Customade Group (Customade) is delighted to announce the appointment of David Leng as Group Chief Executive. David’s appointment is effective as of 1 February, succeeding John Lightowlers who continues with the firm in a non-executive capacity.

David is highly experienced within the windows and doors industry, with a proven track record of growing multi-site manufacturing and distribution companies.

As we get back into the new business year, it’s time to get out our crystal balls. Economists have already made their predictions which have come with a handful of health warnings. Perhaps most worryingly, Britain is set to have the worst wage growth of any wealthy nation next year, ranking behind Italy, Greece and Hungary at the bottom of 32 OECD countries as real earnings lag behind inflation. Representing the biggest squeeze on living standards in generations, it’s no surprise that many households are pessimistic about their finances..

Epwin takes training and development seriously, a commitment that is reflected in the company being awarded the Training & Development Initiative of the Year at the G 17 Awards. Katie Leese, Programme Manager for Excellence as Standard at Epwin, said: “We are proud to have won this award, not least because it’s an endorsement of our people development ethos.”

Another reflection of Epwin’s commitment is the central role training and development plays in the company’s membership programme, Excellence as Standard,

Virtuoso Doors claims it is set to take door manufacturing to a new level in 2018 and awaken the homeowner to the unique beauty of an individually designed and crafted Virtuoso door. Following a recent investment in additional cutting edge machinery and a radical re-launch to underline the crafted precision that goes into manufacturing every Virtuoso door, the team of expert craftsmen at Virtuoso will be bringing more Virtuoso doors to life.

CMS Window Systems has shared its business experience and insights at the highest level after being invited to a special SME Parliamentary Reception in London organised by BEIS, the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

The Glasgow-based company, which is a UK-leading window, door and curtain walling designer, manufacturer and installer, was represented at the exclusive event at Portcullis House by its Chief Operating Officer, David Ritchie.

Choosing and using Mighton products has been made easier than ever with two new, product-dedicated catalogues with extended ranges and quick-navigation format.

For 2018 the company has launched separate catalogues for its core ranges, making each more focussed on each customer’s needs, as well as adding new product ranges and much more technical and how-to information.

The power property programmes hold over the UK consumer is astonishing and the knock-on effect on our industry is something that colour spray experts Kolorseal Ltd are used to keeping up with when it comes to windows, doors and roofline.

Deborah Hendry, MD of Kolorseal explains: “There are an increasing number of programmes ‘educating’ consumers in how to make their home improvements – to make their houses look better, more welcoming, more on trend,

Bury-based Lancashire Trade Frames are committed to building the highly skilled workforce today’s glazing industry needs. With an ever-increasing product range, training is always underway. A recent example is the company’s Anthony Loder, who has just completed a course in the fabrication of the Smart Aluminium Visoglide Plus patio door.

Aluminium became part of the Lancashire Trade Frames Trade offering in 2014, and interest in the company’s bifolding doors has grown markedly.

Ambitious Isle of Wight fabricator GTI Glazing Systems has become the latest fabricator to switch to profiles and products from Eurocell – manufacturer, distributor and recycler of window, door, conservatory and roofline products.

Director Neil Johnson cites quality of service, competitive pricing and innovation as the three main reasons for changing suppliers. “Service is important and we felt we weren’t receiving the support and attention that we should have, and Eurocell delivers that as well as providing well-designed, well-engineered products at a good price”, he says.

A new industry-wide business conference will be held in May, aimed at tackling the big issues facing the glass and glazing industry.

The Glazing Summit will take place near Birmingham on May 22nd, and hundreds of industry leaders are expected to attend. Keynote speakers will debate the changing landscape of the industry, the impact of new products and technologies, the implications of Brexit and why some of the established ‘big players’ could disappear.

Designers and architects will be targeted at Ecobuild 2018 by foam tape producer ISO-CHEMIE with its display of high performance airtightness and sealing solutions (stand E30).

Products that will feature will include ISO-TOP WINFRAMER and BLOCO ONE, which provide high performance airtightness and thermal insulation of joints, alongside the ISO-FLAME fire rated range.

K2 Aluminium Systems, an installer of the Glazerite UK Group recently completed a redevelopment project in Halifax for Leeds Beckett University Business Centre.

The project consisted of 125 windows as part of the larger multi-million pound transformation programme on the old weaving mill located on Horton Street in Halifax.

Synseal Group was voted PVC Company 2017 in the National Fenestration Awards in December, topping off a year that also saw them win an innovative technology award for the WarmCore aluminium system, and Glass Company of the Year at the G17 Awards.

Winning more than 30% of the vote in a competitive PVC-U category, the multi-product supplier claims the win is down to continual investment in their PVC-U manufacturing with two major projects conducted in 2017:

One of the UK’s independent hardware distributors, Window Ware will be bringing over 30 years of experience, specialist knowledge and first-class service to Germany for Fensterbau 2018.

The Bedfordshire firm will be joining other British brands from across the industry in exhibiting in the UK Pavilion – hosted by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF).

Meeting Societal Needs is the theme for the sixth VinylPlus Sustainability Forum, which will examine how the PVC industry can contribute sustainable solutions for an ever-expanding global population when representatives from the entire value chain meet in Madrid, Spain on May 16th and 17th 2018.

Organised by VinylPlus®, the Voluntary Commitment to sustainable development by the European PVC industry, the 2018 Forum will explore the sector’s role in fulfilling people’s essential needs in many areas such as infrastructure,

They’ve long been known as the industry’s foremost purveyors of the quintessentially English sash window, but 2018 will mark the first time Buckinghamshire-based Roseview have taken their award-winning offerings to Europe.

In March, the fast-growing firm will make its debut appearance at Fensterbau, one of the world’s biggest glass and glazing trade shows, in Nuremberg, Germany. Joining some of the biggest names in British fenestration,

With the average lifespan of men living in Barnsley at 4.3% lower than women, and 1.2% lower compared to other men living across the UK, Barnsley FC Community Group, supported by GQA Qualifications are appealing to businesses to sponsor its FIT Reds initiative.

The scheme targets men aged 35-years plus to attend a 9-week programme and adopt a better understanding of health and fitness issues, helping them improve their life expectancy.