14
DECEMBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER
PRO NEWS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
Rapid Growths
In Skyroom sees
Investment from
Installers
Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions
has announced a successful
first year since the launch of
its Skyroom contemporary
mock orangery.
New senior director
will help ‘next
phase of growth’
Polyframe has appointed Ian Macdougal
as its new group managing director.
Ian, who has been involved
in both high volume manufacture and bespoke fabricating businesses, has now
taken over the role with the
business – one of the UK’s
largest independent window
and door fabricator.
Ian has senior management experience having worked for Marshalls PLC, a multi site operation,
in various strategic positions.
Owner and Chairman of the
Polyframe Group of companies,
Martyn Buckley said: “Polyframe
is continually looking at ways to
grow and the skills that Ian brings
to the business will be instrumental in our business plans as we
move forward into the next phase
of growth.”
Ian said Polyframe had an outstanding track record and had enjoyed solid growth over the years
with a strong focus on working
with trade centres and installers
and adding value through its
service.
He will work closely with incumbent Group MD, Chris Watson,
who retires early in 2016.
The company says Skyroom sales
have been growing rapidly as
the market becomes increasingly
aware of its high profit margins
- and production has more than
doubled in the last six months.
This year, more than 20 installers
invested in a Skyroom demonstration model for their showrooms
and have all generated business as
a result.
Gareth Thomas, Sales and Marketing Director at Atlas Glazed
Roof Solutions, said: “The secret
to the Skyroom’s realistic orangery
appearance is its dummy ringbeam
system, which creates the appearance internally of a real orangery.
“Customers like the 300mm deep
contemporary aluminium cornice
which replicates the appearance
of an ultra-slim framed orangery
lantern sitting on a solid flat roof
externally. Seeing the signature
internal aesthetics of the Atlas lantern makes it easy to demonstrate
the 70% slimmer profile and the
fact that it has no chunky hood or
boss and no low rod bar.”
He said one of the biggest
advantages for retailers was the
“enormous profit potential” of the
Skyroom. “Retailers can achieve a
higher sales value on a Skyroom
installation and in a declining
PVCu conservatory market, this
new breed of orangery roof design
offers an alternative source of
revenue for installers.”
The Skyroom’s slim-line 40mm
thermally broken aluminium rafter
and ridge profile both maximise
the sense of light and space.
Gareth added: “Nearly 40% of
homeowners plan to update their
homes, and with housing market
reports showing the market is still
slow, homeowners can add significant value by investing in their
current homes rather than moving.
With record low rates on borrowing, home improvements can be a
cost-effective way to boost value
to a property in the long-term.” He
commented that a top UK home
improvement project was a large,
family-friendly kitchen extension
which could add five to 10% to
the value of a property, and the
Skyroom lent itself well to such
schemes.
www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk
www.polyframe.co.uk
Wilson Windows swaps supplier after 26 years
Loughborough-based installer Wilson Windows has switched supplier to
The VEKA UK Group after 26 years with its previous systems company.
Dale Wilson is director at the family-run firm established in 1984 by
his father Michael. It is now co-directed by Dale and his wife Karen
with their son Callum having joined
recently.
Dale said: “It was Karen who suggested
we extend our offering with a new window
option. There are numerous companies
within our target area that were stocking
the same systems as us. We wanted to
differentiate ourselves and widen our audience in the process.
“I have a contact at Glazerite – who now
fabricate our windows – who invited us to
view some VEKA systems and we’ve not
looked back since. Currently, we are booking in jobs for three months’ time.”
The VEKA UK Group is well-known for
its packages of installer support, having
both the Approved Installer Scheme and
Network VEKA.
Dale added: “Last year was our 30th
anniversary. This year marks the start
of a new era for Wilson Windows with
VEKA UK Group alongside us. We’re
extending our showroom and hope to
showcase the changes at a Christmas
open day.”
www.networkveka.co.uk/trade