Clearview National April 2017 - Issue 185 | Page 33

INDUSTRYNEWS
Official charity partner announced
» » CRASH, THE CONSTRUCTION
industry’s charity, has been announced as
Materials 2017’s official charity partner for the
event. CRASH is a unique, practical charity
that assists homeless and hospice charities with
construction related projects.
Good architecture is highly significant to
the way that we think, feel, and behave. This
is particularly true for those who are homeless
or terminally-ill as well as those who work
with them. CRASH contributes by facilitating
certain processes around the construction
of such buildings by sourcing free of charge
professional expertise, building materials, and
the technical knowledge to use them, as well as
awarding cash grants to relevant causes.
Materials 2017 event director, David
Schindler, said: “In the UK, rates of
homelessness are rising with an estimated
185,000 individuals currently without stable
accommodation. In addition to this there are
200,000 people who rely on hospice support
per annum. Such figures demonstrate a
burning need for suitable buildings and this
‘200,000 people who rely on
hospice support per annum’
is why Materials 2017 has decided to partner
with CRASH - an organisation that helps to
facilitate and deliver building and architectural
services to such worthy causes. It is imperative
to raise the profile of organisations that carry
out such valuable work, and this is what we
hope to achieve through our partnership.”
Among CRASH’s patron companies are
Aecom and Forterra, who will also be present
at Materials 2017 as speakers in the event’s
conference.
Materials 2017 is the new conference and
exhibition coming to London in April. This
highly focused event will provide just the
right climate for those involved in new-builds,
refurbishments, and renovations to find out
more about the companies who are pushing
the boundaries of possibility when it comes to
material specification.
Incorporating conference talks, exhibition
hall, CPD seminars and many more
networking opportunities, Materials 2017 is a
must-visit event for all industry professionals,
enabling them to meet face-to-face,
engage in social conversation, and expand
business relationships with top materials
manufacturers.
Held at the ILEC Centre, London on the
25 and 26 April 2017, Materials 2017 gathers
leading construction professionals into one
central venue, easily accessible via car or public
transport. What’s more is that Materials 2017
is completely free to attend for delegates and
competitive prices are available for sponsor
and exhibitor packages.
STRONG SALES DRIVE FACTORY EXPANSION
» » APEER HAS ANNOUNCED
completion of a major expansion programme
at the company’s six-acre site in Ballymena,
Northern Ireland. It includes showroom,
training and production facilities in response
to significant expansion across each of the
company’s product ranges. The work has been
completed after 12 months and an investment
of almost half a million pounds.
An extension to the main factory of almost
10,000 feet² (930 metres²) has expanded
the Lumi production area to deal with the
expanding sales of this award-winning window
and door system. Since the trade launch of
Lumi, the company’s range of customisable,
matching frameless windows, bi-folds and
doors with edge-to-edge glazing, at the 2016
FIT Show, sales are forecast in the current
year of £2.6 million with ambitious growth
predicted ahead.
A showroom and dedicated training facility
have also been completed for the purpose of
inducting new customers and their staff. This
impressive area includes a Lumi ‘house’ that
allows the installation of Lumi windows and
doors at ground and
first floor levels, with a
showroom set with typical
interior scenes installed with
Lumi windows and doors.
Apeer Doors sales, in the meantime, have
been growing exponentially and consistently
over a number of years, with a forecast 35%
increase in the current year alone being the key
factor behind an expansion of the production
facilities for the company’s composite doors.
A number of new products will be launched
at the FIT Show in May, to further stimulate
sales.
The existing production area has been grown
by 9,000 feet² (836 metres²) with an increase
in both equipment and jobs, with Apeer
continuing as one of the leading employers in
the area. It is believed that this expansion now
qualifies Apeer as the largest producer of British
manufactured composite residential doors,
including the production of its own slabs.
The extension brings the Apeer factory
to 140,000 feet2 (13,000 metres2), with
plans to build a further 80,000 feet2
factory and showroom within the next
two years, in line with further anticipated
growth of the Lumi line.
Apeer Managing Director, Asa McGillian,
says, “This year, with a total of 14 trade but
mostly consumer shows, we will be driving
sales even harder and we need to be prepared
for that.”
www.apeer.co.uk
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