Glass Age articles from June 2003

Glass Age archives from June 2003

Bringing Colour to Better Homes.
June 24, 2003... A twin gable conservatory, colour coated by Kolor-fast in Anthracite Grey and fabricated and installed by West Yorkshire Windows, was one of the stunning designer makeovers featured in 20th May's edition of ITV's popular home improvement...

Pilkington Invests #3.5m at Greengate.(Pilkington Brothers PLC add warehouse buildings at site)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... A #3.5m investment in extra storage space has helped boost customer service performance at Pilkington's Greengate float production site in the UK. Two new warehouse buildings have been added, increasing on-site capacity from 25,000 to 35,000...

Glazerite joins Maco Secure Scheme.(security and insurance products)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Glazerite of Wellingborough made the decision to move over to the Maco Mach II Shootbolt Espagnolette initially to streamline and improve its productivity in the factory. It has now added the extra marketing and customer benefits by joining the...

Pilkington Reports Best Cash Performance for a Decade.(Pilkington Brothers PLC)
June 24, 2003... Chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd reports a robust set of results from Pilkington, produced against the backdrop of continuing depressed trading conditions in most of the Group's major markets. Pressure on selling prices in Europe and North America...

PVC Industry Makes Progress on Sustainability.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... The European PVC industry published its third annual Progress Report last month, showing a quickening pace of activity toward sustainable development during the past year. Underscoring the commitment of the entire PVC sector, the Vinyl 2010...

TRADA Research on Primers will put Block on Stains.(TRADA Technology awarded research grant from Department of Trade and Industry's Partners in lnnovation programme)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... TRADA Technology Ltd has won #70,000 of DTI funding under the Partners in lnnovation programme for a new research project to evaluate the effectiveness of stain blocking primers for wood joinery. Peter Kaczmar, TRADA Technology's Coatings and...

Popular Partners with Profile 22.(seminar on Project Partnering organised by Profile 22)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... A second seminar on Project Partnering organised by Profile 22 proved to be an even greater success than the first with more than 90 delegates attending the Telford event. The overwhelming response demonstrated the need for greater...

Chemetall sells Sealants and Resins Business to Kommerling.(Chemetall GmbH; Kommerling Chemische Fabrik)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Chemetall has sold the sealants and casting resins business of its Glass Division to Kommerling Chemische Fabrik GmbH. Kommerling will acquire from Chemetall its Naftotherm? and Naftolan? product lines which comprise primary and secondary...

Epwin Results boosted by Swish sales.(Epwin Group PLC)
June 24, 2003... Epwin's strategy following the group's return to private ownership has produced a further set of record results, with increases to both turnover and profits: tumover increased 5% to #168m, while operating profit: increased 12% to #14.5m ...

PVC EXTRUSIONS: EXTRUDING A GOOD NICHE.
June 24, 2003... Aurelia Plastics could be one of the window industry's best kept secrets. Richard Schwarz reports Nestled deep in the heart of the rolling Oxfordshire countryside, Aurelia Plastics, specialist extruder of rigid, flexible and co- extruded...

Synseal Shares its Fast Track Profits.(Synseal Extrusions Ltd. among Sunday Times' list of top 100 companies)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Synseal has made it to the Sunday Times' profit track top 100 companies. As the Sunday broadsheet explains, Synseal has achieved 44% profit growth per year from #2.4m in 1999 to #7.2m in 2002. `We have achieved this growth by practising lean...

Connect 2 Openings.(new location of Connect 2 National Plastics thriving)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Just one month after opening its doors to the trade, the new branch of Connect 2 National Plastics is thriving. Located on the Tollgate Industrial Estate in Stafford, the new depot has seen a constant run of installers, builders and contractors...

Shortlist Announced for Jerwood Prize.(British glass artists among those vying for Jerwood Applied Arts Prize)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Eight British glass artists have been shortlisted for the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize, the most prestigious award in the applied and decorative arts. The #15,000 prize will be presented at a special award ceremony at the Crafts Council on 8th...

Plastmo MBO forms New Group.(Plastmo Ltd. )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Plastmo Ltd has been formed by the senior management of Plastmo Profiles Ltd, to acquire the entire share capital of Plastmo Profiles Ltd of Northampton and the Abbott Group of Hailsham, Sussex. The company is supported by the Bank of Scotland...

Thomas Sanderson acquired.(by Hunter Douglas Inc. which also acquires Haglund, Iberica,and Silga)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Hunter Douglas has acquired Thomas Sanderson Blinds, the Southampton based window covering assembler. Thomas Sanderson, a long standing Hunter Douglas customer, is specialised in marketing pleated blinds for conservatories, as well as...

Show time in China.(Fenestration China 2003; major European window associations take part in show)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... The International EuroWindoor Pavilion offers European window and door manufacturers the opportunity to present their products to the Chinese trade public for the first time from 20-23 November 2003. Together with EuroWindoor, the trade...

Second Polycarb line for Synseal.(Synseal Extrusions Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Synseal has recently invested in the installation of a new polycarbonate line, the company's second in less than a year. `We wanted our own polycarbonate lines to stay ahead of the extraordinary demand for our roofs,' explains Nick Dutton,...

Deceuninck Buys 75% of Seal Manufacturer Detajoint.(Deceuninck Plastics Industries N.V. acquires Detajoin)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Deceuninck, worldwide producer of PVCu window systems and building profiles, has bought a 75% interest in Detajoint, a company extruding top-quality seals. The deal is part of the integration strategy of the Deceuninck Group, which is aimed at...

Piper Invests.(Piper Double Glazing Ltd. expansion programme)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Long time Veka fabricator and family owned company Piper Double-Glazing Ltd of Kent has undertaken a major expansion programme. Its primary business is conducted with local authorities, housing associations and commercial organisations. In...

Obituary: Vince Irving.(Synseal Extrusions Ltd.'s Commercial Director )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... It is with great sadness that Synseal must announce the tragic loss of our Commercial Director, Mr Vince Irving, in a road accident. Vince has been a member of the Synseal Board for many years and was primarily responsible for the setting...

Nailing the Debate.(austenitic stainless steel )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... A recent market survey, commissioned by SFS intec, shows the extent to which austenitic stainless steel has won the hearts and minds of professional specifiers, reports Robin Szymura, specification manager of fastener company SFS intec. Of...

IMI's `Year of Progress'.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... IMI plc, parent company of Polypipe/Premier Profiles, has reported group sales in continuing businesses of #1463m (2001: #1419m) including #55m from acquisitions. In continuing businesses on a like for like basis, new products and market...

Boost for Network Veka Insurance.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Network Veka has unveiled two major developments in the administration of its insurance and guarantee infrastructure - its acceptance as a member of the General Insurance Standards Council and the launch of a new guarantee for non-PVCu...

Synseal drops Conservatory Prices.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... `How many conservatory suppliers do you know of, who have actually reduced prices for all their customers and not just as part of a special deal? None? Well that's about to change, because that's exactly what Synseal has done for the Shield...

Burnden goes Ultrasonic.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Bolton based manufacturing group, The Burnden Group plc has recently enhanced its tooling department with the purchase of an Ultrasonic cleaning system. The Group which is more widely associated as the manufacturer and distributor of the...

Ultraframe's interim's marred by Exchange rate.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Ultraframe has delivered a reasonable set of interim results for the six months to March 2003. Pre-tax profits increased 4% to #9.1m (2001/2: #8.8m) for the six months to March 28th 2003, on turnover down 2% at #63.4m. Much of the blame...

NICK'S IN THE CHAIR: SMOKE AND MIRRORS.(Nick Dutton)
June 24, 2003... SPECIAL OFFERS MAY COST YOU MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL PRICE Nick Dutton, Sales and Marketing Director of Synseal Extrusions Ltd looks at how suppliers can remove the costs to allow installers to make the profit they deserve without resorting...

EUROPEAN STANDARDS: EN1279: TESTING TIMES.(sealants)
June 24, 2003... In the previous EN1279 Fact File, Richard Sellman, marketing manager of Bostik Findley, worldwide manufacturer of sealants and adhesives, explored the key points outlined in Parts 1 and 6 of the standard, stressing the importance of a detailed...

Climate is right for sensor.(Vent Engineering vents)
June 24, 2003... Vent Engineering's vent has its own detachable rain sensor, making long- term replacement a straight-forward task. Rain sensors can be coupled to any of the actuators in the Vent Engineering range allowing total controllability in any given...

Bags of moisture absorbed.(Sud-Chemie Performance Packaging offers Container Dri II)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Container Dri II from Sud-Chemie Performance Packaging is a cost- effective method of preventing condensation from forming on glass surfaces by absorbing ambient moisture inside cargo containers during transportation. Container Dri II is...

Laird 3D adjustable hinges.(from Laird Group PLC)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Laird's Challenger range of butt hinges has been engineered with 3D adjustability. Designed for rebate, side fit and composite door applications, the design allows for lateral, height and compression adjustment while the door is closed. ...

Cladding advance is Swish.(Keralit Cladding System from Swish Building Products)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Swish Building Products has launched the external Keralit Cladding System. Keralit is a robust system of tongue and groove panels with concealed fixings, available in six metre lengths. It is mainly made from reprocessed plastic materials...

EUROPEAN GLASS GROUP: STAYING AHEAD OF THE PACK.
June 24, 2003... A major investment in Tamglass toughening and bending machinery, Schiatti edging and Brembana CNC machinery (from Peter Hawkins), has made European Glass one of the best equipped glass processing companies in Europe. On top of that, it has just...

INSULATED GLASS: SUPER SPACER TESTS THE METAL.
June 24, 2003... Edgetech's Super Spacer is gaining in popularity as many look for high performance alternatives to metal spacer bar, writes Dominic Bentham Thermal performance will probably be a `hot' topic for years to come, and many window components...

LAUREN INTERNATIONAL.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Edgetech I.G. is part of Lauren International, a highly impressive Group which specialises in technically diversified polymers and rubber extrusions. Lauren was founded in 1965 by Dale Foland, who is CEO and Chairman today. Foland had a...

Saint-Gobain Solaglas Joins Solutia Partnership.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Saint-Gobain Solaglas has joined the current Solutia UK partnership to produce laminated architectural glass with Vanceva Design, a new range of coloured, patterned and textured polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers specifically created for...

Fineline from Fendoransen.( curtain wall system )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... FineLine is the flexible curtain wall system developed by specialist glazing systems manufacturer, FendorHansen. FineLine has been developed to cater for the move away from big chunky steel framed solutions to eloquent functional lines. ...

Bohle invests in Art Glass.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Over the last five years, the UK has witnessed a phased introduction of new and exciting innovations from Bohle's impressive range of over 15,000 products. Now, based on experience in its international markets, the company believes the...

Glass Block Rennaissance.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... A nearly-forgotten construction element has made a dramatic comeback, regaining its place in the new language of forms in daylight architecture. Completed projects in Germany and abroad suggest that the glass block is back. The flexible...

Glassy touch at Reebok.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Optima Architectural Glass, part of the HLS Group, has completed work on Reebok's largest UK sports club, located on three floors of Canada Place in Canary Wharf. A variety of different glass types were used to achieve a visually stunning...

Pilkington Pyrodur Plus in Major Schools Project.(fire resistant glass)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Two new schools in Stoke-on-Trent have benefited from the installation of Pilkington Pyrodur Plus glass installed in internal fire doors and screens. Pilkington Pyrodur Plus has been used internally in both establishments for the timber...

Planar Scales new Heights.(Pilkington Planar glass )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... The new National Rock Climbing Centre for Scotland is under construction, with glazing systems from Pilkington Architectural playing a prominent role in the construction design. The centre is on the site of the huge Ratho Quarry on the...

SGG Vetroflam used in World's First Glass Tunnel.(fire resistant glass)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Vetrotech Saint-Gobain, the manufacturer of fire resisting glass, has completed a glass road tunnel in Munich, Germany - the first of its kind world-wide to use a point-fixing spider system. The developers chose SGG Vetroflam, a Class A...

Pilks Activ Specified in US Culture Project.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Pilkington Activ! and Pilkington low-e glasses have been specified for the construction of a major paleontological museum in upstate New York, USA that aims to tell the 4.5 billion year history of our planet. Scheduled to open in July 2003,...

Glaverbel Stopray for Santiago Building.(glass)
June 24, 2003... `Sanhattan' is the nickname for the new business district of Santiago, Chile. A new building at the heart of the district - Edifico Bosque Norte - is imposing even by the dynamic standards of Santiago. Curved curtain wall facades cloak 70,000m2...

Activ in Newbuild Project.(Pilkington Activ glass)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Principle Fire and Security Ltd has lent its design expertise to a major residential new build project in Crewe, Cheshire. Large-scale conservatories featuring Pilkington Activ! self-cleaning glass are a design highlight of Delves Keep, a...

Hansen develops Vandal Resistant Glazing.(Hansen Glass )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... A commercial office property in the centre of Edinburgh, near to the new Scottish Parliament building, has had more than 1500 square metres of ThermoCoolTM high performance, solar control curtain walling installed. This was part of a demanding...

Polycarbonate Ambience.(conservatory glass)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Brett Martin Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers of structured polycarbonate, maintains consumers do not, and cannot be expected, to know the differences between the various types and tints of conservatory plastic roof glazing, nor how their...

New bead saw is Scott's.(Scott stb)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Scott stb has recently launched a new automatic bead saw which through the simple use of a touch-screen can cut any angle from +35 to -35 degrees. The CNC controlled machine uses touch-screen technology to select angles required and makes...

Flood of visitors expected at Rivers open days.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Readers are invited to attend the forthcoming open days at Southampton based Rivers Machinery Ltd (Wednesday July 4th, Thursday July 5th & Friday July 6th). These days will be an opportunity to meet the Rivers team and see the full Kasto...

Elu meets welding needs.(Elumatec's VS704 )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Elumatec was the choice of Scunthorpe based Highseal Windows when increase in production meant an expansion in the company's machinery. Highseal's purchase of Elumatec's VS704 multi head welding machine and ES710 single head welder is only...

Transom cleaning with Elu.(Elumatec 4AS-TC )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Consistently high quality, and the ability to be flexible while also working within tight deadlines were amongs the reasons that, after considering the options, Portsmouth based fabricator Leading Windows chose the Elumatec 4AS-TC transom...

Phanto-tastic for ally.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... With the UK and Irish construction markets still buoyant, and curtain walling companies world-wide looking for a slice of the action, now is a good time for aluminium fenestration and fabrication companies to take a look at the range of...

Avanti's machining centre.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Partitioning manufacturer Avanti Systems has given its expansion plans a kick-start with its purchase of a machining centre manufactured by GTI-Kombimatec. Avanti offers an extensive range of partitioning and storage wall options for...

Kombi's Co-ex solution.(Bead Saw; measuring system)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... With bead milling still a time-consuming and awkward task for many window fabricators, GTI-Kombimatec has introduced a number of solutions that aim to cut down on bead preparation time while also producing more accurate end results. The...

Powerful new quad welder.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... GTI Kombimatec has introduced the powerful new 4HD Vertical Quad Welder (below), a quick, easy-load and auto-eject model designed to both speed up and simplify weld productivity. The compact machine provides can be configured to suit...

Stuga Flowline at Listers.(Lister Trade Frames)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Lister Trade Frames of Stoke on Trent has built a strong reputation for its window frames over the last 27 years. To further guarantee consistency of that quality Listers has recently invested in the latest machining centre from Stuga, at a...

Siemens controls Polycut.(polycarbonate cutting)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Siemens' drives and control technology is being used in the manufacture of a new range of polycarbonate precision cutting machines, called Polycut, recently developed by Clearview Engineering, a division of Clearview (Yorkshire) Limited. ...

`Y' this welder's so good.(Urban AKS 5905/10 )
June 24, 2003... The Urban AKS 5905/10 Twin Head 'Y' Welding Machine is claimed to be the most versatile two-head welder ever. This new machine - offered in the UK from Promac Window Machinery - employs sophisticated yet flexible knife cutting to provide all...

The Return of IT Centralisation in the Glass Industry.
June 24, 2003... Companies with geographically scattered depots can benefit more than ever from IT Centralisation. By Horst Mertes, Lisec Software North America In the 1970s and early 1980s centralised IT systems involved monolithic IT organisations built...

Heritage shows `Blue Sky' and Clear Thinking.(Heritage Sealed Units )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Heritage Sealed Units was recently formed by a group of investors who couldn't get the service they wanted from the larger sealed unit producers. They decided to go for quality rather than volume, and have invested about half a million pounds...

A+W launches Evolution to smaller glas processors.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... At Vitrum, Albat+Wirsam will be presenting its new, reasonably-priced Evolution product, which offers small companies with a limited IT budget a reliable and effective A+W solution. These products are made for small and medium-sized glass...

Alfak is solution for Therm.(Alfak 2000; Therm Tempered Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Therm Tempered Ltd, the South Wales based glass toughening and processing specialist has made a major investment in new software that will speed up order process, and allow much greater financial, logistical quality control. Called Alfak...

DORMA Launches Free Software Solution.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... DORMA UK's Glass customers can now access the company's in-house design and estimating expertise directly through the medium of a new software package: DORMA Glass Estimating Software or `DGES'. `DGES will help customers specify Dorma...

Modplan to the 1st Degree.(First Degree software)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Veka fabricator Modplan has installed a specialist software system from First Degree. The first phase of the new system has already created improved internal communications, which in turn means that processes from receipt of order, through...

RoofWright's Victorian goes West.(RoofWright Version 5 Light software)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... RoofWright's offer of free software to create Victorian conservatories in 3D has paid off with copies reaching as far as Canada's west coast. Hundreds of CDs have been sent out from the South Manchester headquarters of RPS while hundreds more...

Windowlink Pricing Power.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Windowlink's recently launched pricing module for its Windows-based Vector 3D presentation software for conservatories is already having a significant impact on the way conservatories are sold. At Heavers of Bridport for example, this powerful...

Small is Good in the Noughties, says BM.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Business Micros service more than 2000 manufacturers who produce anything from 50 windows a week to several thousand. 'The noughties are seeing a resurgence of the smaller fabricator,' says director Graeme Bailey. 'There are many people...

Internet Recycling Resource for Wood.(www.recyclewood.org.uk)
June 24, 2003... Producers of wood waste throughout the UK now have an important new resource literally at their fingertips - an interactive web-based map to help businesses and the general public to identify collection and recycling services in their area. ...

Internet Lead Provider.(Price Engines Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Price Engines Ltd is a nation-wide company which generates quality window and conservatory business for companies across the UK using the Internet based WindowQuoter service to secure genuine appointments with buyers. WindowQuoter provides...

VITRUM PREVIEW: RECORD BREAKING VITRUM.(Vitrum 2003 )
June 24, 2003... ITALIAN GLASS SHOW ORGANISERS POISED FOR A RECORD SHOW Vitrum has moved to an earlier date, June 25-28, for its 13th edition. The record number of exhibitors tells us it's not too soon after Glasstec for another international glass show ...

VITRUM PREVIEW: Vertical arriser launched.(For.El)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... The new automatic vertical arriser from For.El (Hall 14, Stand C1-C19- E04) will be launched at Vitrum and made available to the UK by Promac. What sets this machine apart from other arrising machines is its ability to produce shapes, and...

VITRUM PREVIEW: Affiliated companies.(Tamglass; Z Bavelloni; Kyro Group)(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Tamglass, the market leader in safety glass machines, and Z Bavelloni, a leading manufacturer of processing machinery and tools, are now affiliated companies and belong to the Finnish Kyro Group's glass and technologies division, named Glaston...

VITRUM PREVIEW: New products and brands.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Lisec Austria will present many new products from its large stand (L12 in Hall 15). The insulating glass assembling line on display features a fully automatic gas filling press. The gas, or gas mixtures, are filled into the cavity of the...

VITRUM PREVIEW: Glassrobots develops new machine.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Glassrobots of Finland (Hall 16, D16) has recently developed an innovative horizontal flat tempering machine using multi-convection heating. This new `RoboTemp' system was developed specifically for the coated glass market and it provides the...

VITRUM PREVIEW: Edgetech features new machine.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Edgetech (Hall 16, Stand A36-B46) will feature the Lisec TSS Superspeed automatic, vertical line, for the production of sealed units using Super Spacer. Super Spacer is a totally non-metal spacer material. In hot countries, its thermal...

Lisec takes over UK branch.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Leading glass machinery manufacturer Lisec has recently acquired Lisec UK & Ireland Ltd. The acquisition follows the company policy of agency acquisitions which has taken place worldwide. The USA, China, Middle East, Russia, Italy, France,...

GGR blasts off with Fratelli Pezza agency.(GGR Glass Services )
June 24, 2003... GGR Glass Services has been appointed as sole UK and Ireland agent for Fratelli Pezza, the Italian glass machinery manufacturer. GGR is lined up to supply Fratelli Pezza's innovative range of manual and automatic sandblasting units. The...

New Bystronic corporate ID.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Bystronic Lenhardt UK Ltd has changed corporate identity to become Bystronic Glass UK. This development comes at a time of growth and expansion for the firm which is based in Telford. The Bystronic group has already made an impact on the...

Free light box from UAP.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... UAP has recently developed and launched a free light box which it is giving away when customers purchase its Safe2Bond bevel bonding adhesive. Sales Manager, John Cross explains, `Many customers struggle using the old hand held units which...

Bohle machinery sales.
June 24, 2003... Bohle's UK operation continues to develop, and its dedicated glass processing machinery division has witnessed a substantial year on year increase in sales since its launch at Glassex 2000. With well over 100 machines now installed in the UK...

Simec's range of possibilities.
June 24, 2003... Thermoseal is now the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Simec, which has a complete range of IG production machinery In an agreement announced at the end of 2002, the Thermoseal Group is now the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor...

21 Efco retro-fits for low-E toughening.(Efco Furnaces Limited )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2003... Efco Furnaces Limited has recently supplied a complete new glass tempering system and upgraded three existing systems for customers. Toughening low-E glass presents problems because of its heat reflecting properties. All existing...

A happy 20th for Ashton.(Ashton Industrial)
June 24, 2003... British design and manufacturing is alive and well and living in Essex. And celebrating it's 20th birthday to boot! Two decades of Ashton Industrial have birthed some great innovations in flat glass processing, and their design team is still...