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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.

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.

An Edgetech customer has started to manufacture the only Super Spacer Heritage double-glazed units in Ireland which have passed BS EN 1279 Part 3.

Based in Banbridge, County Down, IMC Glass is a leading specialist in heritage glazing, supplying customers throughout Ireland and the UK, and its Slim-Glaze units are particularly renowned throughout the market.

The company’s high-performance Krypton-filled double-glazing units start at just 11mm thick (about the diameter of a biro) and can fit into frames that were only designed for single glazing. They also meet the glazing requirements of properties which have listed status.

Passing the Part 3 standard, notoriously difficult for slimline units, is the latest example of the company’s commitment to excellence, as Director Aaron McCreanor explains:

“Of the two parts of BS EN 1279, Part 2, which governs moisture penetration, is relatively straightforward to pass. Most manufacturers don’t have a problem with it.

“Part 3, which governs gas leakage, is much harder. It’s extremely difficult to produce a unit that’s slim enough for heritage use, yet manages the required standard.

“At IMC, we’ve got an extremely talented technical team, and after a lot of hard work, they managed to produce units that consistently pass the test.

“We’re really proud to be the only company in Ireland to achieve this feat.”

Edgetech Head of Sales Tony Palmer comments: “We’re delighted with IMC’s Part 3 success using Super Spacer Heritage.

“Their technical expertise and commitment to excellence mean they’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and seeking to improve the products they provide.

“We look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

More information on IMC Glass can be found at their website www.imcglass.com

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

The GGF forum is a place for members to come together and share their knowledge. A platform for everyone to gain knowledge from others and share in the industry’s success stories. The GGF community will be able to hear different ideologies and perspectives from across the sector and use them to improve their own business.

We want this forum to be a go to for the industry on tips, guides, suggestions and resolutions to common problems. We hope it will also serve to drive innovation and crowdsource new ideas.

Members do not need to wait for GGF involvement, you will be able to interact, feedback and critique in a healthy and positive environment. The GGF are there to oversee, moderate and engage with members when requested and to clarify points raised where necessary.

How To Sign Up

The forum is situated in the Members Area of the GGF website for you to sign up to. If you have an account for the GGF website then you are able to sign up for the forum, and can receive notifications for relevant posts and threads as you wish.

Adding a New Topic to the Forum

Adding a new topic is simple. Once you’re logged into the forum via the Members Area, you can then click ‘add topic’. You can also subscribe to any new topics in the category. 

When creating the new post, simply follow the steps depicted below. 

Replying to Someone’s Post

When replying to a post, simply curate your message and then click the ‘subscribe to this topic’ to receive notifications, if you wish. You can then click ‘add reply’. 

How To Receive Notifications

Receiving notifications is simple. Once you’ve entered the forum via the Members Area, just click subscribe in the top left-hand corner, as depicted below: 

Forum Rules

Members posting on the GGF Forum will not at any time engage in any discussion on subjects that are prohibited by the Competition Act 1998 or The Enterprise Act 2002. In particular, the issue of prices and market share or any other issues covered by the legislation will not be raised or discussed.

The GGF and its group companies take the issue of reputation seriously. The GGF Group will not permit its forum to be used to damage the reputation of the GGF, its members, or third parties and will not tolerate the making of defamatory statements, including the repetition of defamatory statements made by third parties.

Any party making or repeating any defamatory statements will be responsible for the consequences of doing so, including, but not limited to, legal liability for the publication of defamatory statements and may be immediately excluded from the forum and subject to further disciplinary sanction for doing so.

General Overview

• Rudeness, insulting others, personal attacks, threats or inflammatory posts will not be tolerated
• Repeat, redundant posting to increase post counts is discouraged
• No advertising, spamming, solicitation or commercial self-promotion is allowed
• It is prohibited to discuss any illegal activities
• No posting of lewd comments, language or photos
• No posting of misleading or irrelevant comments, please stay on topic
• No posting of disturbing material
• GGF members are responsible for managing their company accounts and logins to the forum.
• Abuse or personal attacks on any GGF staff member will not be tolerated.
• Any members or posts that contravene the above rules may be subject to the GGF Membership Review Committee where your membership may be suspended or revoked.

Sign up to the forum by Clicking Here.

Happy posting!

The GGF recently received communication from HMRC informing us that they are conducting a review of the Employment Status position of sales and canvassing roles in the double glazing and home improvement industry. The reviews are set to commence from Q2 of this year. 

We would like to make GGF members aware of this so that you can take any action required ahead of HMRC’s involvement. 

Historically, a number of sales and canvassing roles have been treated as self-employed and the individuals have been required to complete annual Self-Assessment tax returns.

These roles often operate on a commission only basis, so if services are not successfully provided, either by making a sale or arranging an appointment, no payment will be received.

Employment Status is dependent on the facts, so two quite similar roles may have a different employment status position depending on the specific circumstance of the role.

Sales Representatives

A lot of the indicators HMRC consider for Employment Status such as Mutuality of Obligation, control over the worker and the requirement for personal service are present for the Sales Representative role. HMRC would consider the role to be an integral one to an organisation.

However, there is a prospect of undertaking work and not being paid any commission, or commission’s being recovered in the event of a cancelled or altered job. This level of risk can be quite significant and is beyond what we would expect for an employment role, this is why we think self-employed is likely to be the correct treatment.

Sales Manager Roles

For the Sales Manager, the role often involves sales co-ordination services rather than direct selling by the worker, although selling can form part of the role from time to time. This is also an integral role within an organisation.

The level of financial risk here, while still present, is significantly reduced from that of a Sales Representative. The other Employment Status indicators are also likely to be in line with an employed role so we think employment will be the correct treatment.

Canvassing Roles

As with the Sales Manager and Sales Representative many of the Employment Status indicators such as Mutuality of Obligation and the requirement for a personal service are present.

There is also control over the when and where the workers perform their services on occasion, but there is also the option for workers to work on their own without approval or supervision. This is inconsistent with an employment role.

Provision of Benefits

The provision of benefits usually only be available to an employee, such as a company vehicle or the use of an office at the company’s expense are indicators that point towards to employment. This has formed part of the opinion arrived at for the roles HMRC have considered.

Next Steps

If workers are incorrectly treated as self-employed this can lead to a significant tax liability, National Insurance and potentially penalties.

HMRC are encouraging GGF Members to carry out their own reviews of these roles in their organisation to make sure the positions of the roles are correct.

You may wish to seek advice from Employment Status specialists if there is any uncertainty. You can arrange a call with Jon Fox, HMRC Employment Duties Tax Specialist on 03000 564388 or email via the button below, to discuss this in more detail if that would be useful. 

Please be aware that HMRC cannot discuss the specific organisations that they have looked at to date for confidentiality reasons, but they are happy to discuss our general findings and how they have been arrived at.

HMRC Check Employment Status Tool

You can access the HMRC Check Employment Status Tool by clicking here, the tool can be used to give a view of a worker’s status. When completing this it is important to consider how the roles are actually carried out in practice and not just the contractual arrangements.

Provided the correct information is used to complete this HRMC will stand by the Employment Status position that is determined by the tool.

You can also read HMRC’s ES-FS1 Employment Status Factsheet by clicking here. 

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

Interest in automation among British IGU manufacturers is higher than ever according to world-leading spacer bar specialists Edgetech, a Quanex company.

Over the last two years, British fenestration has experienced incredible success despite the pandemic.

However, during the last six months in particular, it’s also begun to face huge challenges, most notably when it comes to materials and skills.

It’s these issues in particular that Edgetech believes are driving more IGU manufacturers towards automation, as Managing Director Chris Alderson explains.

“A third of British workers are over 50 years old, it’s thought as many as 1.3 million EU workers have left the country since Brexit, and the scarcity of skilled workers is already leading to wage inflation.

“Unsurprisingly, this has led to more and more IGU manufacturers contacting us to enquire about automating the spacer application process.

“By far, automation is the best long-term strategy for boosting productivity and improving quality in IGU production.

“Switching to a high-speed automated Super Spacer® line can yield savings of up to £180,000, and increase output by 18%, all while requiring less than half the number of operators.

“Given the pressures every manufacturing business faces when it comes to skills, and that will only increase in the months and years ahead, I think it’s inevitable that automation will become a much bigger part not just of our industry, but virtually every sector of the economy”.

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

Chris Alderson, Managing Director of Edgetech, explores the challenges facing IGU manufacturers, and whether the situation is starting to improve.

In January 2020, I went to Peterborough for a roundtable discussion on the state of Britain’s IGU sector.

For years, I’d strongly felt that British IG manufacturers were getting a raw deal. They’d driven huge improvements in unit performance and energy efficiency – but that investment and innovation wasn’t being rewarded.

In fact, glass was increasingly being treated as a commodity, and the businesses that made it were constantly being squeezed on price.

I wanted that to change – and after discussions with Edgetech’s marketing company Purplex, we decided to bring together key figures from around the sector to discuss the issue, and what we could do to tackle it.

Two years on, looking back on that day is a surreal experience. We had no idea what was lying around the corner.

We’d all heard about this strange new virus causing problems in China. But the idea that the same virus would soon see the country plunged into a series of strict national lockdowns would’ve seemed extremely far-fetched.

Remarkably, though, for all its challenges, there are signs the pandemic is beginning to redress the balance when it comes to IG. Manufacturers still face many difficulties – but things may be gradually starting to shift.

The race to the bottom

But before we look at what’s changed, I want to discuss the challenges IG manufacturers face in more detail.

Where does that constant pressure to offer rock bottom prices come from? In Peterborough in 2020, this was one of our main topics of conversation.

Several people around the table had been told by installers that it was essentially homeowners’ fault – they were the ones who didn’t see the value in glass, and weren’t willing to pay more for high-performance units.

But other attendees challenged that perspective. They believed that homeowners do value glass, when the benefits are properly explained to them, and that they’d happily pay more for an A+-rated unit given the potential long-term savings on energy.

The honest answer is that we don’t know for certain – and the most likely explanation is that it’s the result of attitudes from all different sections of the supply chain, in some cases based on warped perceptions of what homeowners value.

But whatever the root cause, there’s no quick and easy solution.

In Peterborough, we discussed the options available to us. Could we pool resources, and try and raise awareness of the critical importance of IGUs among homeowners?

Or, as some there on the day argued, would that be prohibitively expensive, and would educating fabricators and installers be a better route to take?

Is one of the key problems the fact that the IG sector lacks any representation and lobbying power? There are IGU manufacturers’ associations in Australia and the US – do we need to form one here?

The day in Peterborough was only designed to be a preliminary discussion, so, unsurprisingly, we didn’t come to any firm conclusions. Many of the issues we discussed still remain. But at the very least, there are indications that the wider glazing sector is finally starting to value what IG manufacturers do.

Achieving true value

Since COVID, fenestration has seen incredible success, and incredible disruption – most notably of all, a severe supply chain crisis.

That’s meant that inflation for all sorts of materials has naturally been driven up – including glass.

Given how much the supply chain has resisted any attempt to even slightly raise glass prices over the years, I was expecting my IG customers to have a very difficult time trying to push those increases through.

To my surprise, though, in most cases they seem to have been accepted.

Certainly, we’re in an exceptional situation, and this willingness to pay more could simply be companies recognising that and being more reasonable as a result.

But it’s my hope that the market is finally beginning to see the value of quality IGUs, and acknowledging the fantastic service that modern IG manufacturers provide.

Most of the big issues we discussed in Peterborough back in 2020 remain unsolved – but even if nothing else has shifted since then, to me, that’s progress.

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

In addition to offering high-quality warm-edge spacer bar products, Edgetech, a subsidiary of Quanex, always strives to offer the best customer service.

And one company that’s benefitted from this great service for over 13 years is Euramax Solutions.

The Barnsley-based company is a leading manufacturer and supplier of uPVC windows and doors to the off-site and modular construction, DIY and home improvement, new build and holiday home markets.

Euramax Solutions Managing Director Nick Cowley comments: “We started working with Edgetech in 2008, and since then, they’ve been supplying us with their very high-quality Super Spacer® warm-edge spacer bars, which we use in the glass units for all our products across our holiday home, DIY, and modular ranges.

“During the first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, we stopped manufacturing altogether, but when we returned, Edgetech was just as reliable as ever, helping to keep our production line going during a very challenging period rife with supply chain disruptions.

“Today we’re making around 4,000 frames per week, and in order to make that happen, our manufacturing process needs to be as efficient as possible.

“Edgetech’s Super Spacer doesn’t need to be cut into bar length form, doesn’t need to have a PIB primary seal applied, and doesn’t need to be filled with desiccant, allowing us to really streamline our processes.”

Super Spacer is one of the best IGU perimeter insulators on the market, preventing heat loss and ensuring windows and doors achieve high energy ratings and lower energy costs, thanks to its low conductivity.

The dual seal insulating glass spacer system uses high-performance acrylic adhesive, and is backed by a multi-layer moisture vapour seal, reducing window u-values by up to 0.2W/m²K and noise pollution by up to 2dB.

Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson comments: “Since partnering with Euramax Solutions, we’ve been delighted to supply such an innovative company in the industry with our products, and we were proud to have supported them through the challenges of lockdown.

“We’re delighted that the company is happy with the service they’ve received from us – it’s a testament to our commitment to delivering fantastic products at affordable prices, while maintaining great customer relations.

“We hope to continue this level of service with Euramax Solutions – and all our customers – for many years to come.”

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