Fabricators Articles
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Glazerite Group managing director, Rob Brearley, reflects on how far the fabricator has come in 25 years and looks ahead to what the future might bring for the business and its installers. Our footprint and portfolio may have changed but one thing has remained constant for the Glazerite UK Group over the last 25 years: our desire to deliver high-quality...
More fabricators are partnering with asset disposal specialists to handle their unwanted machinery and equipment. Kevin Gardner, commercial manager at BPI Asset Disposal Solutions, discusses how this approach helps optimise cash flow and frees up space for business expansion. In business, it is inevitable that some assets become underutilised. This happens for a variety of reasons, although there is a...
When Warwick North West clinched the Fabricator of the Year title at the G24 Awards, it left many in the industry wondering: what sets this Liverpool-based manufacturer apart? Glass Times took a closer look at the company that's redefining industry standards and discovered a winning formula that goes far beyond the factory floor. In a sector often dominated by profit...
Is the traditional showroom a thing of the past? Danny Williams, managing director of Pioneer Trading, argues that they are still an essential part of the industry. In a previous edition of this illustrious magazine you may have read the opinion of Certass’ boss Jon Vanstone, that ‘the traditional showroom is on its last legs. Showrooms have become a vanity...
Amelia Gaughan, head of marketing at Affordable Window Systems, reflects on the company’s successes and challenges over the past 12 months. Every journey is made of ups and downs – and as we reflect over the last 12 months, it’s clear that 2024 was made up of plenty of each. With many high-profile insolvencies, an ongoing skill shortage, and ever-present...
There are more than 10,000 conservation areas in England and 370,000 listed buildings. On top of that, 21% of the UK’s housing stock was built before 1919 and 16% between 1919 and 1944. It means a sizeable slice of UK housing stock falls into the period home category, so what are the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ in period replacements and replacements...
In 2025, Unique marks 20 years in business. And as the fabricator enters its 20th anniversary year, it says it is gearing up to shape a future every bit as impressive as its past. Glass Times discovers more. Much has changed since 2005. Society, technology and fenestration solutions. They’ve all evolved over the last two decades. And so too has...
Rob Page, sales director at SafeGuard Glass and Glazing, discusses why timber and vacuum glazing should be the partnership that is signed, sealed, delivered in 2025. The push for sustainability in construction has never been stronger. Timber has long been valued for its natural beauty and eco-friendly credentials, but it faces stiff competition from alternatives marketed as low-maintenance and high-performing....
As the fenestration sector welcomes in 2025, it also greets an exciting new company, Illuminex. A brand-new fabricator entering the industry, starting with one product and one focus – fully foiled flush fit windows and doors. Operating from a new purpose-built specialist production facility in Lincoln and delivering nationwide, Illuminex will be fabricating Rehau’s Rio flush fit range of windows,...
As Quickslide marks its 20th anniversary, Glass Times editor, Luke Wood, talks to chairman, Adrian Barraclough, about what has made the company such a success and its plans for the future. Luke Wood (LW): What was the inspiration for launching Quickslide 20 years ago? Adrian Barraclough (AB): Prior to launching Quickslide, it was noticeable that these gorgeous, elegant heritage style...
Sales and marketing manager at AluFoldDirect, Cassie Watters, recaps her return to the glazing industry and how any gender bias she has experienced became her springboard to success. When Cassie Watters started out in the glazing industry in 2012, she was regularly asked if she could pass customer calls through to ‘someone technical’. This only spurred her to rewrite the...
From navigating economic uncertainty to embracing a renewed focus on sales strategy and quality, Nigel Leivers, managing director at Frame Fast, shares his thoughts on the year ahead. As we cautiously tiptoe into 2025, there’s a mixture of uncertainty and opportunity in the fenestration industry. The recent budget has left us with plenty of unanswered questions, particularly around the financial...
Entrance doors remain a big seller, but the market is crowded so how do you make sure that you and not your competitors close out on the deal? “The challenge is in differentiation,” says Richard Hammond, sales director, Universal Trade Frames. “There’s market demand but persuading homeowners to select your product over that of a competitor without sacrificing margin in...
On a mission to deliver the complete internal glazing system to fabricators, Jack Aluminium claims to be making quite the impression with its ID30 system. Andy Short, managing director at Jack Aluminium, discusses the ‘unparalleled’ offering for customers. Whether it’s broken-plan living or steel-look industrial aesthetics, there’s no doubt that these design trends are showing no signs of slowing down...
Unique Window Systems says it has its sights firmly set on the next chapter in an already ‘phenomenal’ success story. Sunil Patel, joint managing director at the business, explains more. When it comes to Unique’s recent evolution and expansion the facts and figures speak for themselves. Since 2020, we have seen our turnover almost double, surging from £20.8 million to...
With research highlighting that the global bi-fold market is set to rise by almost 30% in the next four years, Laura Richardson, director of TWR Group, looks at how the bi-fold door market has grown – and what this means for the industry moving forward. Around years ago, a revolution in home design began to take shape. Homeowners, yearning for...
By Danny Williams, managing director, Pioneer Trading. In general, the various press releases appearing in the window and door media issued by firms that either use data as part of their offer such as management or sales systems, or offering data in the form of market research reports, usually amount to very little. That’s usually because they either cannot be...
Nominated for three industry awards, Quickslide is entering the year’s end on a high. But what's the takeaway for installers here? Why should your fabricator’s awards, audits and accolades matter to your business? We’re an award-winning fabricator with award-winning products and services,” says Quickslide’s managing director, Ben Weber. “But it is being finalists in three different categories across the spectrum...
Rob Brearley, group managing director of the Glazerite UK Group, shares why the leading trade fabricator’s Yorkshire expansion has helped open more doors for installers. 2023 was a big year for Glazerite and our installers. We added a new profile system to our range in the shape of Deceuninck, and we unveiled plans to open a new site. Both announcements...
Amelia Gaughan, head of marketing at Affordable Window Systems, discusses the delicate balance between tradition and innovation at the heart of heritage-inspired product ranges, Timberlook & Decorio. In an industry climate where fabricators and installers must always be on the hunt for the ‘next big thing’, finding a way to stay innovative while catering to the continuing demand for heritage...