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Paul Higgins, commercial director at TuffX, says that more challenging trading conditions post pandemic are putting pressure on the industry to sell on price, not quality – including for products such as self-cleaning glass. He argues that such a false economy will only create problems further down the line for installers. The glazing industry was very fortunate to enjoy a boom...
Since the acquisition of Stuga Machinery in 2022, the Great Yarmouth based manufacturer of CNC sawing and machining centres has made several key appointments in recent months, in addition to restructuring and reorganising its factory space. As a result of the growth in Q4 of 2022 and Q1 of 2023, it has made further investment in people, adding Mark Laithwaite...
Do you want to cut costs and improve profit? Then keep the dialogue open with your suppliers, argues Sternfenster’s sales director, Nathan Court. While Covid is almost a distant memory, we should still remember some of the lessons learned during that tumultuous period, believes Sternfenster’s sales director Nathan Court, who says that processes developed then are still valuable today. “When...
By Danny Williams, managing director, Pioneer Trading. My loyal reader, if he/she/gender non-binary has a long enough memory (or if they care), may recall me spouting on many years ago that college education is regarded as second class. And despite many efforts to revive and refresh ‘apprenticeships,’ and reinvigorate training for meaningful, tangible trade skills, little has changed. Other than...
Times they are a-changing at leading sash window fabricator Quickslide. Managing director, Ben Weber, talks through five key new enhancements for the brand’s flagship Legacy vertical sliders and how they are produced at their Brighouse HQ. Legacy’s new slim-line meeting rail As exclusively revealed at this year’s FIT Show, Quickslide’s flagship vertical sliders range Legacy is being enhanced this year....
Neil Travers, managing director of Production Software Technology, shares how the company’s innovative software solutions can benefit all levels of the industry. In today’s fast paced world, the fenestration industry is experiencing rapid growth and evolving consumer demands. It’s why at Production Software Technology (PST), we’ve created solutions that enhance efficiency, precision and innovation. PST provides two main software solutions...
The humble conservatory has taken a bashing in consumer channels recently, but with the launch of the next generation S2 glazed roof system from Sheerline, are we going to see a complete re-invention of the sector? Chris Baron, director of Prefix Systems certainly thinks so. Back in the noughties, conservatories were the top of the wish lists of consumers eager...
People want to invest in their homes, but cash is tight. We talk to Listers MD, Roy Frost, about how the national fabricator is supporting customers with sales in a tough market. Despite threats of a downturn, and the nagging fear that leads are going to run dry, the latest evidence points to confident homeowners investing in their properties and...
Darren Rhodes, managing director of Glazerite North West, shares how effective operations and a committed workforce are at the core of the firm’s mission to support its customers. With nearly £1million of investments already this year across the Group, our installers are reaping the benefits of a fabricator-partner focused on increasing capacity, capability and quality for the long term. Of...
By David Borland senior technical officer at the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF). The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is charting new paths in the digital era. In an impressive blend of cutting-edge technology and old-world craft, the federation has begun utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to create comprehensive reports for its members through Synthesia.io, a pioneering AI platform. The reports...
Selecta Systems headed to FIT Show 2023 equipped with an armoury of sales and marketing support tools and a range of innovative products and new concepts. Sales director, Andy Green and marketing manager, Mark Walker, talk about Selecta’s presence and huge impact at the show. “Selecta was the only PVC-U window and door systems company to exhibit at FIT Show...
After delivering windows and doors to installers for a quarter of a century, FrameXpress’ director Stuart Green talks about celebrating 25 years in business, as well as reflecting on how its superior manufacturing and care of its employees go hand-in-hand. It’s an incredibly exciting time at FrameXpress, as 2023 marks 25 years of us doing exactly what we say on...
Over the last 30 years Force 8 says it has led the way in profile bending, and claims that, ‘to this day’, none of its competitors can match its seamless one-piece bend. By ‘one-piece’, Force 8 means a single length of profile, which can be up to 6m in length without cuts and welds. According to Force 8, most companies...
As ERA celebrates its 185-year anniversary, Kerry Blackford, senior category manager, discusses the importance of partnership and collaboration between fabricators and component suppliers to ensure the industry’s continued growth. Higher security and comfort standards continue to play a significant role in the development of door and window fittings for the UK’s fabrication market. To achieve the successful introduction of new...
After more than eight years with Distinction Doors, associate director of marketing, Bethaney Larkman, explores the meaning of good customer service and introduces the people responsible. What is good customer service? According to worldwide research conducted by help desk software provider Zendesk, the top answer is ‘I can solve my problem quickly’, followed by ‘customer support is available 24/7’, and...
In the midst of escalating expenses and decreased consumer spend, it would be unwise to rely on constant undercutting and margin reductions as a means to secure business. Dekko Window Systems sales director, Kurt Greatrex, discusses why we need to avoid a ‘race to the bottom’… ‘Race to the bottom’ – it’s a phrase we’ve been hearing increasingly over the...
Caribbean Blinds made its FIT Show debut this year and continues to enjoy strong demand from the extended living sector. Glass Times editor, Luke Wood, talks to Caribbean Blinds managing director, Stuart Dantzic, to find out more. Caribbean Blinds made an impressive debut at this year’s FIT Show in May, and according to the Sudbury’s based firm’s MD, Stuart Dantzic,...
Edgetech managing director, Chris Alderson, explores the idea that a new wave of investment in innovation may be required to keep up with legislation. At Edgetech, sustainability has always been something we take extremely seriously. Long before environmental awareness went mainstream, Super Spacer was helping millions of buildings around Britain, Europe and the wider world become more energy efficient –...
By Stuart Dantzic, managing director, Caribbean Blinds UK. Despite the current cost of living crisis in the UK, the home improvement sector is ripe for continued growth, with research revealing that British homeowners are predicted to spend a total of £217 billion on renovations and extensions before the end of 2024. The most popular type of renovation expected to be...
We all keep count of the leads coming in, but they need to be understood in context, argues managing director of Business Pilot, Elton Boocock. For the last four years, we have published the Business Pilot Barometer, a monthly summary of the window and door market in the UK, using data gathered from users of the Business Pilot CRM system....