Weatherglaze switches to Aluplast

L-R: Weatherglaze’s John Cummins & Conan Doyle; Ian Cocken (Aluplast); Weatherglaze’s Jim Dempsey (chairman), and Shea Dempsey (MD).
L-R: Weatherglaze’s John Cummins & Conan Doyle; Ian Cocken (Aluplast); Weatherglaze’s Jim Dempsey (chairman), and Shea Dempsey (MD).

Aluplast has signed up Ireland-based fabricator, Weatherglaze.

“General market activity in the window industry has been frenetic over the last quarter, with many fabricators reassessing the relationship they have with their suppliers,” said Aluplast’s director of sales and marketing, Ian Cocken.

“There has been no single reason for this, but as the market demands change it is natural for companies to take stock of their offering and make adjustments.

“In our case, we have found that conversations have focused mostly on colour, flush, and a secure and stable supply. We’ve also found that where we are in conversation with other fabricators, many business owners are doing their research before talking to us.

“That means we quickly get down to the detail about how we help fabricators switch over to Aluplast. We have built a very strong and experienced team of engineers to help companies switch systems without losing a day’s production.

Cocken explained that Weatherglaze required a suite of technical information for the complete Aluplast product range, so that it could meet its contractual obligations on existing contracts.

“We have our own full-time BFRC auditor in the team to carry out full testing and licensing,” he said. “This is a bespoke service, and it means that we can offer our customers full technical support without relying on third parties, which can cause delays and incur extra costs.”

Trade fabricator Weatherglaze has taken on the Ideal 70 system from Aluplast, a fully sculptured profile that can achieve U-values as low as 1.2W/m2K double glazed. It also suites with Aluplast’s flush casement window and flush door, which the Irish fabricator will also be manufacturing.

“Flush windows and doors are vital components of every window company’s offering,” Cocken said. “Our options are compatible with both the Ideal 70 and Ideal 4000 profiles, which gives fabricators flexibility when meeting demand for contemporary, heritage and newbuild projects, without having to take on extra stock.”

Cocken said colour was key for Weatherglaze, especially since the market for foiled products has always been bigger in Ireland than the UK. With a range of 40 different finishes, including the premium range Woodec and Aludec foils, Aluplast has invested significantly in its foil offer. This has allowed it to maintain a strong supply of its most popular stock colours, with foiled product accounting for as much as 50% of total order volume.

“Aluplast has always focused on capacity, and we have invested in a new site in Poland which will help guarantee supply for our customers,” he said. “This includes a new extrusion facility on a 15-hectare site, which includes a production hall that can house up to 50 high-tech, high-speed twin extrusion lines.

“And we are doubling in size our distribution hub and sales office in Tewkesbury, and together these investments will help guarantee the supply of high-value, robust and secure products into the UK and Ireland,” Cocken concluded.