Three decades of innovation at Vista Panels
As Vista Panels celebrates its 30th anniversary, Ian Smith, head of operational sales, shares his thoughts on how the door market has evolved, and how Vista Panels is continuing to invest in quality, service and long-term customer relationships.
Since 1995, Vista Panels has built its reputation on delivering what the trade needs – dependable products, fast turnaround, and a team that understands the pressures fabricators, trade counters and installers face every day.
Thirty years on, we’re still manufacturing on the Wirral, still growing, and still backing our customers with the same service-led approach that’s been at the heart of the business from the very beginning.
I joined Vista back in 2005. I’d been working overseas in the holiday industry and came back to the UK looking for a short-term role. But what started on the shop floor as a factory operator quickly became something more. Twenty years later, I’m proud to be part of the senior leadership team, helping drive sales, marketing and product development.
When I started, classic white PVC-U door panels were the core of our business. Fast forward to today, and composite doors lead the way, driven by demand for higher thermal performance, better security, and greater design choices. The shift has been significant, not just in what we make, but in how we support the trade to sell and install with absolute confidence.
Rising standards
Customer expectations have risen sharply, and rightly so. Installers and fabricators want tested, compliant, high-performing products, and they want to work with suppliers who understand the pace and pressures of the trade.
We’ve always aligned with industry standards such as Secured by Design and Document Q, but Part L compliance and the drive for lower U-values have brought thermal performance into sharper focus.
Our XtremeDoor composite range meets that challenge head-on, achieving U-values well below the 1.4 W/m²K threshold, backed by independent testing from the University of Salford.
Security is just as important. That’s why every Vista door comes with a 5-hook lock as standard, TS007 3-star cylinders, and a £3,000 break-in guarantee through our partnership with Ingenious Locks & Hardware. It’s performance you and your customers can trust, backed by real testing and real warranties.
Why turnaround still matters
Fast turnaround has always been one of Vista’s strongest assets. We typically manufacture and deliver in as little as five working days – a significant advantage when lead times elsewhere often stretch into multiple weeks.
That kind of responsiveness gives our customers a serious edge.
But it’s not just about speed. Accuracy, communication and after-sales support are equally important, and that’s where our team makes the difference. Everyone understands the standards we expect and the level of trust we’ve worked so hard to build.
We also back our customers on the ground. From QR-coded installation guidance videos and toolbox talks to site visits by our technical team, we don’t leave performance to chance. We aim to reduce installation issues and help our customers stay on schedule.
Proud to be part of Eurocell
Joining the Eurocell Group in 2017 allowed us to strengthen our systems and company culture even further. Eurocell’s values have helped shape our own, placing staff wellbeing and site safety at the core of operations.
We’re proud to employ nearly 190 people locally here on the Wirral, many of whom have been part of the Vista story for years now. It’s not uncommon to see different generations from the same family working under the same roof. That sort of loyalty isn’t accidental; it’s earned and built over time.
Looking ahead
Expect to hear more from us! We’re investing in the next chapter. We’re here for the trade, for fabricators, trade counters, and installers who want great products, fast turnaround, and long-term support.
We’re not just a manufacturer, we’re a partner. Whether it’s helping our customers stand out with new brochures, supporting their sales teams with product training, or responding quickly when they need help, we show up when it matters.
Product development remains a core focus for me, personally. There’s real satisfaction in shaping the offering we put in front of customers, and seeing the difference it makes on the ground.
And we’re investing more in this than ever. Our new PVC-U panel range is already on the market, with more innovation on the horizon. We’re refreshing our messaging and website, building better marketing tools, and relaunching XtremeDoor with the impact it deserves.
Reaching 30 years in business isn’t about looking back, it’s about showing we’re still here, still investing, and still building for the future.
In a market where many suppliers have come and gone, we’ve stayed the course, not by chasing trends, but by delivering consistent quality, supporting our customers properly, and staying focused on what the trade really needs.
Our message is simple: if you’re looking for a trade supplier who delivers on promises, who picks up the phone, and who gets the job done, we’d love to talk.