It has been just over six months since Unique Window Systems acquired AluFold Direct in the summer of 2025, rebranding the business as AluFold Windows. Against a backdrop of consolidation, the acquisition stood out as a positive move for the sector. Glass Times editor, Luke Wood, caught up with MD Neal Addison and commercial director Rhodri John to discuss how the business has evolved, the strategy behind the changes, and what lies ahead.

Luke Wood: Six months on from the acquisition, has it been a period of subtle refinement or more significant change?
Neal Addison: There’s been a lot of change in a relatively short space of time. One of the biggest steps was the introduction of a new factory. That involved relocating all the machinery into a new premises that’s far more fit for purpose, with improved production flow and a better location overall.
We also inherited a building that needed a significant amount of work, so we carried out a full office fit-out and completed that within a month. Alongside that, we rebranded the business to AluFold Windows and refreshed the website to reflect the new direction.
Another major change was rationalising the product range. Previously, the range was quite extensive and varied. We trimmed that back to create a more focused, streamlined offer that better suits both the machinery we have and the markets we’re targeting.

Rhodri John: A big part of the early work was integrating systems and processes. We had to bring different ways of working together to create a much more coherent and consistent offer for customers.

Neal Addison: There was a real opportunity to blend Unique’s established processes with AluFold’s existing strengths. That’s helped us create a very streamlined business. We also revisited the overall strategy, particularly around target markets and customer profiles, which led to a clear shift with the launch of AluFold Windows.

Rhodri John: AluFold Direct and Unique had very different customer bases. AluFold operated on a more national scale, whereas Unique’s strength has always been a more localised, high-volume customer base. We decided to build on that model and focus on a stronger regional presence rather than a purely national one.

Luke Wood: Was the acquisition about increasing aluminium capacity for Unique, or are the two businesses intended to operate independently?
Neal Addison: It was genuinely sad to see AluFold Direct go out of business, so when the opportunity arose, we felt it was the right thing to do to step in. We didn’t want to see another aluminium specialist exit the market.
For Unique, it also created a presence in the North, which is something it didn’t previously have. The intention is for both businesses to operate independently, but to replicate the successful model Unique has developed over the last 20 years within AluFold Windows.

Luke Wood: Do installers who are traditionally PVC-focused sometimes struggle to transition into aluminium, and how do you support them?
Rhodri John: There are a lot of aluminium systems companies in the UK, which can create a perception of complexity. Our approach has been to select a core product offering that delivers the right solution, at the right price, with dependable lead times.
Consistency is key. We want installers to feel confident that aluminium isn’t difficult to sell, as long as they have the right product, the right service and strong technical backing behind them.

Luke Wood: What are installers prioritising most from their suppliers right now?
Rhodri John: Lead times, product quality and ease of installation are all critical. Our new production facility allows us to deliver consistent, fast lead times alongside high product quality. We’ve effectively taken the volume PVC manufacturing mindset and applied it to our core aluminium production.

Luke Wood: Finally, what’s your outlook for 2026?
Neal Addison: It’s been a positive start to the year. Industry reports suggest the economy should improve in 2026, with construction beginning to revive, and 2027 and 2028 potentially shaping up as strong years. The North West, in particular, is expected to outperform other regions, and we’re well positioned geographically to benefit from that.

If inflation continues to fall, interest rate cuts should follow, which would help across the board. So 2026 could, and should, mark a turning point in the industry.