eBuilders joins quotatis, europe’s biggest lead generator
eBuilders Ltd, publisher of leading home improvement advice web sites including ConservatoriesOnline.com, almostimpartialguide.co.uk and many others, has become part of Quotatis, the market leader and most successful sales lead generator for home improvement and maintenance, financial and business services in Europe.

Quotatis which was launched in 1999, operates in France, Germany, Spain and, since 2006 the UK. With sales of €8 million and more than 10,000 tradesmen and companies of all sizes registered to provide a huge range of services, it is the clear market leader in Europe in the provision of web-based quotation and lead generation systems. Quotatis works with key trade and professional organisations in each of the markets in which it operates. eBuilders, which was also founded in 1999, is the leading publisher of consumer advice web sites for the UK home improvement sector and is regarded as a natural fit with Quotatis.

Peter Jervis, previously managing director of eBuilders, assumes the role of managing director of Quotatis UK Ltd. Peter believes that web-based lead generation will become the predominant marketing tool for companies of all sizes and the eBuilders merger with Quotatis will add considerable power to its UK operations: “The numbers of leads passed on by our combined operations in the UK alone already exceed 1,000 daily. The increased skills and depth of our organisation will allow us to offer tradespeople and companies of all sizes even greater value through increasingly well qualified leads, from consumers and business people that recognise the integrity and effectiveness of our sites.”

The acquisition of eBuilders by Quotatis is part of a sustained expansion by the French-based group, which is headed by chief executive officer Frans van Steenbrugge: “We are delighted to be able not only to add the eBuilders portfolio to Quotatis but in doing so, to include Peter Jervis and his colleagues to our team,” said Mr van Steenbrugge. “The UK is a very important part of our growth strategy, which in the future will progressively include other key European areas in addition to looking further afield as part of our vision to make Quotatis the largest lead producing machine in the world.”

Elumatec machinery increases capacity at Parry Bowen
Maintaining a reputation as the UK’s leading building facade fabricator requires dedication, accuracy and the highest standard of manufacturing, so it is no wonder that Parry Bowen has turned to Elumatec machinery to cope with increasing demand.

Staffordshire-based Parry Bowen has been fabricating aluminium curtain walling, doors and windows for nearly 30 years and was one of the many companies to attend Elumatec’s recent and hugely successful three-day in-house exhibition. The event proved enormously beneficial, with Parry Bowen able to see firsthand the production capacities of the Elumatec range of profiling machines and to match bespoke fabrication requirements with the most appropriate solution, in this case the SBZ150 CNC Machining centre.

Colin Haywood, Operations Director at Parry Bowen said: “Attending the in-house exhibition enabled us to assess the capacity and capabilities of Elumatec’s range of profiling machines in situ. The level of customer care was second to none. We were shown exactly how the machine would integrate into our business and witnessed time trial tests specific to our current turn around process…seeing how our efficiencies could be stepped up and the results spoke for themselves. We were able to make a fully informed decision about the right machine to meet our company’s future needs and chose to order the SBZ150 there and then.”

The deal - the first between the two companies - was signed in February and the installation was completed by Easter 2008. Colin goes on to say: “Parry Bowen is a constantly evolving company and we had exceeded our manufacturing capacity. Choosing the right machine to keep up with demand was crucial, but after seeing how well the machine performed, we recognised just how Elumatec and its SBZ150 could benefit our business. If they could increase capacity at a speed that suited our operations in a demonstration, then there was no telling what it could do when fully installed, particularly on the unitised front. In conjunction with our existing machinery the SBZ150 is doing exactly what we need and much more.” 

With a positive future ahead within all departments from commercial to retail and residential, Parry Bowen has to have the capacity to deal with increasing demand for the most sophisticated technical aluminium components. Parry Bowen’s unitised division has built up an enviable reputation that puts it in direct competition with its European counterparts. With a 50/50 split between unitised facades and conventional curtain walling, windows and door products, Parry Bowen is already reaping the benefits of the Elumatec machine, which is ably supporting fabrication of unitised systems and bespoke extrusions, a division which has emerged seriously in the past four years.

Elumatec’s managing director, Phil Heavey said: “We are completely confident that Parry Bowen had chosen the most appropriate machine for both their current and future needs, but moreover that we can give them the ultimate customer service that they require to ensure that they fully understand the complete functionality of the machine and supporting software hands down. We pride ourselves on being able to help sustain companies and watch their operations grow, and function as a partnership throughout the term of the contract, rather than just selling a machine and leaving it there. We know our customers implicitly well and govern our practices in order to cater for their individual and bespoke needs…this means that they not only get the perfect machine for them, but an unrivalled support package that is completely tailored.”

So impressed with Elumatec’s approach to business and the operation of the SBZ150, Parry Bowen has now taken delivery of an Elumatec DG142 double headed saw which will substantially increase the capacity of the existing saw line. Elumatec’s dedicated team of software application engineers ensured that Parry Bowen’s existing software, Unilink, was made compatible to bond with the DG142 and the SBZ150 to deliver paperless production by optimising the data transfer from machine to machine via bar code labels. This was to ensure the company could immediately start stepping up its operations, making the fabrication process quicker and easier, avoiding error prone manual inputting between operational tasks.

“We believe the Elumatec SBZ150 machine offers us the fastest and most accurate profiling facility currently available within the industry. It has unequivocally helped us to maintain our well earned reputation as the country’s leading aluminium facade fabricator!” concludes Colin. 

‘Ultimate’ accolade for Everwhite
Gloucestershire-based roofline stockist Ultimate Building Plastics is now using Everwhite as its sole roofline supplier, because of its product range, quality and customer service. Mr Steve Farrell, Owner, has been using Everwhite for six years and says: “Everwhite has had to face some difficulties, but has bounced back and is now on its way up in a challenging market.”

Ultimate, an independent branch, stocks the complete Everwhite range. Steve continues: “Everwhite is doing all the right things, and listening to its customers. There is a strong sense of partnership and equality. I think Everwhite is one of the top roofline manufacturers because it offers an all-round service, not just products. We get very positive feedback from our customers and they keep coming back, so they must be very satisfied in terms of quality and price.”

Tel: 01685 882 447

Exciting new range of bevels from NWL
The latest Decra Bevel Collection brochure from North Western Lead Co (Hyde) Ltd features some exciting and intricate bevel designs for doors and fanlights. The already impressive range of door bevels now includes no less than 22 new door bevel designs. Taking their inspiration from age old Celtic designs, the new bevels use bold curves to stunning effect. Some of the more complex designs come in nearly 30 separate pieces of glass to create striking three dimensional prisms of light, which will grace any home.

NWL’s enhanced range of fanlights, which bring a touch of individuality to any window or conservatory, includes 14 new designs. Many of the fanlights feature a delicate floral theme, others a contemporary art deco inspired style, which will suit virtually any taste.

For the more understated home, NWL’s oval bevel collection is striking in its simplicity. The ovals, which are eight piece bevel clusters in four sizes, may be used as a frame for a design within the oval. For no-fuss fans, the brand new classic styled oval bevel design, which is supplied in just one piece, is ideal.

The collection also includes bevel designs, which combine a simple shape with a Brilliant Cut star. The majority of the star designs are ground, however, some are polished.

NWL’s 36 page brochure - entitled the Decra Bevel Collection, Edition 3 - features one of the widest collections of bevels available. Each and every design in the range, which was first launched more than a decade ago, is made to exacting standards so it will look as beautiful today as it will in years to come as it does today. Designed to make the whole process of finding and ordering bevels as easy as possible, the brochure also features NWL’s “easy bevel finder” which includes a unique bevel design reference and page number.

From the traditional to the contemporary, the collection retains NWL’s characteristic thin edged bevels, which make applying the design really simple.  NWL also supplies the entire range of products - from the lead, film, and bevels to adhesives and applicators - to create stunning finished panels.

Tel: 0161 368 4491  

Rockdoor sales up 20% year on year
Sales of Rockdoor’s leading composite door have increased 20% year on year from May 2007 to May 2008 due to growing domestic demand. Rockdoor’s Sales Director Mark Simm says: “Homeowners want a door which makes a statement, looks good, offers high security and is low maintenance. Rockdoor achieves this in spades and has police-backed Secured By Design so homeowners know their home is safe.”

“The market for composite doors is one of the fast growth areas in our industry,” Mark continues. “With so many composite doors now available installers need a product to make them truly stand out from the crowd. Rockdoor is the only fully engineered PVC-U composite door on the market – a great differentiator when considering most of the market has been flooded with GRP composite doors. If installers are going to enter the composite door market, they need to make sure they walk through the right door. Rockdoor.

Tel: 01254 662999

Advanced moves to grow with Spectus
Advanced Windows and Conservatories, based in Glasgow, made the biggest move in the company’s history in March, changing window supplier to Spectus and conservatory roof supplier to Ultraframe. As Scotland’s largest fabricator, making over 1,000 frames and 2,000 sealed units a week, the changeover process needed to be smooth and could not disrupt the day-to-day running of the company.

“Although the thought of such a massive change can be unnerving, our figures have improved since the switch,” comments Mark Watson, Owner of Advanced. “Turnover in 2007 was £6.4 million and 2008 is on target to be £8.5 million. The market in Scotland is very buoyant and we take full advantage of this with regular adverts in the Scottish national newspapers. Spectus held us by the hand and guided us through. It’s a company that gets things done. Spectus responded to any query we had with speed and efficiency – fantastic! They have even designed us a brand new sales brochure.”

So what made Advanced consider making such a dramatic change in the first place?
“We needed a product that was proven to perform well in horrendous weather. The conditions in Scotland get worse every year with heavy rain and wind gusting up to 90mph, and many products won’t stand up to the volatile weather. Spectus’ Elite 70 has a proven track record in all sorts of weather - the five chambers improve thermal performance and profile rigidity and the co extruded bubble gaskets provide an excellent seal. It is vastly superior, but also competitively priced.

“The Spectus system has also been tried and tested in countries such as Poland, where the temperature can drop to as low as -40°C, and to the opposite extreme in India. Ultraframe has been tested in North American hurricane states. Sometimes the Scottish weather doesn’t seem so bad after all!”

Tel: 01625 420400

Steel windows for the “steel city”
New W40 steel windows have been installed into the new Community Resources Centre attached to Sheffield Cathedral the Church of St Peter and St Paul. With a fine history, the Grade II listed building is Sheffield’s oldest, dating back to Medieval times. Opened by HRH the Princess Royal, the Centre designed by Architect Trevor Vass of Birmingham-based practice Apec Designs has an innovative, contemporary style complementing the ancient cathedral perfectly.

Steel Window Association member Clement Steel Windows made and installed the 95 No. W40 windows plus 3 No. large raked head screens and 5 No. composite units.  Glazed with 24mm glass the steel was powder coated in an Anthracite Grey and operated with a multi point locking system for high security.

Peter Clement MD at the family owned company said “attaching a modern Community Centre to the Cathedral was quite controversial, but now the project is complete the Dean and his committee’s brave decision has been vindicated… it really is a marvellous creation. “The steel windows with their slim lines look very elegant and are much admired by all who see them.”

Tel:  020 7637 3571   

1st Saxon shapes up for Twynham Housing Association
System 10 fabricator 1st Saxon has proved that windows don’t have to be square, after completing a challenging installation of more than 60 unusual shaped frames in a development of 50 homes, owned by Twynham Housing Association in Christchurch.

The original timber windows were replaced with round, arched and quarter light PVC-U frames, as part of general refurbishment works being carried out by the Dorset-based housing association. Twynham added the architecturally striking development to its social housing portfolio, after purchasing the properties, which formed part of the Stock Transfer in 1991.

Says David Cloutman, Operations Director for 1st Saxon: “The development’s architect designed the windows to be a distinctive feature and although we’ve manufactured shaped windows before, we haven’t done so in such large quantities.

“We worked with a specialist company called Pro-form to produce the curved and arched profiles, and were delighted to complete such an interesting project, as part of our 4 year contract with Twynham.”

Over 100 windows were installed in the 32 flats and 18 houses, during a 3-month period.

Andrew Keir of WHS Halo System 10 adds: “This project not only demonstrates the versatility of PVC-U as a window material but also shows how flexible our fabricators are, when it comes to meeting clients’ needs.”

Part of 1st Saxon Property Services based in Hampshire, the windows and doors division was established in 1989 and supplies PVC-U windows and composite doors to local authorities and housing associations across the south of England.

For further information on 1st Saxon, please telephone 01329 284936 or WHS Halo on 0121 749 3000