Marketing plastic

Pvcu systems companies have had a tough time of it recently, but while there has been some movement regarding ownership and job losses, we have not seen the market consolidation that was anticipated some months ago.

Nonetheless, companies could be seen as fragile, something that Veka obviously wanted to avoid as it wheeled out the big guns at Network Veka’s annual general meeting, held this year in Blackpool – Read the story here. Present was Veka Group’s chairman, Andreas Hartleif, who assured members of the network that Veka was committed to the UK market. He said the same thing in an interview he conducted with The Glazine – see the interview here.

Also at the AGM, Simon Scholes (national sales manager for Veka Recyling) accepted a challenge to roll out a recycling network among Network Veka members, which follows on from an email to The Glazine [Read the email here] – (responding to last week’s leader) which states that Veka Recycling in the UK was ‘waiting for the right time’ to announce its ‘very interesting plans’. I’m glad that The Glazine has brought the issue to the fore.

People assure me that the tough times are yet to come for the systems suppliers. However, you can’t argue that the recession has brought about some innovative thinking, and heavy marketing. Suddenly, we’ve seen a raft of developments, each differentiating one company from another: lead-free profile; energy efficient profile; recycled profile; cheap profile; coloured profile. I suppose it’s now down to the fabricators and installers to decide which ones are most important to secure business.

Nathan Bushell

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WE HAVE EMAIL Dear Nathan I write with response to your comments in the Glazine on the June 23 2009. [Read the Rest Here] Dear Nathan   There was a touch of self-congratulation in recent reports that the industry is on course to meet its obligation to stop using lead in pvcu. The obligation refers to the Vinyl 2010 voluntary agreement to a 50% reduction in lead by 2010 and a complete phase out by 2015. [Read the Rest Here] Dear Nathan   The benefits of GGF membership are often questioned by non members especially in difficult economic times; sometimes the benefits of membership are not too apparent, its a bit like an insurance policy, an avoidable expense until the unforeseen happens – then it’s worth every penny. [Read the Rest Here] THIS WEEK'S NEWS The Glazine interviews Andreas Hartleif Andreas Hartleif, chairman of the Veka Group, told The Glazine that the company is committed to the UK market. Kiss me quick AGM Network Veka has issued its strongest-ever recruiting call with a ‘Wish you were here’ message from its Blackpool AGM. [Read the Rest Here] Avocet sponsors G09 Awards Hardware supplier Avocet today announced its decision to be one of the principal sponsors of this year’s G09 Awards. The awards will be held at Wembley on Thursday October 3. [Read the Rest Here] Small businesses buckling under the burden of regulation The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is urging the government to step up its efforts to reduce the burden of regulation on small businesses, following new research showing that red tape costs the UK’s smaller business employers almost £12 billion per year. [Read the Rest Here] Too valuable to waste Manchester-based PVC Recycling is telling consumers that end-of-life material should be recycled back into everyday use – with economic and environmental benefits. [Read the Rest Here] Downing Street visit Dave Blakeman, managing director of RPS, was recently present at a reception at 10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and First Secretary of State Peter Mandelson. [Read the Rest Here] Non-laminated glass balcony shatters over diners A man and young boy were injured when glass shattered over customers at a Chinese restaurant, the Southend and Basildon Echo reported last week. [Read the Rest Here] Green door The 4th visit to the CIH exhibition in Harrogate proved successful for composite door manufacturer, Rockdoor. [Read the Rest Here] New healthcare windows guide Advice on the options available for specifiers of windows in the healthcare sector, particularly mental health, is contained in a new guide from architectural aluminium systems supplier Kawneer. [Read the Rest Here] Online guarantees Homeline, has introduced further benefits for customers with the launch of an easy-to-use ‘online guarantee system’. [Read the Rest Here] Spacer switch Leading sealed unit supplier Cristal Glass and Glazing (Leicester) has switched to Swisspacer V. [Read the Rest Here] Smart prices SmartGlass International has announced a reduced selling price of €799m2 for standard 10.8mm LC SmartGlass to commercial projects Worldwide, following increased sales volumes through its global sales networks.  [Read the Rest Here] Thai takeaway Edgetech and Bristol-based Super Spacer installer City Glass, recently completed an unusual Thai Restaurant project in Bristol city centre. [Read the Rest Here] New roof distributor A new company has been formed to manufacture K2 pre-fabricated conservatory roofs at knock-down prices. [Read the Rest Here] All change Liniar, the window system from HL Plastics, won 13 new fabricator customers in May. [Read the Rest Here] Rehau launches partner scheme Rehau is launching a new authorised partner scheme for fabricators and installers registered on the ‘dealer locator’ section of its new consumer website. [Read the Rest Here] Extrusion investment Plaslyne has announced a £1.3 million programme of investment in its extrusion operation. [Read the Rest Here] New colour conservatory collection launched Synseal has launched its first collection of colour conservatory roofs, based on the Artisan Woodgrain Collection. [Read the Rest Here] Half-century celebrations Northwich Glass recently celebrated its 50th birthday. [Read the Rest Here] It pays to be registered Fensa has launched a new free service exclusively for its registered businesses: RTA Claims Management Service.  [Read the Rest Here] Fleet expansion Door-Stop International is buying more vehicles to keep up with its three-day promise. [Read the Rest Here]

ARCHIVES

You can view previous issues of THE GL@ZINE in our ARCHIVE NEWS SECTION There are also archives for the following sections:
History of UK Glass & Window Industry (Part 1)
AWARDS & STANDARDS CHARITY EVENTS CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENT EXHIBITION REPORTS FABRICATOR FOCUS FEATURES GLASSEX 2002 GLASSEX 2003 GLASSEX 2004 GLASSTEC 2002 HEALTH & SAFETY
Ian Spokes Glassex 2008

Should you wish to advertise on THE GL@ZINE, please contact Tony Higgin at tony@theglazine.com or telephone 01923-461527, mobile 07977-981753.

The Ratecard is viewable on this link: http://www.theglazine.com/RateCard/ratecard.html

Email us: theglazine@sky.com
Editorial should be sent to theglazine@sky.com

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Commercial Sales Manager

£Attractive
UK – Burnley Based
[Read the Rest Here]

Operations Manager (Director Designate)

£Attractive + Equity Opportunity
South Wales
[Read the Rest Here]

Synseal Extrusions Limited

Area Account Manager
Midlands & South West
Excellent basic salary plus car with OTE of £50k+
[Read the Rest Here]

Trade Sales Representative

Trade Sales Representative
£Excellent Package
M4/M5 Corridor

Client: A South Wales based manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive range of PVCu and Aluminium products, servicing the trade and domestic retail markets across the UK
Long and successfully grown by a dedicated and professional team.
[Read the Rest Here]

Brand Manager

Brand Manager
£Attractive
Lancashire

Client: VEKA plc is the UK subsidiary of VEKA AG a major European PVCu Extrusion company, with world wide subsidiaries.
[Read the Rest Here]

The Steel Window Association has a new president – Paul Tomlinson, who is managing director of Nottingham-based DNS Windows.
[Read the Rest Here]

Eurocell staff have planned to tackle the Cubria Way – a gruelling 76-mile hike south to north across the Lake District from Ulverston to Carlisle.
[Read the Rest Here]

Nigel Eley has joined Sapa Building System UK as operations director. Nigel, who started working for the company in February, is responsible for all site operations, logistics, materials, health and safety, and purchasing functions. [Read the Rest Here]

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Sales Corner
"Know your product. A sales person should have a wide range of product knowledge. Use a range of features and benefits to build a relevant sales presentation that matches the needs of the client. "
[Visit Pilkington Website]

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Following extensive testing for durability and fire resistance in 2004, door manufacturer tdsl recently completed further durability testing on its Viscount Plus doorset range with Chiltern Dynamics.
[Read the Rest Here]

Chiltern International Fire (CIF) and sister company Chiltern Dynamics have carried out the first programme of testing for fire and smoke curtain systems manufacturers Coopers Fire
[Read the Rest Here]

Glass facades specialist Solaglas Contracting has been shortlisted by Contract Journal magazine in its Construction Industry Awards for the second year running, fending off competition from a host of major competitors across a number of different sectors to be shortlisted for the ‘Specialist Contractor of the Year’ award.
[Read the Rest Here]

Saint-Gobain Glass has been ranked as one of the UK's greenest businesses in this year's Sunday Times Best Green Companies, for the second successive year.
[Read the Rest Here]

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The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) is actively promoting its members’ businesses by launching a range of marketing material to help sell windows and conservatories during the recession.
[Read the Rest Here]

The comparison between a normal pvcu panel door and The Force 8 composite door were made starkly clear with a demonstration at its Stockport factory.
[Read the Rest Here]

The south coast of England is proving a lucky place to live as Jamie Farrell and Ryan Bain of Brighton have found out.
[Read the Rest Here]

Sun Trade Windows is holding an open day on May 27 to mark the official opening of its seventh UK depot in Fareham, Hampshire.
[Read the Rest Here]

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Deceuninck has just released the latest edition of its glossy trade and retail magazine, WindowShopper.
[Read the Rest Here]

TuffX Conservatory Glass has launched new literature that adopts a contemporary style.
[Read the Rest Here]

Phoenix Door Panels has added side panel combinations and new glazing styles to its composite door brochure
[Read the Rest Here]

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Twelve Vista employees from various departments including administration, accounts, production and despatch will commence NVQs up to level 2 in business improvement techniques.
[Read the Rest Here]

A group of WHS Halo fabricators are now saving money and the environment, after attending an exclusive workshop on the business benefits of energy efficiency.
[Read the Rest Here]

Reynaers Aluminium has invested in a new, dedicated training facility at its UK headquarters in Birmingham.
[Read the Rest Here]

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Cornwall Glass and Glazing has set up a charitable trust to enable it to formalise its contribution to the community.
[Read the Rest Here]

The organisers of GlassTalk, the networking event organised in the wake of the Glassex cancellation in March.
[Read the Rest Here]

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The GGF’s Giles Willson, director of technical affairs has been broadcasting to the nation in a bid to promote the GGF’s new online carbon calculator to potential consumers across the UK.
[Read the Rest Here]

Top Fleet has re-launched www.topfleet.co.uk which went live on May 6, and in just one month has yielded 1,144 visits averaging 38 new visitors per day.
[Read the Rest Here]

Fensa-registered businesses can now receive live sales leads for new work as part of their registration with Fensa.

[Read the Rest Here]

TimberWindows.com is rolling out a programme of national showroom openings in partnership with its top dealers.
[Read the Rest Here]