Archives for November 2022

Clement Windows Group has manufactured and installed new steel windows at two West Country schools.  Trent Young’s CE School in Dorset and St Mary’s Calne in Wiltshire both required replica steel windows to replace the original fenestration.

Trent Young’s School, Grade II listed and in a Conservation Area, was originally constructed by Reverend Turner and his wife in 1862 as the National School for girls and infants.  The existing metal windows were not fit for purpose and due to the school’s listing it was imperative that the new replacement windows provided as close a match to the originals as possible.

The Clement Brooking range was specified because the slim, strong frames could replicate the wonderful shaped heads of the existing windows and could be fixed directly to stone.  The 16mm krypton filled units offer much improved thermal performance and it was possible to fit the frames with restrictors for safety.

Ros Baker, Deputy Head, said:

“We are so pleased with the finished result…  [The windows] have been sympathetically upgraded, in keeping with the original school building, and have had a positive impact on our school environment.”

St Mary’s School is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18 which was founded in 1873 by local vicar Reverent John Duncan and moved to its current site in 1907.  Around 40 new steel windows were needed in this phase of work to replace the original steel windows on the front and gable ends of the Plumer Wing which comprises classrooms for music, computing, religious education and art.  Clement EB20 windows were chosen, painted RAL 7016 (Anthracite Grey) instead of white like the original windows.

Bob Lunn, Director of Estates, said:

“The installation of 83 high quality Clement windows, which were installed in two phases during 2021 and 2022, has significantly enhanced the aesthetics and environmental efficiency of this building.

Clement Windows Group manufactures an innovative range of steel windows, doors, screens and conservation rooflights for both private residences and commercial projects.

Quanex, the billion-dollar building products powerhouse that owns leading fenestration brands Edgetech and Liniar, have made a major acquisition. 

The North American-based group has bought the assets of LMI Custom Mixing – a state-of-the-art custom polymer mixer that produces high quality rubber compounds. 

Supplying a variety of different sectors, LMI has an extensive track-record of providing excellent service to the fenestration industry. Going forward, it will do business as Quanex Custom Mixing.

The business has been a key Quanex supplier for twenty years – which made the acquisition a logical development, as Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson explains. 

“LMI is a perfect fit for Quanex, not least because they were a long-term supplier already, and had previously been part of a group with Edgetech in the past. 

“The acquisition significantly enhances Quanex’s existing expertise in materials science and process engineering, and allows us to further expand our product offering.

“What’s more, given that Edgetech US and LMI are based in the same location in Ohio, it will allow for a seamless integration.”

In 2022, Quanex underwent a rebrand, and unveiled a new tagline which encapsulates the company’s guiding philosophy – “a part of something bigger”.

For Quanex companies, it’s a constant reminder that everything they do has an impact on others.

It also alludes to the fact Quanex products can be found all around the world, helping buildings perform to the very highest standards.

It represents a commitment to giving back to the communities those companies are a part of – and it’s a testament to their drive to deliver continuous improvement, innovation, shareholder value and growth.

For more information, please call 02476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk

Edgetech, a Quanex company, has returned from a highly successful visit to Glasstec – the world’s biggest and most respected glazing exhibition.

Drawing thousands of exhibitors from 50 countries, and more than 40,000 visitors from 126 countries, Glasstec is a major event in the industry calendar.

It gives the sector’s leading lights a chance to experience the latest products and innovations on offer, and to discuss the biggest challenges facing them.

For Edgetech, it was an opportunity to showcase one of its own recent innovations, Super Spacer® T-Spacer® SG.

The flexible T-shaped spacer made of silicone foam enables highly efficient automated processing and application, increasing productivity for large format glass units.

The product also offers excellent condensation resistance, shape retention and colour stability, as well as the first-class thermal conductivity that characterises all Edgetech spacers.

Glasstec provided the perfect venue to promote T-Spacer® SG, which is already widely used on ambitious commercial glazing projects throughout Europe.

Edgetech’s Head of Marketing Charlotte Hawkes comments: “It was a brilliant show – our stand was genuinely busy from start to finish, and there was standing room only a lot of the time.

“One theme that repeatedly came up was labour shortages, and we spoke to a large number of IGU manufacturers interested in adopting automation as a way of tackling them. 

“It was also the first opportunity we’ve had to reveal our new branding to the European market – given the global audience at the show, “A part of something bigger” felt especially fitting!

“In general, there was a great atmosphere. You really got the sense everyone was happy to be back together.”

If you’re interested in learning more, we’d be delighted to hear from you – don’t hesitate to contact Edgetech on 02476 639931 or email ukenquiries@edgetechig.com.  

BEIS have announced that the latest phase of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is now open.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme supports the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared to a 2017 baseline, as set out in the 2021 Net Zero and Heat and Buildings strategies.

Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provides £1.425 billion of grant funding over the financial years 2022/2023 to 2024/2025, through multiple application windows. The first Phase 3 application window, Phase 3a, closed last year in November 2021.

The application window for Phase 3b of the scheme is now open. If you are interested in applying for funding as part of the scheme, the guidance notes, application form and application portal are available on the Salix Finance website. We would recommend you read the guidance notes before starting with your application.

Phase 3b will provide up to £635 million of funding over the financial years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025.

Phase 1 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provided £1 billion in grants over the financial years 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 as part of the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs 2020 commitment to support the UK’s economic recovery from COVID-19. It aimed to support up to 30,000 jobs in the low carbon and energy efficiency sectors and reduce carbon emissions from the public sector.

Phase 2 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provided £75 million of grant funding for the financial year 2021 to 2022. It had a stronger focus on heat decarbonisation than Phase 1 in order to deliver greater carbon emission reductions. It supported the public sector in taking a ‘whole building’ approach when decarbonising their estates.

The BEIS delivery body Salix Finance manages the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and you can visit the Salix Finance site here for more information about the scheme.

The Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund provides grants for public sector bodies to put in place a heat decarbonisation plan, providing them with information they need to develop future applications to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Both the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund are open to public sector bodies in England and areas of reserved public services across the UK.