Specialist aluminium fabricator CDW Systems has merged with sister company, supplier and installer Clearway Doors & Windows. In this exclusive interview, we chat with Jeremy Phillips, managing director, to delve deeper into the motivations behind the move and its potential benefits for customers.

Glass Times (GT): Jeremy, it’s hugely exciting news for CDW Systems. What were the reasons behind the merger?

Jeremy Phillips (JP): Since CDW Systems acquired Clearway in 2010 we have been trying to bring both businesses much closer together and we feel that now is the right time for them to merge.

Currently, we manufacture different products at different sites, so customers are having to source some from one and some from the other which can be confusing. This way customers will be able to buy all our product range from CDW so it will make it much clearer. This solution brings the expertise of the group together instead of working as separate companies.

GT: What will it mean for both companies?

JP: Both businesses have a combined 73 years in the industry and have built up excellent names and reputations and the merger will see Clearway become a division of CDW Systems, purely because CDW is a bigger company.

All the trade supply will come under CDW, and we are keeping the Clearway name for our supply and installation side of the business as the brand is so strong. All installation work will continue to be carried out from the Cheltenham site, with all manufacturing and production moved from Cheltenham to Gloucester.

All sales, processing and accounts will move from Gloucester to Cheltenham because we’ve got more office space in Cheltenham, while Gloucester will house a dedicated technical department.

GT: What will the move do for customers?

JP: We realised that it was quite confusing for customers wanting to buy some Clearway products as they weren’t too sure who to contact and this means customers can now buy all our product range from CDW for a much clearer picture.

Having all the administration in one place will make things more streamlined and efficient for customers and suppliers because everything will come from CDW which will again make things much clearer.

GT: How will it help the company?

JP: We will have one centre of excellence for production for window and door production, putting all our resources in one place.

For the first time in CDW history we will have a dedicated technical department that will comprise our technical director Richard Smith, technical manager Nick Till, and our engineering manager Luke Pemble.

This will give us a more cohesive approach to product development and solving any issues or problems customers get with products themselves, their installations, or how to comply with building regulations.

Bringing all this technical knowledge together is something I’m personally excited about. Bringing all the sales processing for the group together means we will have more personnel to cope much better with a surge in demand, process quotes and deal with queries, while having just one set of accounts will cut down time on admin and make us more efficient.

GT: How do you feel it will impact the future of CDW Systems?

JP: We have been informing staff, main suppliers and customers of the move. The purpose of the move is not to lose anyone, and all staff are positive to the changes, while customers are also right behind the move.

All of which shows us it’s the right one. We have really benefitted from having Clearway in our stable as it means we know and understand the problems that installers face and having that installation arm even more closely linked will be an even bigger benefit.

We’re looking to get everything in place by the start of the summer this year and we are excited about the future and another 30 years of success for our customers and CDW Systems.