Archives for April 2019

GGF Group Chief Executive Kevin Buckley is set to open the Seminar Programme at this year’s FIT Show and he is promising a “stimulating presentation”. 

On his presentation which takes place at 10.30am on 21^st May in the Insight Theatre in Hall 20 of the Show, Kevin commented, “In my presentation I will be sharing information that our industry will never have heard before. There will be revealing insights from the extensive market research we conducted last year and also some internal plans that we have yet to share.

Our aim is to provide these insights to help companies cope with the challenges ahead in our ever changing trading environment.” 

In 2018, the GGF conducted over 20 surveys of the market covering many areas such as sector growth, supply shortage, industry concerns and consumer perceptions. The GGF is aiming to release a state of the industry report based on the findings in the last quarter of 2019. 

Kevin added, “I would urge all those interested in attending my opening seminar to book early to ensure a place. I believe the information in my presentation will be of interest to all forward thinking companies in our industry.” 

To book your place at this seminar please visit https://www.fitshow.co.uk/sessions-2019#/seminars/

The GGF is pleased to confirm that the organisers of VITRUM trade show in Milan will present at the London Region on Friday 14^th June and are sponsoring a special Italian lunch for all attendees in the Members Area of the GGF Offices. 

The organisers of VITRUM (held in Milan 1-4 Oct) are GIMAV, the trade association of Italian manufacturers and suppliers of machinery, equipment and special products for glass processing. 

Their presentation will be split into two sections, the first and main part will be on VITRUM – one of the glass industry’s largest exhibitions for components, machinery and tools. This will be presented by Dr Dino Zandonella Necca who is President of GIMAV’s Equipment Suppliers Group. 

Over the last 4 years, GIMAV has welcomed the GGF to various events involving the international glass community in Dusseldorf, Venice and Milan.  At these events, Dino and his colleague Laura Biason have proved to be very engaging presenters, imparting their wide knowledge of glass processing machinery and tools. 

The second part of the presentation will be by Laura Biason who will highlight the work of GIMAV, explaining who they represent, their activity and what their aims are for the future. 

Under Dino and Laura, GIMAV set up the International Glass Associations network in 2015. This group meets once per year and draws all the main glass trade bodies (including GGF) from around the world to:

• discuss technical standards and issues 
• review political trends and changes 
• update on any legislation changes
• share research stats 
• share activities and initiatives for their markets/countries  

The presentation on the 14^th June, will be followed by an Italian lunch sponsored by VITRUM/GIMAV and all Members (particularly glass processors/manufacturers) are invited to this unique event. 

At this year’s VITRUM exhibition in October, the GGF will have an exhibition stand at and we are also looking at hospitality options for visiting and exhibiting GGF Members. 

If you would like to attend this meeting and find out more about VITRUM, then please contact London Region Secretary, Peter Stuttard by email pstuttard@ggf.org.uk 

To find out more about VITRUM please visit the website https://www.vitrum-milano.com/

The GGF Safety and Security Group is holding a special Technical Day on 15^th May at The Arden Hotel in Solihull. 

All Members are invited to this special event which includes three technical presentations regarding safety and security glazing and a Q&A forum where Members can ask the experts any questions on Safety and Security Glazing. 

The presentation include: 

• Brian Waldron, Chair of GGF Standards Committee presents on the “Status of CEN” 
• Dr John Wyatt will present on “Glass Reaction to Bomb Blast”
• Plus a special presentation on Spontaneous Breakage 

The Safety and Security Glazing Technical Day start at 10am and finished around 2pm with lunch at around 12.30pm. The venue is The Arden Hotel & Leisure Club, Solihull, B92 0EH. 

If you would like to attend this special Technical Day, then please contact the Group Secretary Ben Wallace by email bwallace@ggf.org.uk. 

The GGF has once again agreed to host the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2020 in Nuremberg on 18-21 March 2020.  

James Lee, GGF Director of External Affairs enthused, “Following last year’s outstanding success, our planning and promotion has now started and we are aiming to make the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau 2020, the best one yet.
I encourage all interested companies to contact us early to ensure they don’t miss out on an opportunity to exhibit at the world’s biggest window and door show.”

Though many of the co-exhibitors from last year’s UK Pavilion have expressed an interest in re-booking their stand space, the GGF is holding a provisional Fensterbau meeting on 13^th June at the GGF offices and welcomes all those interested in co-exhibiting on the GGF UK Pavilion.

Having exhibited at Fensterbau since 2014, the GGF UK Pavilion is now a fixture and feature of the show and has become one of, if not the, key destination for visiting companies wanting to either sell into the UK or buy UK products for their own markets.  

As per previous years, the GGF will fully undertake the administration and organisation for all co-exhibiting companies and as before, the GGF will promote the whole event in the six months leading up to the event.
GGF Members as part of their membership benefits will be given a special discounted rate of 20% off the co-exhibiting costs.
If you would like to find out more about exhibiting on the GGF UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale or would like to attend the Fensterbau meeting at the GGF Offices on 13^th June, then please contact James Lee, GGF Director of External Affairs by email jlee@ggf.org.uk.

To find out more about Fensterbau Frontale 2020 please visit: https://www.frontale.de/en

Following the recent news that the GGF is supporting the Conservatory and Orangery Awards, the organisers, Glass and Glazing Products (GGP) magazine will be doing a special presentation at the next meeting of the Conservatory Association and Window and Door Group on 9^th May at the Arden Hotel in Solihull.

Luke Webster explains, “The Awards have been launched to recognise the innovation, talent and skill that has been the driving force behind the transformation in the sector over the last ten years.
We are very much looking forward to presenting the outline and content of the Conservatory & Orangery Awards to GGF Members in May.”

Phil Goult, Conservatory Association Chairman commented, “I am delighted with the introduction of these awards to our industry. I have little doubt, they will boost the entire conservatory market and I encourage all Members operating in the sector to enter.”

The new awards will not only give winners and finalists the recognition they deserve but it will also highlight the great conservatories and orangeries available for homeowners.
Luke Wood explains, “The Awards have been launched to recognise the innovation, talent and skill that has been the driving force behind the transformation in the sector over the last ten years.
We are very much looking forward to presenting the outline and content of the Conservatory & Orangery Awards to GGF Members in May.”

All Members are invited to the next joint meeting of the Conservatory Association and Window and Door Group.

If you would like to attend this meeting and hear this presentation, please contact Bridie Joyce, Home Improvement Secretary by email bjoyce@ggf.org.uk.
To find out more about the Conservatory Association please visit: https://www.ggf.org.uk/groups/home-improvement-executive-groups/conservatory-association/

The GGF Scotland Annual Golf Tournament will take place on Thursday 16 May 2019. All Members, guests and non-players are welcome (non-players at a reduced cost of £35 + VAT), for what promises to be a great social event.

This year’s tournament takes place at:

Gourock Golf Club,

Cowal View,

Gourock,

Inverclyde PA19 1HD

The running times for the day are as follows:

12 noon – Registration – Tea/coffee, soup and bacon rolls

12.30pm – 12.45pm – First tee (One full round of golf)

6.00pm – Finish course and head back to the clubhouse

6.45pm – Drinks in the bar

7.00pm – Evening meal and prize-giving

For further information about Gourock Golf Club and the Course, as well as directions on how to get there, please see the information on their website https://www.gourockgolfclub.com/

For those who want to stay over, there is accommodation just 10 minutes away and GGF Scotland Chairman, Alex Gray, has organised a private coach to take Members to and from the golf club and the Tontine Hotel, 6 Ardgowan Square, Greenock, PA16 8NG. 

GGF Scotland Chair Alex Gray has also negotiated fantastic hotel rates for Members and guests. Please see GGF Scotland rates below:

Premier Rooms – normal rate £102, GGF rate now £75

Executive Rooms, normal rate £82, GGF rate just £55

All bookings are bed and breakfast.   

For further information on the hotel, including details of the location, please visit the hotel website http://www.tontinehotel.co.uk/

To take part in the GGF Scotland Annual Golf Tournament please contact Regional Executive Ann-Marie Waugh by email amwaugh@ggf.org.uk.

In March, the GGF technical team hosted a highly successful Architectural Glazing Conference in Dubai.

The event, which attracted over 100 international delegates was sponsored by Emirates Glass, Gulf Glass Industries Ltd, Kuraray, Momentive and Filmtek and was organised in conjunction with Members of the GGF MENA Region.

Steve Rice, GGF Director of Technical Affairs commented on the conference’s success.

“It was an excellent couple of days with the speakers and panels covering topical issues affecting the performance and the international technical standards of glass.
I would like to thank our sponsors, speakers and hosts for making the event a great success.”

The impressive line-up of expert speakers included technical experts from the GGF, each of the Sponsors and Saint-Gobain.
The topics covered included:

• Grenfell Tower fire and its impact on industry standards
• Sealant compatibility
• The performance of laminated glass
• The anisotropy of glass
• Security glazing
• Acoustic glazing
• Adhesive backed polymeric

The Chair of the MENA region, Pascoal DSilva of Gulf Glass Industries (GGI) commented,
“The conference was most worthwhile with superb presentations from industry experts who provided important technical updates and information.
All delegates I have spoken with found the conference to be both enjoyable and highly useful for their businesses. I would like to thank the GGF for their participation and support.”
To find out more about the MENA region please visit: https://www.ggf.org.uk/groups/regions/mena-middle-east-north-africa/

The 26^th March was a day to remember for Peter and Susan Roden, owners of Mitchell Glass who were invited to the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) London offices for VIP treatment. First there was a guided tour of the GGF’s historic timeline of the glass and glazing industry, then a photo-shoot as they were re-acquainted with a special piece of Scottish glazing history and topped off with a special GGF award for “Outstanding Service to the Industry” at The President’s Reception held at St Bride Foundation Institute in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral.

On receiving the award, Peter said, “It’s been an amazing day. I am truly honoured and I’d like to thank the GGF and everyone for making it so special. It has been a great day for both Susan and I, not only receiving this award but also to be photographed at the GGF offices, wearing the 90 year old Scottish Glass Merchants and Suppliers Association President’s Chain of Office which was worn by Susan’s father when he was President of the Scottish Glass Association in 1992. That was a very humbling experience.”

Though surrounded by history in the heart of London, Mitchell Glass as Scotland’s oldest has its own unique and illustrious history going back almost 145 years.

In 1862, Robert Mitchell ran away from home in Kinross, Perthshire at the age of just 14 years old. Keen to see the world and make something of himself, he made it to Edinburgh, where he served his time as a Glazier and then a few years later moved to the Scottish Borders and set up his business R. Mitchell Glass in Hawick in 1875. At just 28 years old, Robert had founded his own company but surely he could never have imagined from its earliest days that it would become the longest established glazing business in Scotland.

Robert developed the business and proved not only to be a skilled glazier and successful businessman but he also helped shape the community around him. He built new premises in Hawick to accommodate the different elements of the company and in doing so increased employment in the area.

After nine years of building up a thriving local business, he turned his focus to local politics. In 1884, he raised his profile when he was elected as a Town Councillor. Three years later, in 1887 he was appointed a Baillie and in 1896, he started his four year tenure as Provost of Hawick.

As he approached retirement, Robert passed the business to his son Alex, who unfortunately died in 1948 and had no family to take over the business. The Board of Directors of Mitchell Glass decided to continue with the name Mitchell Glass that is still used to this day.  

Current owner, Peter Roden started as an apprentice carding engineer and from successful completion and study, he worked in insurance and bookkeeping before starting in the glazing business as a sales manager for Mitchell Glass.

The family business theme remained with Peter persuading his wife, Susan, to join the team again. She had initially started her Mitchells’ career as a “Saturday girl” at the Market Street shop while still at school, when she typed invoices on the big black typewriter for her father Bill Fisher, who was a Director of the company.  

Both Susan and Peter have been active members of the GGF for over 25 years, with Peter being the first ever Chairman of GGF Scotland. A role he performed for over 17 years which also included representing Scotland on the GGF General Council, a body that oversaw all the activities of the GGF.

The history of Mitchell Glass also prominently includes Susan’s family. The Scottish Glass Merchants and Suppliers Association which went on to become The Scottish Glass Association elected long time Member Bill Fisher (Susan’s Father), as President in 1992. The Scottish Glass Association merged with the GGF in 1996.  

It was a great and memorable occasion for Mitchell Glass, but rather than bask in past glories, Susan and Peter are looking forward to the company’s future. Their son Lewis is currently learning all aspects of the business with a view to one day taking the reins of this prestigious brand name which holds a unique place in the history of glass and glazing industry.