Two-thirds of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms are struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters as construction skills shortages hit a ‘record high’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Key results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey, which is the only quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, include:

Bringing together more than eight decades of technical industry experience, fire door & window partition systems specialists Aluprof and fire glass experts Pyroguard, have completed an ambitious testing programme for a new, cost-efficient, non-insulated, slimline fire-resistant glazing system for the UK and European market.

Following two years of collaboration, the new MB-45EW framing system has been developed and rigorously tested for applications

When fitting replacement windows, each job is different and presents installers with unique challenges to overcome. This was certainly true of a series of PVC-U window installations in Jersey, where experienced installer Alan Gicquel needed to swap his van for a boat in order to replace the timber framed windows for three remote island properties.

Les Ecrehous is a small archipelago of islets located six miles off the north east coast of Jersey, and just eight miles from mainland France.

Fire safety is finally getting the attention it deserves. The tragedy is that it took a catastrophe on the scale of Grenfell Tower to make that happen.

We’re now faced with a once-in-a-generation chance to drastically improve fire safety standards throughout construction – and in glass and glazing,

Promat UK, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of fire-resistant glazing, plus thermal and acoustic insulation, has become one of the first companies of its kind to successfully move up to the latest ‘2015’ editions of the globally recognised ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management system standards.

Bohle has continued its investment programme with the acquisition of high-profile US shower and bath accessories manufacturer, Portals Hardware.

Set up in 2001 and operating from Kansas City, Missouri, the acquisition of Portals Hardware, significantly extends Bohle’s reach in the United States.

Solid roof innovator, LEKA Systems, has just reported a doubling of order volume in 2017. Rhys Hoddinott, Director of LEKA, says: “The solid roof market is booming and we’ve got (what our customers tell us) are the best-in-class products in the sector as our 2017 sales growth shows.”

Products that meet the highest standards and comply with the latest regulations are vital. It’s something that Universal Trade Frames take very seriously. Duncan Saunders, Universal’s General Manager, said: “Our customers depend on the quality and compliance of our products and we don’t let them down. It’s why every single combination of all products in our portfolio has undergone extensive testing at Wintech Testing & Certification.”

Designing and installing a VS-1 system with the sufficient structural strength capable of withstanding a significant wave load enabled GLASSOLUTIONS to secure a significant contract as part of the £80.11 million construction of the new V&A Museum of Design Dundee.

Anthony Bill has been promoted to a new technical role at composite door manufacturer Phoenix Doors, part of the Masco UK Window Group.

As Technical Liaison Team Leader, Anthony’s role involves new product development and providing technical support for both the business and its customers.

316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel door and window hardware specialist bluTM has launched a new range of showroom display boards to help its customers upsell and increase the value of their door and window sales.

The new boards – which contain a range of the company’s stylish, high performance door and window hardware – provide manufacturers,

With four supply partners showcasing the latest innovations in PVC-U, aluminium and glass technologies, Promac Group’s presence, will be among the very largest at this year’s Fensterbau , 21 – 24 March Nuremberg, Germany.

This includes significant innovations in PVC-U welding technologies from Graf and Urban.

System Building Products, a new business brand that specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of internal and external solutions to the construction industry, has been created to embrace the resurgence in demand for complete and integrated building systems.

“Cost effective functionality combined with high performance, safety and aesthetics are all determined by the integration of components into a properly designed system,” said John Cowley, Chief Executive of the newly founded operation.

The Glass and Glazing Federation says Regalead and Jackloc have signed up to join the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2018.
Regalead has been supplying bevels throughout the world for 20 years and continue to refine and expand their range each year to provide customers with the optimum product selection and the highest quality, The company is currently Europe’s market leaders in the design and development of bevels for glass overlay.

Scottish window, door and curtain walling designer, manufacturer and installer, CMS Window Systems, has completed a major fenestration contract as part of a project to create a new state-of-the-art primary school in the Scottish Borders that has brought new life to an unused B-listed former high school.

At the end of November, Lancashire Trade Frames were delighted to be named Manufacturing & Engineering Business of the Year at the FSB event hosted at The Hilton on Manchester’s Deansgate.

One of the criteria the judges were evaluating was a commitment to development and training of people. Lancs Trade is very much a local