9
PRO INSTALLER APRIL 2014
PRO NEWS
@proinstaller1
Phoenix Door Panels’
Continental doors boost
retail installers
Stylish contemporary-themed
composite doors from Phoenix
Door Panels - part of Masco UK
Window Group - are giving a
real boost to retail installers.
Inspired by sophisticated European trends,
the modern door styles,
aperture shapes and
hardware designs of
the Continental Collection of GRP composite
doors have struck a
chord with homeowners seeking that added
dash of individuality.
‘customers love
the fact that we
can supply such
a wide range’
Further options include elegant D-shaped and longer
arched chrome door handles, with the Winkhaus AV2
Rim-latch lock supplying a
convenient, quick and discreet locking mechanism.
“Customers who have
displayed a selection of our
new range in their showrooms are reporting positive
feedback from consumers
impressed by a new take on
the more traditional-looking
front entrance door,” reports
Haydon Statham, Phoenix
National Sales Manager.
“We have noticed uplift in
orders since introducing the
range last year and customers love the fact that we can
supply such a wide range
of door styles, plus glazing
designs that can really personalise the product.”
Tel: 01487 740469, www.
phoenixdoorpanels.co.uk
TO FABRICATE OR NOT TO
FABRICATE – THINK ABOUT
IT, SAYS GLAZERITE
Wirral-based
Hardmans
Double Glazing
Limited had been
manufacturing
VEKA for almost
as long as VEKA
has been in the
UK and, according to Director
Mark Harman,
will probably
always use the
system.
But now, like a
growing number of
similar companies
around the UK,
the company buys
in from Glazerite
Windows and Mark
says their only
regret is not doing it
sooner:
“When the recession hit, it became
much harder to
‘their only
regret is
not doing
it sooner’
justify making our
own windows. We
didn’t really want
to stop because we
knew we made a
good window. Now
we are not only
very happy with the
quality of Glazerite’s
windows but we
also have a great
support package
and additional
guarantees on such
things as units and
locks, not to mention the Kitemark,
Secured by Design
and CE Marking on
everything, ensuring we meet all of
the new legislation
now required to
install windows and
doors.
“Jason Thompson,
Glazerite Director,
says they are happy
to talk to any other
company:
“We can help companies to make an
informed decision
and support them
afterwards.”
NEWCOMER
JEFF WILL
DELIVER THE
GOODS AT
SYNSEAL
Jeff Newton has joined
Synseal Extrusions Ltd
in a newly-created role
of Head of Logistics,
with full responsibility
at Operations Board
level to manage warehousing and transport
operations for Synseal,
K2 and Global Glass.
Well known in the window
industry, Jeff is an accomplished logistics expert who
is already busy implementing many practical improvements to raise service levels
and increase efficiency, for
the benefit of both Synseal
and its fabricator partners.
“I’m here to further enhance Synseal’s commitment
to ensuring operational
effectiveness and to drive
efficiencies within its logistics functions”, says Jeff. “I’m
excited to be joining Synseal with its dynamic and
committed team of people,
renewing a very successful
working relationship with
Synseal’s Chief Executive
David Leng,” continues Jeff.
“The service levels at Synseal are already high, but
in this game there’s always
room for improvement. To
that end, I’m keen to benchmark KPIs and measure our
logistics performance from
every critical angle – that
way, we can prove to both
our own Synseal Logistics
team and our customers
that we are improving and
setting industry-leading
delivery standards.”
Van users to be
hit by unrest
in Ukraine
The continuing unrest in the Crimea
soon led to warnings of higher fuel
prices. “Firms should not be surprised when pump prices rise,” said
Steve Clarke, marketing manager for
The Fuel Card Group, “because oil is
such a sensitive, volatile market.
We saw price hikes of varying duration
following the invasion of Kuwait, when
Hurricane Ike hit Texas and after Chavez
died in Venezuela. Anything upsetting the
status quo in an oil-producing region, even
a simple currency fluctuation, will impact
prices.”
But Steve advised van users not to panic.
“Fuel prices occasionally fall for a while, but
the historical trend is always upwards. The
only sensible action is to ensure that you
are always paying as little as possible for
fuel in the first place.”
Following a brief period of lower forecourt
prices at the beginning of 2014, they were
already rising again before Russian troops
were seen on Ukraine streets. Steve added: “Nobody running commercial vehicles
should ever be paying anywhere near pump
prices, when having the right fuel card
would mean a saving of up to 4p per litre.”