s organisers have been “overwhelmed by the huge support” that it has received from since announcing that it would revert to a biennial frequency from May 2021, it was announced this week. The event, which was scheduled to take place this May, will return to the NEC on May 25-27, 2021...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell expands on the issues raised in last week’s newsletter. The Purplex Debate* which I reported on last week, has already generated some interest in the industry, mainly because of the headline claim that IGU manufacturers would like a trade association set up specifically to represent their interests. Obviously, these are early days, but these were...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell reports on a burgeoning desire among IGU manufacturers to have better representation, in a bid to raise the profile of glass units. Yesterday, I took part in a roundtable discussion involving IGU manufacturers and their suppliers. The aim of the day was to examine the state of the market and consider ways that the profile...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell argues that it isn’t just the environment that benefits from a workable green policy. This morning I received an email from the Earth Day Network, the global coordinator of Earth Day, which provided details of The Great Global Cleanup. This event in April is “expected to be the largest volunteer event in history”. What is...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell looks at the latest industry debate, which concerns steel window reinforcement. Last week, Glass Times published the news released by Anglo European that its steel window reinforcement had received a series of independent test approvals. The story said: “Conducted by Build Check, testing found that reinforcement options from Anglo European matched requirements set by Rehau,...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell wonders if we will see significant developments in the fenestration industry this year. Happy new year! As Q1 gets into its stride, expectations are high that the blocks will be removed from the economy and, following the election – which promised a swift exit from Europe – investors will regain confidence in UK plc. While...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell takes stock of the industry before we exit 2019. Our two leading stories this week are, in some way, a reflection of the year that has passed. Panoglass’s move to administration was arguably down to the precarious state of the glass market, where the current price of products sold don’t reflect the input costs. I...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell welcomes the abundance of green-related news this week. Green stories sit prominently in our newsletter this week; since the climate crisis has become ever more prominent in the news, it is encouraging that our industry can boast positive action. I’m not alone in thinking that we should all be doing more to lessen our impact...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell reports on last Friday’s G Awards. Congratulations to all the winners of the G19 Awards, which took place on Friday at London’s Park Lane Hotel. They were: Commercial Project – Slimming World Headquarters, Pilkington UK Component Supplier – Deceuninck Customer Care Initiative – Ultraframe Fabricator – Sternfenster Window Systems Glass Company – Crystal Units Installer...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell congratulates deserving winners. Five stories this week are about companies winning individual awards, which has got to be a record for the Glass Times bulletin. CMS has been named the winner of the Best of Vibes Award, recognising the long-term contribution it has made to Scotland’s sustainable development; Swisspacer has won a Passive House Innovation...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell reports on the latest Glazing Summit news. The 2020 Glazing Summit will take place on Thursday, October 8 at Edgbaston Stadium and Conference Centre, according to the latest news to cross my desk just as we were about to email out this week’s newsletter. Organisers Insight Data and Purplex Marketing said they moved quickly to...
Glass Times editor reports on the latest G-Awards-related news… Marcus Brigstock has been announced as this year’s G-Awards host. Marcus is regarded as a major comedy, writing and acting talent, performing stand up to sell-out audiences on tour nationally, and he will no doubt hit the right note on November 29. If you are struggling to place him, Marcus can...
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell wonders if the election will address some of the other issues concerning the construction and home improvement industries. So, the general election campaign is in full swing, and the fear is that it will all be about Brexit, and other domestic issues – such as the construction industry – will be sidelined. It’s too early...