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By John Park-Davies, group managing director, Vertik-Al. Vertik-Al has been coating architectural aluminium and component parts for almost 60 years. Our coatings ensure products and structures will last for many years. This is our purpose and legacy. As a stable and forward-thinking business, we invest in equipment, processes and people. In recent years, our investment plans have carried on regardless...
Loredana Emmerson, customer marketing manager at Veka, explains why the new Feinstruktur foil is the future of design-led PVC-U. In the evolving fenestration market, colour is no longer a finishing touch – it’s a driving factor in decision-making. For fabricators, installers, and homeowners alike, aesthetics is as critical as performance. Nowhere is this clearer than in the rising influence of...
Selecta Systems went to FIT Show 2025 equipped with groundbreaking new additions to the Connect customer portal and two new sections to the Advance 70 window and door system. Sales director, Andy Green, and marketing manager, Mark Walker, explain in more detail. “The FIT Show provided Selecta with the ideal platform to connect with a large, dedicated audience and demonstrate...
By Roger Hartshorn, CEO, Garnalex. Britain was once a global leader in manufacturing, known for producing innovative, quality goods right here in the UK. But over time, government support seems to have waned. While recent moves, like the rescue of British Steel, do show some hope, I believe much more needs to be done for UK manufacturing to thrive in...
The UK’s social housing sector is set for a retrofitting boom as local authorities and housing associations upgrade existing buildings to meet stringent thermal performance requirements. Martin Hitchin, CEO at Rehau UK, highlights the fenestration sector's key role in these efforts. England’s residential sector produces more carbon annually than all the country’s cars combined, underscoring the urgency to decarbonise existing...
Exlabesa had an impressive stand at the 2025 FIT Show, where it showcased a range of its high-performance aluminium window and door systems. A particular highlight was the Xlaslide Pro sliding door, with a large 4m x 3m installation that proved to be popular with show attendees. Xlaslide Pro Developed to provide unparalleled insulation and structural performance, the XLaslide Pro...
By Roger Hartshorn, CEO, Garnalex. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced plans to cut Civil Service budgets by 15% by 2029-30, saving up to £2 billion annually. Civil Service World reports that the workforce has grown by 90,000 since 2020 due to pandemic response and Brexit, but a restructuring now lies ahead. Regardless of your political views, I believe this...
Ruth Henderson, managing director of The Vacuum Glazing Network, explains why PassivGlas is opening up new retrofit opportunities for installers, as energy efficiency standards soar. We’re all feeling the pressure – rising energy bills, tighter energy efficiency regulations, and more customers asking for smarter ways to make their homes and buildings perform better. But when it comes to upgrading windows,...
By Gary Driscoll, sales and commercial director at Eurocell. Reducing carbon emissions isn’t just about taking action within our own operations, it’s about tackling the full environmental impact of our entire supply chain. At Eurocell, we’ve made a significant step forward in helping the industry reduce its Scope 3 emissions by integrating Neovyn, a cutting-edge low-carbon PVC resin developed by Ineos...
Mark Frain, national business development manager for WarmCore, gives a candid interview to Glass Times editor Luke Wood and explains why fabricators and installers could be missing a trick if they don’t embrace hybrid windows and doors in 2025. Luke Wood (LW): Most of our readers will be aware of the history of WarmCore. Can you explain a bit more...
As Stellar Aluminium launches its new Heritage casement, there’s now a Part L compliant window solution for projects that require authentic period aesthetics without compromising on market-leading performance. Jon Foulds, key account manager at Stellar Aluminium, discusses the opportunities. Despite the volatility in the market, there are undeniable growth areas that present opportunities for fabricators and installers. One of the...
By Ben Hartshorn, Sheerline’s technical manager. At Sheerline, innovation is built into our DNA. We’re always looking for ways to improve our existing products, make our manufacturing processes more efficient, and find new solutions to the challenges our customers face. In this article, I’m going to highlight some of the innovations we’ve launched over the past couple of years as...
Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin, the manufacturer of aluminium windows and doors, discusses the brand's luxury whole-home solution. When we set out to design a new generation of fenestration products, we were inspired by the iconic and historic architecture of one of Manhattan’s chicest neighbourhoods – Soho. Understanding homeowner desire for statement glazing, we sought to combine the aesthetics of...
Liniar’s design & fabrication director, Daryl Fradley, explains how the Alumina system makes achieving consistent results much easier when working with aluminium and PVC-U side by side. Incorporating products made using different materials into a wider project whilst ensuring consistency in style and colour can be tricky. At Liniar, we took this into account when developing our aluminium door system...
Deceuninck Aluminium’s Alex Holbrook looks at where opportunities will come from in 2025. The market in 2025, particularly the first half, is not expected to favour those businesses geared up to carry out volume work. On the flip side, fabricators set up to manufacture and supply specialist products should be better positioned to meet the demand for energy efficient, high-end...
By Phil Rotheram, group commercial director of Alunet Systems. Aluminium as a material of choice is soaring in popularity compared with traditional materials including PVC-U and timber. With a fast-growing and enviable reputation amongst end users, Aluna, the luxury brand of aluminium windows and doors by Alunet Systems is packed full of industry leading premium features. Being strong, durable, lightweight,...
Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin, the leading manufacturer of aluminium windows and doors, discusses the brand's latest product launch. The past 12 months have been full of innovation and excitement at Origin. We started by launching the Soho External Door (OB-36+), which includes bi-fold doors, French doors and single doors, and features a sought-after steel look design. We then launched...
By Paul Booth, R&D director, AluK. During the last quarter of 2024, it was good to see so many people agreeing with AluK in the media on the topic of U-Value compliance (or lack of it!) in this industry. We led the way in pointing out that some of the calculations being cascaded down the supply chain by other systems...
By John Park-Davies, group managing director, Vertik-Al. Our annual colour audit has shown that 2024 was dominated by neutrals and various shades of grey. In fact, it is a 60/40 split. Neutrals account for 11 of our top 20 most applied powders. Those who follow our journey will know that anthracite grey in a matt finish has been a firm...
By Eddy Webb, Sheerline’s production director. It’s that time of year when we’re looking ahead and thinking about upcoming trends. Last year, there was some discussion around anthracite grey finally loosing its ubiquitous status, which made us wonder how our customer’s ordering behaviour had changed over the last 12 months. For the past few years, anthracite has been the grey...