Stability in practice
Lee Darcy, sales and marketing manager at Heritage Trade Frames, explains why stability and consistency have defined the business for more than three decades and continue to guide the way it supports customers today.
Expectations across the industry are rising. Products must achieve higher levels of thermal performance, projects are expected to run seamlessly, and all of it has to be delivered while margins remain under pressure. In this environment, reliable trade partnerships are essential.
As one of the North West’s leading trade fabricators, we operate across three advanced manufacturing plants with the capacity to deliver more than 3,000 frames a week. This scale is matched by the breadth and diversity of our product range.
Our PVC-U portfolio offers a complete suite of casement, flush casement, French and single doors, alongside the market-leading Patiomaster inline sliding door. Complementing this, our aluminium portfolio features a full suite of windows and doors, slimline bi-folding doors and both inline and lift-and-slide patio doors.
All products are brought together under our retail brand, The Safeguard Collection, which spans PVC-U, aluminium and composite doors, giving customers the choice and flexibility to compete across every market sector with complete confidence in quality and performance.
Energy efficiency is increasingly central to that offer. With the Future Homes Standard due to be published this autumn ahead of its full implementation, the direction of travel is clear: energy efficiency is no longer optional, it is expected. Our latest product introduction, the Regency Triple featuring Corning Enlighten Glass, reflects that shift.
Delivering U-values as low as 0.7 W/m²K in a standard 28mm unit, it combines outstanding thermal performance with only a 5% weight increase over conventional double glazing. Its 0.5mm centre pane removes the handling and hardware issues that have traditionally restricted triple glazing in the UK, and because it can be fitted into standard 70mm profiles, it opens up genuine opportunities in the replacement, commercial and new build markets. It is exactly the kind of product that helps our customers meet new regulations with confidence.
Of course, delivering a wide range of industry compliant products is only part of our story. Reliability is equally important, and that comes from continuous investment in our people and infrastructure.
We are proud to have some of the best staff retention levels in the sector, built on a culture that values experience, training and development. Many of our people are time-served industry specialists who bring unmatched skill and pride to their work. Combined with the latest fabrication technology across our three fabrication plants, that expertise ensures that every product leaving our factories meets the highest standards of quality and consistency.
Support for our customers goes further than manufacturing. Our investment in IT means quoting, ordering and accessing technical data is available online 24/7, giving customers the tools they need when they need them. And when technical advice is required, our customers can speak directly to some of the most experienced people in the business, who understand not just the products but the pressures our customers face
Through all of this, Heritage Trade Frames has continued to thrive. Despite challenging market conditions, we have grown by more than 100% over the past five years and that momentum continues. This success reflects the trust our customers place in us and the strength of our approach. It also gives customers the reassurance that we are here for the long term, with a resilience that is more valuable than ever in uncertain times.
We all know that the industry will continue to evolve, and the Future Homes Standard is only the latest step on that journey. What will not change is the need for supply partners who can combine product innovation with long-term reliability.
At Heritage Trade Frames, that has been our focus since 1989. Trust, quality and innovation are not just words, they are the principles that have earned us our longevity and the loyalty of our customers. In a market defined by change, they will continue to guide how we support our partners today, and in the years ahead.
