Pro Installer June 2016 - Issue 39 | Page 48

48 JUNE 2016 PRO INSTALLER PRO BUSINESS www.proinstaller.co.uk LUMI ORDERS FOLLOW FIT SHOW Apeer was ‘absolutely delighted’ with the recent FIT Show in Telford, displaying its G-Award winning frameless Lumi system to the UK’s window, door and conservatory industry. Apeer’s marketing manager, Linda Tomb, said: “The show had only been open for a few minutes before we took our first order, and we had several customers who had made the trip to FIT specifically to see us, including one all the way from Cornwall and two homeowners who’d travelled from the south. This couple had first seen Lumi at Grand Designs in London last year, and had come to FIT to sign off an order and review some external colours. Windows add to hospital restoration As well as putting considerable time into detailed measurement, installer D&M Windows created a series of templates for fabricator The Glazerite UK Group Limited to work from, as D&M managing director Mark Hoolickin explained: “It is a really beautiful building and very well known in the area so it was all well worth the extra effort. Glazerite were very supportive and everything went exactly to plan without a hitch.” Oldham-based D&M, run by Mark and his son Darren, installed in total 90 PVCu windows fabricated from the VEKA Matrix “Overall, we were delighted with how the show went, and the reaction we had to Lumi from both new and existing customers. Everyone wants to get an edge on the competition and it seems that Lumi fits the bill. We’ve been inundated since the show with calls from new customers, many of whom we didn’t get to speak to on the day, but who took the opportunity to take a closer look at our products on the stand and have since followed up with orders.” www.apeer.co.uk Charter could change payment culture A whole array of window shapes including arched and semi-circular has been reproduced to r etain the iconic look of a famous Victorian hospital in its new life as luxury apartments. The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital has been a landmark in the Pendlebury district for nearly 140 years so the preservation of its striking appearance was essential to the refit, but the need for such a variety of shapes and sizes might have been too much of a challenge for some. ‘we were delighted with how the show went’ The Lumi system of frameless windows and bi-folding patio and residential doors, which features triple glazed units bonded to an internal GRP subframe was launched last year – earning Apeer the prize for ‘New Product of the Year’ at the G-Awards in November. Apeer also unveiled its new easyPilot brake window locking system at the FIT Show. Developed with hardware specialist, Winkhaus, the easyPilot Nordic system allows a window to be locked into any opening position, simply by using the window’s handle and is exclusive to Lumi windows in the UK. Businesses in the construction industry can now demonstrate their commitment to fair payment - by signing up to a payment charter. 70mm bevelled system by Glazerite at its North West manufacturing unit in Bolton with frame bending by Universal Arches. The client was Wiggett Construction, which, as Wiggett Homes, is now offering the properties under the building’s new name of Oaklands Lodge. Owner Phil Wiggett said: “We have worked with D&M many times and, as ever, they did an excellent job without any problems. This building is a landmark so it was important to preserve its character and the new windows have helped to achieve that.” www.glazeritewindows.co.uk The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) as Members of Build UK supports the Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter, which clearly sets out the existing public sector requirement for payment within 30 days. It also sets out payment terms of 45 days for private sector projects, reducing to 30 days by 2018. The charter includes clear commitments in respect of retentions, ‘pay less’ notices, variations and supply chain finance schemes. By signing up to the charter, a company agrees to apply the commitments in its dealings with its supply chain, to be monitored on its compliance in line with new statutory reporting requirements when they come into force later this year, and to consider the performance of its supply chain when awarding contracts. With current payment practices holding back the industry and affecting the businesses of both main and specialist contractors, fair payment has been identified as a priority for Build UK and it is working to set out what best practice looks like. The Payment Charter is one of a series of measures being taken forward which together have the potential to fundamentally change the payment culture within construction. Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive commented: “The charter can only help companies build strong long-term relationships with their supply chain partners and understand the importance of prompt payment to them.” To find out more please visit http://www. promptpaymentcode.org. uk/cscpc.htm