Future-proof your business

In a landscape that’s rapidly shifting and evolving, it’s never been more important for fabricators to have the support of their suppliers. Rob Hartill, commercial director at hardware supplier Safeware, discusses how the company enables its customers to future-proof their operations and maintain compliance. 

In recent years, it’s always been a safe bet to open any article on the fenestration industry with comments about the rapidly evolving market and the difficulty of supply-side challenges. But perhaps the comment has never been more apt than now.

Because what we frequently hear from our customers and the wider industry is that navigating all these issues – alongside getting on with the day-to-day running of the business – is more challenging than ever.

Advances in window and door hardware technology, plus increasing interest in smart home integration, mean it’s more important than ever to keep a close eye on product developments and be ready to enable the resulting shifts.

Unless carefully managed, supply chain issues still have the potential to derail projects at the last minute. And changes to building regulations and updates to regulatory requirements mean compliance needs to be meticulously monitored at all times.

It’s why, here at Safeware, we aim to be the hardware supplier who’s got your back. We’re here to help you navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities and build a more resilient, productive business in the process.

For example, we’ve long led the way in product innovation, not least in the field of smart locking technology. In doing so, we help our customers stay at the forefront of market developments.

We were the driving force behind the development of Yale SensCheck smart window and door locks – and we’re at the forefront of developments today. At the FIT Show this year, we showcased an industry ‘first’ when we integrated Yale SensCheck smart window technology into a Stellar Aluminium heritage casement.

The innovation demonstrated how smart tech can work seamlessly on aluminium windows, unlocking (pardon the pun) upselling opportunities on even the highest-value projects.

While we’re always pushing the boundaries of the hardware solutions on the market, we also make sure we get the product basics right, so our customers have greater supply chain resilience.

We stock over 2,500 product lines from over 70 leading brands. Our 35 years in the hardware business – combined with the stability of the Epwin Group – means we’ve built up strong partnerships with our suppliers and can, therefore, be a reliable partner to our customers. Our on time in full rate is 98.4%, a figure we review weekly because we never want our standards to slip.

We offer free next day delivery on orders of over £500 placed before midday, and we can arrange scheduled deliveries to ensure a consistent supply of hardware and minimise production delays. It all adds up to an offer that means we can help you stay ahead and avoid disruption.

We’re there for our customers on compliance too, so we can help them navigate evolving building regulations and performance standards. Every hardware product we stock is indicative tested in our in-house testing facility and then independently tested by a UKAS-accredited organisation. It means when you partner with Safeware, you don’t have to carry out your own testing because you know every product meets all the relevant requirements. It saves time, expense and hassle.

Underpinning everything we offer our customers is our consultative approach. We take a proactive attitude, listening to what’s important and delivering strategic hardware solutions that drive your success. In practice, this means you get access to our technical experience and know-how to sort out any possible hardware issues and design challenges. Our expertise could help you specify hardware that’s right for your project or help you to streamline the installation process and drive a more efficient and productive operation.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a hardware supplier that helps you adapt to a rapidly evolving industry through smart innovation, supply chain reliability and regulatory compliance, give us a call. We’re here to help you future-proof your operation by being the forward-thinking hardware partner and business enabler you need.