As aluminium grows, you need a fabricator you can rely on

By Mark Dicconson, managing director at John Fredericks.

The UK’s aluminium glazing market is enjoying a sustained period of strong growth.

Once seen primarily in commercial and premium developments, aluminium windows and doors have become an increasingly popular choice across residential and mixed-use sectors – and the shift shows no sign of slowing down, with many ‘high end’ customers using aluminium as their material of choice.

Recent figures suggest that the metal-framed glazing segment is set to be worth £2.6 billion by 2025, contributing significantly to a UK windows and doors market projected to exceed £3.5 billion by 2030. Aesthetic appeal is a clear driver behind this momentum.

With their slim sightlines, clean edges and contemporary, simplistic finishes, aluminium systems meet the design ambitions of today’s architects and homeowners while offering long-term durability and low maintenance in the process.

But while demand is booming, it’s important to recognise what this means for those tasked with supplying the market. Because when the appetite for aluminium grows, so too does the pressure on the supply chain – and the need for reliability, consistency and quality becomes paramount.

At John Fredericks, we’ve always understood that aluminium isn’t a product you can treat like any other. Too many traditional PVC-U fabricators have tried treating the fabrication of aluminium as an extension of their PVC-U manufacturing experience.

It demands care, precision, and above all, experience. The nature of the material – with its slim profiles and tighter manufacturing tolerances – means that even the smallest fabrication errors can result in costly site delays or compromised performance.

In today’s market, where quality expectations are higher than ever and every millimetre matters, partnering with the right fabricator is not just a practical decision – it’s a business-critical one if installers are to succeed and prosper in an increasingly competitive aluminium market.

Installers, builders and developers need assurance that the aluminium products they source are not just well designed, but manufactured by a fabricator with the expertise to consistently produce and supply quality products. They need suppliers who don’t cut corners, who understand the technical challenges of aluminium fabrication, and who have the facilities and expertise to deliver excellent results, even at scale.

Upcoming regulatory changes, including the Future Homes Standard, are pushing thermal performance to the top of the agenda. Aluminium glazing systems now need to offer not just style, but substance, meeting lower U-values and more stringent energy targets without sacrificing the visual appeal that the end user is seeking.

That means careful selection of profiles, insulated glass units, and thermal break technology. But it also means working with fabricators who understand how these elements interact, and who can ensure those specifications are achieved accurately in every unit they produce.

It’s in this space , where aesthetics, compliance, and performance all intersect, that quality-focused fabricators who understand the market prove their value.

Not all suppliers are created equal

As the aluminium market has grown, so too has the number of suppliers offering aluminium products, as the set-up costs to produce aluminium are cheaper than PVC and have been attractive to fabricators looking to broaden their product offering.

But with rapid expansion can come inconsistency – not just in product quality, but in customer service, lead times and aftersales support. And for installers working on tight schedules or managing homeowner expectations, that can be the difference between a smooth job and a stressful one.

At John Fredericks, we’ve built our reputation over decades by staying focused on what matters: quality products, dependable and proven customer service, and long-term partnerships built on trust.

Introducing aluminium to our range needed more than just clearing a corner of the PVC-U factory, buying a couple of machines and expecting PVC-U manufacturing teams to pick up the complexities of aluminium fabrication.

We invest in advanced manufacturing processes, stringent quality control, and a team who understand the nuances of aluminium fabrication , all to ensure our customers can fit with confidence.

We also understand that every project is different. Whether our customers are supplying a single home or a multi-plot development, they need a fabricator who listens, responds, and delivers.

Long-term thinking

The aluminium market is poised for further growth, and that’s something we welcome. But in the race to meet demand, we mustn’t lose sight of what matters most. As more companies move into aluminium, the temptation to cut costs or speed up production can be strong – but in our view, quality should never be the price of progress.

The future of aluminium glazing will be shaped not just by the systems and specifications we use, but by the values we uphold. That’s why, at John Fredericks, we’re committed to remaining a fabricator our customers can count on.

Because in a growing market, trust isn’t just an advantage. It’s essential. The most expensive product is the one that doesn’t turn up on time or fails to meet the end users’ expectations due to poor quality manufacturing.