Pro Installer January 2017 - Issue 46 | Página 8

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PRO NEWS

JANUARY 2017 PRO INSTALLER
www . proinstaller . co . uk

MOVE INTO ALUMINIUM WITH CONFIDENCE

Customade says many installers are still cautious about entering the world of aluminium , despite a sharp and well documented rise in demand for aluminium in the domestic market . Since launching its REAL Aluminium solution , Customade has been steadily educating installers about resources available to help them move into aluminium with confidence . Claire Miller , Customade Group ’ s marketing manager , explained : “ Historically , aluminium was difficult and complex to price and the lead times were painfully long . We wanted to help installers unlock the enormous potential of aluminium and benefit from
the higher profit margins it can bring . Our complete ‘ REAL Aluminium ’ solution delivers all the tools an installer needs to take their first steps from PVCu into aluminium .” In the last 18 months , Customade has increased aluminium output by 80 % and is taking on new members to its REAL Aluminium Installer Network every week . One installer reaping the benefits of the new aluminium supply model is Ross-on-Wye installer Monmouthshire Conservatory Company . Exclusively a PVCu installer when it was established in 2003 , Monmouthshire made tentative steps into aluminium four years ago . Although
Monmouthshire had a good rapport with its aluminium supplier , the firm found that it was waiting several days for quotes and many weeks for deliveries . With unpredictable lead times , the firm couldn ’ t plan installations and sometimes ran over on projects . Chris Atwell , owner at Monmouthshire Conservatory Company , says : “ Our first experience with aluminium was pretty frustrating , but sadly those lead times were typical back then . There was no better alternative , so there were restrictions on how much we could grow the aluminium side of our business .” Monmouthshire began installing aluminium glazed roofing systems from Customade
’ s sister company Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions and heard about REAL Aluminium soon afterwards . Convinced that it could overcome their aluminium supply issues , the company switched to Customade for the sole supply of aluminium . Since the move to Customade , aluminium has grown rapidly for Monmouthshire and now accounts for around 50 % of its business . Chris said : “ We immediately invested in Customade ’ s pricing and quoting software and this gave us complete control over our quoting for the first time . We went from outsourced pricing taking several days to being able to produce quotes instantly in-house .
This had an enormous impact on how quickly we could win business . Our product lead times were previously up to nine weeks , but they have been cut down to just 14 days on standard stock colours . This leap helped us to complete jobs far faster than ever before .”
Customade also provides all REAL Aluminium installers with a comprehensive showroom and marketing support package .
To find out more , call 01453 826884 or visit www . real-aluminium . co . uk

TRUEMANS DOUBLES ALZHEIMER ’ S TARGET

After smashing its Alzheimer ’ s Society fundraising target of £ 5,000 , Truemans trade counters has now doubled it to £ 10,000 . Back in September 2016 , seven staff members across the whole Truemans group took part in a 26-mile trek for their charity of the year , the Alzheimer ’ s Society . The strenuous trek took place in the surroundings of Stonehenge and involved Joe , Dave , Ash , Adele , Tracy , Martin and Helen . Spurred on by friends and family along with messages of support online , they all managed it . They said that knowing they had pushed themselves to the limit to raise money for The Alzheimers Society was an amazing feeling . But knowing the money raised would go towards helping the fight against dementia in future made it all worthwhile . Joe Trueman , managing director added : “ It was a gruelling trek but also a humbling experience . We walked and talked to people living with dementia and those who know and care for people with Alzheimer ’ s . We were able to swap stories and get through the experience together . After smashing our target of £ 5,000 I wanted us to double it , to £ 10,000 . So that ’ s our new target . If you haven ’ t got round to sponsoring anyone , or you have thought of a way to raise even more money , let ’ s do it . Let ’ s do it to help the fight against dementia .” Joe said thank-you to everyone who donated and sent messages of support . Anyone who wishes to can add to the total raised here : www . justgiving . com / teams / Truemans2016

£ 15,000 Excavator For Charity Auction

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Construction Industry Charity Christmas lunch at the Park Plaza Hotel , Westminster . To help things go with a swing , JCB donated a mini excavator worth more than £ 15,000 to be auctioned off to raise funds for the charity which provides welfare and financial support for the construction industry . The 1.5 tonne 8016CTS mini excavator was auctioned off in front of 1,000 people at the event on 2nd December . Those who didn ’ t get a seat at the sell-out event could still bid online for their chance to win . The charity has been delivering charitable welfare and support to the sector since 1956 and since then has distributed more than £ 14 million to construction workers and their families . Bill Hill , chief executive officer of the Lighthouse Club , said : “ JCB has been a terrific supporter for many years . We can ’ t thank the company enough for this extremely generous donation of an excavator for our auction .”
www . lighthouseclub . org