Triumph Over Challenges
By Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin
The phrase ‘it’s a marathon, not a sprint’ rings true in the glazing industry. In fact, for many, it is perhaps more accurate to describe the last few years as somewhat of an obstacle course.
A global pandemic, supply shortages and changes to building regulations have all brought new challenges that installers, fabricators and manufacturers have had to overcome together.
The key to success in these circumstances – and in these times of uncertainty – is adaptability. Being able to change operations, system designs and processes to meet ever changing demand means we can continue to thrive.
Over the last 20 years, Origin has grown significantly to become one of the world’s most successful manufacturers. We are continuously putting processes in place to protect ourselves, and our partners, from whatever challenges we may face together in the future. By investing heavily in product innovation, technology and our operations, we can continue to support our partners for many years to come.
Investing in the future
Economic turmoil, a record hike in household energy prices, plus a global pandemic, have all had a knock-on effect for the glazing industry. While we can’t predict what else the future may hold, we can introduce ways to mitigate against the effects of these events and prevent them having a dramatic impact on operations.
A robust supply chain is vital. Origin has taken steps to take control of stock availability through our new 55,000ft2 warehouse facility. ‘The Ark’ has increased our storage capacity by 82% to ensure we always fulfil our ‘on time, in full’ delivery promise.
All areas of the business have invested in change to guarantee system availability. The R&D department has even updated system designs to minimise materials in short supply.
Investment in our internal IT system means Origin now has fully automated processes linked to our revolutionary Origin Sale Safe (OSS) quoting and ordering software. When an order is placed, production is triggered, and new stock is ordered automatically. This ensures we can continue to deliver on our ‘Your Lead Time, Not Ours’ promise.
Exceeding new regulations
The thermal efficiency of homes has never been as important as it is today. Skyrocketing energy prices and increased awareness of environmental concerns, plus new changes to building regulations, has made it a top priority for homeowners, developers, installers, and architects alike.
In Spring 2022, the updates to Part L of the Building Regulations ahead of the Future Homes Standard (2025) marked a monumental change to the energy performance of glazing systems. We had to make changes to our systems to meet the new criteria. In new homes, the target for windows and glazed doors is now 1.2 W/m2K, while replacement systems require a U-Value of 1.4 W/m2K.
All systems in the Origin Home range can exceed the latest energy targets using clever design features, such as the use of Aerogel on the OW-80, polyamide thermal breaks, and sophisticated weathertight seals throughout the range. By constantly investing in product innovation, we can offer glazing solutions that achieve superior energy performance without compromising functionality and style.
Finally, we have introduced new products, including our OI-30 internal door, to help partners accommodate whole house projects. Being able to order multiple systems from one manufacturer makes their lives easier. It is also a product that is high in demand at the moment.
We are proud to be part of an industry that finds pioneering ways to triumph over challenges. Now, as we work together towards achieving targets set out for the Future Homes Standard 2025, we will continue to innovate and adapt as we aim to achieve the same level of success for the next 20 years and beyond.
