Posted On - 23/03/2021
After coronavirus, the next global challenge is climate change. But while it can feel a long way from daily life in UK fenestration, Victorian Sliders’ PR and marketing assistant Hollie Morgan argues it is something window businesses shouldn’t ignore. Even at the best of times, it’s hard to get to grips with an issue as vast and potentially transformative as climate change. But during a huge global...
Posted On - 02/03/2021
As Prefix celebrates 25 years in business, Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell takes a whistle-stop tour of the company’s highlights, and looks at why it remains one of the industry’s most-revered brands. Prefix Systems was founded 1996 by Chris Cooke as the conservatory industry was starting to gather pace and conservatories became the must-have house extension. Since then, the company...
Posted On - 22/02/2021
Safeseal Frames managing director Phill Pluck explains why, three years ago, he switched to Liniar, and what has happened since then. At Safeseal Frames we really do love Liniar, and we're not just saying that. It all began in 2017 when I was working with then Avantek managing director Nigel Bishop to replace some worn-out machinery. During our discussions, Nigel...
Posted On - 22/02/2021
Large domestic and commercial projects can often seem daunting to installers; they’re unique, complex, and require specialist knowledge. As a result, many installers feel they have no choice but to decline these projects, meaning they’re missing out on business opportunities and potentially larger profit margins. Paul Woods, director of Central ASL, explains how he can help. As an installer, regular...
Posted On - 22/02/2021
Three million new homes must be built in England over the next 20 years to solve its housing crisis, a report by housing charity Shelter says. Companies manufacturing new-builds in factories possess the ability to speed up the delivery of high-quality, sustainable new housing across the UK. Ilke Homes, which manufactures up to 2,000 factory-built homes a year, turned to...
Posted On - 22/02/2021
Homeowner demand for coloured and foiled frames continues to grow, but it is especially pertinent for one group, explains Sandra Berg, marketing manager of Yorkshire-based fabricator Quickslide. Google has made all but the most technophobic among us experts, and in absolutely everything too. The expression about a little knowledge being a dangerous thing has also never been more appropriate; stories...
Posted On - 16/02/2021
Sternfenster’s Mike Parczuk responds to a recent Glass Times comment that wonders if homeowners expect government-driven schemes to fail. I share your disappointment and frustration (Green with dismay, January, 26) that the Green Homes Grant Scheme will have ultimately delivered very little for the window and door industry. Should we be surprised? Perhaps not. The government has a track record in...
Posted On - 16/02/2021
By Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin. As we enter into March, there is real reason for optimism. Firstly, it is great to see the country in such a strong position in the fight against the Covid pandemic; times have been hard, times have been tough, but there is now starting to be light at the end of the tunnel. If...
Posted On - 20/01/2021
Glass Times asks Sternfenster’s Mike Parczuk to stare into his crystal ball and share his thoughts on the year ahead. This time last year very few of us would have predicted that a global pandemic would have led to a boom in window and door retail sales, followed by supply chain chaos. So, will 2021 be any more predictable, or...
Posted On - 20/01/2021
Quickslide’s managing director Ben Weber explains how the fabricator’s latest investments have delivered enhanced lead generation, and have helped to improve levels of efficiency and customer service. If you ever need an example of how dedication to constant improvement can transform the fortunes of an organisation, then look no further than British Cycling. For nearly 100 years, British Cycling could...
Posted On - 20/01/2021
Kush Patel and Phil Harrison from Emplas tell Glass Times what the learning points are following the window and door supply chain disruption in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of Covid-19 on window and door component supply resulted in reduced capacity and production in March and April, coinciding with exponential growth in demand in the summer and...
Posted On - 14/01/2021
Window and door retail started 2021 as it left off in 2020: with extended orderbooks continuing end user demand, plus disruption to supply. With its own retail business, Starglaze, Sternfenster understands the challenges its trade customers face on a day-to-day basis. Jenny Garrett, retail operation manager at Starglaze, with 20 years in trade and retail behind her, reflects on the...
Posted On - 18/12/2020
SolarFrame and SOL Conservatory Roofs have seen no setbacks from the Coronavirus pandemic, with 2020 being the year for continued investment and team growth for the Yorkshire-based fabricator. The company explains all… The company has gone from strength to strength and witnessed a rapid rise in sales within the trade fabrication and dedicated roof division, all exceeding 2019 sales despite...
Posted On - 23/11/2020
As fenestration continues to boom in the aftermath of the summer lockdown, supply chain issues are starting to bite. What impact will they have, and how will the industry react? Andy Jones, group managing director of Victorian Sliders, gives his view. The economic impact of coronavirus has been huge, but while some sectors have been devastated, glass and glazing is...
Posted On - 23/11/2020
The UK’s exit from the single European market is just a few weeks away but is the industry ready? Mike Parczuk, managing director of Sternfenster, discusses what should we should be planning for? Since fishing accounts for just 0.12% of the UK’s GDP, which is nearly 60 times less than that of financial services, you’ve got to ask: are we...
Posted On - 23/11/2020
Quickslide’s Adrian Barraclough explains how Quickslide is investing in the latest digital technology to deliver perfect heritage windows. Quickslide was responsible for popularising affordable replacement box sash windows and we remain one of the market leaders in heritage style windows. And we continue to invest money and effort in installing the latest technology to manufacture and deliver these traditional frames....
Posted On - 23/11/2020
Glazerite UK Group welcomed a new group managing director this year, 20 years after the company was founded by chairman John Hewitt and CEO Jason Thompson. Robert Brearley explains what’s in store for the fabricator. 2020 has certainly thrown its curveballs, but the Glazerite opportunity was one I grabbed with both hands; as a well-respected fabricator of windows and doors...
Posted On - 23/11/2020
Emplas has unveiled its software integration, turning sales to orders into a single seamless process, which can be delivered in person or remotely. By Jody Vincent, national sales director at Emplas. Speaking at the beginning of October, Boris Johnson warned that things were “going to continue to be bumpy through to Christmas,” adding “it may even be bumpy beyond it”....
Posted On - 02/11/2020
Britain’s ageing housing stock means many of our homes were built in sash windows’ nineteenth-century heyday. That means there are huge opportunities for installers who can help homeowners return their properties to their former glory, argues Victorian Sliders’ group managing director Andy Jones. Did you know that nearly six million UK homes were built before 1919? That was one of...
Posted On - 27/10/2020
With current demand in the retail sector pushing supply chains to the limit, manufacturing process, product and service innovation have never been so important, according to Mike Parczuk, managing director of Sternfenster. No-one could have predicted our sector was going to be this busy; people were predicting U-shaped or W-shaped recoveries after the lockdown period, but I doubt anyone predicted...
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