Archives for February 2023

World-leading spacer bar specialist Edgetech, a Quanex company, welcomes a new member of its marketing team.

Dhilip Bains joins the company’s growing marketing department in the role of Marketing Executive.

After studying Economics and History, Dhilip achieved an MBA from Cardiff University. He then joined a successful full-service marketing agency, working with major national and international brands.

At Edgetech, Dhilip will help co-ordinate its marketing teams across Britain and Germany, and work on its PR, social media and digital marketing.

Charlotte Hawkes, Edgetech’s Head of Marketing comments: “We’re extremely pleased to be welcoming Dhilip to the team.

“His experience, professionalism and enthusiasm have already had an impact, and I’m looking forward to working with him in the year ahead.

“Marketing has always been a vital part of Edgetech’s overall strategy. For us, it’s not just about promoting our own products, but a way of contributing to crucial industry conversations around sustainability, skills, automation, changing government legislation, and the future of the sector in general.

“That’s why it’s so important that we continue to attract talented, passionate people like Dhilip, who can help us maintain those standards for many years to come.”

Dhilip comments: “Edgetech is a globally respected brand, and it’s hugely exciting to be able to help it continue to thrive and grow.

“The Edgetech team has been extremely welcoming, and it’s a great place to work.”

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

One of the glazing industry’s most respected IGU manufacturers has invested in a state-of-the-art automated Super Spacer® application line.

Leicester-based Cleartherm were early adopters of the technology, becoming only the third UK company to acquire an automated Forel Super Spacer® hot melt line in 2006.

Now, the innovative company have invested in a modern replacement, ensuring they will continue to offer quality, consistency, and speedy service for years to come.

“When we first started using Super Spacer, we applied it by hand,” explains Cleartherm Managing Director David Laing.

“Then, following a visit to America, we saw an automated hot melt sealant line for the first time. That was a real ‘wow’ moment for us. We had seen the future.

“We knew we had to incorporate automation technology in what we did – and before long, we’d acquired only the third automated hot melt line in the UK”.

Seventeen years later, having seen the sizable benefits that automation can provide, Cleartherm made the decision to reinvest.

“With automation, the quality is far superior, unit processing is much faster, and you can make considerable savings on labour.

“We were reminded just how much automation has improved our lives back in December, when our previous automated line was taken out.

“For the last week of 2022 and the start of 2023, we had to process all our IGUs manually – every member of the work force was counting down the days until the new line was up and running!”

Cleartherm’s recent spending is the latest in a series of investments, which include a new state of the art toughening plant, a high-speed cutting and loading centre, upgrading its 7.5/18 ton delivery vehicles, and installing a 90kw solar panel system.

Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson comments: “We’re delighted that Cleartherm have decided to reinvest in automation.

“As a thriving IGU manufacturer with a reputation for quality, technical excellence and innovation, they’re a perfect example of what automation can achieve.”

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

Many industries in the UK are facing a skills shortage, which has led to challenges for UK businesses, including increased competition for talent and higher costs for recruitment and training.

With this in mind, the GGF, in partnership with Total Support Training, created the Skilled Pathways Scheme to help bridge the skills gap. The scheme provides funding for trainees of up to £4,000 per GGF Member company as part of the programme, spread over two years.

Next Tuesday the 7^th of March, the GGF will be hosting a webinar in order for members to understand the scheme, how to upskill your workforce, help you gauge the extent of the skills shortage and how we can start to close the skills gap.

The webinar is set to be held at 12pm on Zoom, for 30 minutes, followed by a 15 minute Q&A with both the GGF and our training partners Total Support Training.

Should you have any questions about the Skilled Pathways Scheme, or would like to learn more, we would strongly encourage you to attend the webinar and Q&A.

In order to rectify the skills gap, GGF members and the industry as a whole should be investing in training and development for their existing workforce, partnering with schools and colleges to support vocational education whilst offering competitive compensation and benefits to attract and retain their top talent.

Industry training and the Skills Shortage have always been discussed as a high priority and many businesses are in the same boat, with the GGF Skilled Pathways Scheme we finally have the answer to help solve the skills shortage.

Originally a listed manor house and two separate barns, this Essex home has been transformed to provide stunning new accommodation and extra living space for the owners who have lived there for over 30 years.

The timber framed barns had previously been extended in size with new Red Essex Brick.  It was decided to remove these as part of the renovation and only keep the original bricks, resulting in a fabulous fusion of traditional and modern.  The old timber frames remain as a feature inside.

Over 20 Clement Conservation Rooflights were chosen in various sizes and profiles.  They lie perfectly flush in both the slate and tile sections of roof in keeping with the original character of the buildings and are top hung with 300mm brass pole winders.

The homeowner commented:

“We were recommended Clement Conservation Rooflights and have been pleased with our decision to purchase them as they were ideal for this project.  I visited the showroom initially to feel and see the product and was very happy with the quality.  We couldn’t decide whether to choose the automatic actuators or manual winders to open the roof windows.  In the end we chose the pole winders and feel we made the right decision.”

Manufactured for either a slate or a tile profile, the beauty of Clement skylights is that they lie flush with your roofline giving a neat finish.

Available in eight standard sizes, Clement Conservation Rooflights are constructed using mild steel sheet which makes them particularly strong.  The surface is coated in polyzinc and then polyester powder paint for durability and to give the rooflights a good-looking finish.

Clement’s roof windows are made from high performance, argon filled, 24mm insulated glass units and come with a revolutionary warm T bar system.  Available with several glazing options, including self-cleaning glass as standard, Clement’s rooflights are manufactured to EN ISO 9001 standards and rigorously tested against air, wind and rain to BS6375.  They have achieved a BFRC Window Energy Rating of A+.

The standard range of rooflights is generally available for delivery 2-3 working days.  If one of the standard sizes is not appropriate, bespoke rooflights are also available.

Following the difficulties that we have experienced as an industry in the last 3 years, the key question is, what 2023 will look like for the window and door industry in the UK?

Unfortunately, the industry is still facing several challenges in 2023. Some of the key struggles include:

• Supply chain disruptions: The industry is facing disruptions in the supply chain due to Brexit and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, leading to shortages of materials and increased costs.
• Skills shortage: There is a shortage of skilled workers in the industry, leading to delays and increased costs for companies. Fortunately, we now have the answer to this one in the GGF Skilled Pathway Scheme. I encourage all members to engage with us on this.
• Competition from imports: The industry is facing increased competition from cheaper imported products, putting pressure on companies to reduce costs and maintain profitability.
• Slow economic recovery: The UK economy is recovering slowly from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to reduced demand for new windows and doors.
• Regulatory changes: The industry is facing changes in Building Regulations, requiring companies to adapt and invest in new technologies and processes.
• These challenges are affecting the window and door industry in the UK and companies are having to find ways to navigate these difficulties while maintaining their competitiveness and profitability.

We are keen to focus attention on improving competency within our sector. The UK construction market as a whole is facing several issues related to competency, such as:

• Inadequate training: There is a lack of investment in training and development in the construction industry, which leads to a lack of technical knowledge and expertise among workers.
• Health and safety issues: Construction sites can be dangerous environments, and there is a need for greater focus on health and safety practices to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
• Quality control: There is a need for better quality control in the construction industry to ensure that projects are delivered to the highest standards and that buildings are safe, efficient, and fit for purpose.

These competency issues in the UK construction market are impacting the industry’s ability to deliver projects on time, on budget, and to the required quality standards. Addressing these issues will require a concerted effort from industry stakeholders, including employers, workers, and government agencies.

Some good news?

The UK Home Improvement market can be affected by various factors such as economic conditions, consumer spending, housing market trends, and government policies, which can change over time.

The market is expected to experience several changes in 2023. Some of the key predictions include:

• Growth in demand: The market is expected to defy expectations as homeowners continue to invest in improving their properties, despite the uncertain economic outlook.
• Focus on sustainability and energy efficiency: Consumers are becoming more focused on reducing their carbon footprint and energy bills, leading to increased demand for sustainable and energy-efficient home improvement products.
• Increased use of technology: The use of technology is expected to continue to grow in the home improvement market, with consumers adopting smart home devices, virtual consultations, and online shopping for products and services.
• Impact of Brexit: The UK’s exit from the European Union is expected to have a significant impact on the home improvement market, with potential changes in tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and changes in regulations.

Overall, the UK home improvement market is expected to perform strongly in 2023, driven by changing consumer preferences and a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency, despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit.

Despite these challenges, the UK window and door industry has continued to grow over the past three years with increasing demand for new and improved products. However, the industry is expected to continue to face challenges in the coming years, but if we have learned anything it’s that our industry can weather any storm.

Edgetech may be best known for its internationally recognised warm-edge spacer technology, but the Quanex company is experiencing rapidly rising demand for another cutting-edge product it offers. 

TruFit is a state-of-the-art window installation tape. Made of open-cell polyurethane foam and filled with a flame-retardant synthetic resin, it provides a much quicker, cleaner and more thermally efficient alternative to traditional silicone. 

Once the tape’s backing paper is removed, it gradually expands to seal the window fully, ensuring it offers exceptional all-round performance – protecting against mould, and providing first-class thermal and acoustic insulation.

In addition to this, it’s much easier to apply than silicone and can be used in all weathers.

Edgetech Head of Marketing Charlotte Hawkes suggests these reasons are behind the growth of interest in TruFit:

“The biggest factor driving the surge of interest in TruFit is clearly energy efficiency. 

“Installers have always been very impressed with TruFit when they’ve seen it but, in the past, they have often chosen to stick with what they know.

“For many of those installers, the last year has been a tipping point. The huge rises in household energy prices, combined with continuing pressure to help the country reach net zero, has led to a surge in the numbers of customers enquiring about TruFit. 

“It’s an incredibly effective tool for helping installers fit windows and offers outstanding thermal performance – in addition to being quicker, cleaner and easier to use than silicone. 

According to market forecasts we’re also heading for a tougher time ahead for the industry, those that do well in times like these innovate to differentiate themselves. We believe that right now TruFit offers a unique opportunity for installers to stand out, before products like these become the norm and we have a full marketing package to support this”.

If you’re interested in learning more about TruFit, don’t hesitate to contact Edgetech.

Clement Windows Group has manufactured brightly coloured red and yellow steel door frames for a stunning South London home.

Hannah Cecil-Harden is a director at de Gournay, a family business founded by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney.  De Gournay makes exquisite hand-painted and embroidered wallcoverings and the company’s work adorns some of the finest buildings in the world.

Hannah recently decided to reconfigure her London property to accommodate her growing family and the basement was turned into a playroom with adjoining utility and bathroom.  The walls of the playroom are decorated in a beautiful hand-painted wallpaper scene of London.

Having worked with Hannah previously, Clement was approached to manufacture the new steel doors included within the designs for this space.  Hannah wanted the steel frames to be painted to match the vibrant colours included in the wallpaper.

The steel frames to the exterior are polyester powder painted RAL 9004 Signal Black on the outside and RAL 1016 Sulfer Yellow on the inside, while the interior doors are painted in the same yellow on the playroom side and RAL 3005 Wine Red on the utility and bathroom side.

Peter Clement, Chief Executive of Clement Windows Group, commented:

“We always say that our bespoke steel products can be painted in specialist hues from across the entire colour spectrum and these doors really demonstrate what is possible!”

There was a huge sigh of relief throughout the Construction Industry when in mid- December, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) released the statement that recognition of CE marking would continue in the UK until 30^th June 2025. This does not delay the implementation of the UKCA mark but does prolong the period of acceptance of the CE mark both for foreign and UK construction products and, of course, including testing regardless of the test body location.

Many members will know that this has been the subject of long and regular discussions with Government to avoid what would have been a catastrophic situation for our members and the Construction Industry in general.

The GGF have worked closely with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the Construction Products Association (CPA) to provide a collective voice to both the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and DLUHC. This included fortnightly meetings where we provided a lengthy list of issues which were business-critical and needed to be answered.

It is fair to say that this further extension of CE marking acceptance in the UK does give us breathing space but we would emphasise that there are still critical issues that need to be resolved and resolved quickly if we are to avoid these major problems in June 2025.

For the GGF members’ benefit we have extracted the critical issues that are relevant to our sectors and possible solutions from the lists created in conjunction with the CLC Standards and Regulatory Alignment Group below:

The GGF will keep members updated on any changes to the above.