» INDEPENDENT HARDWARE supplier Carl F Groupco has confirmed it is continuing to hold enhanced stock levels to support its growing customer base . Managing Director John Crittenden said : “ Despite market conditions , we are continuing to hold strong stock levels at £ 5 million to support the market and remain a reliable partner to our customers during these turbulent times . Our investment in stock inventory at our Peterborough and Cumbernauld distribution centres allows us to offer short lead times and a high level of customer service .”

Carl F Groupco increased its stock levels from £ 3.5 million to £ 5.5 million during the pandemic surge and recently made the decision to continue to hold elevated levels . John commented : “ There is no doubt supply chain turbulence has settled down since the worst days of the pandemic . However , the world is now facing a whole new set of challenges and economic pressures so we felt it was only

right to use our scale to hold higher stock levels and protect our customers .”

The decision to maintain higher levels of inventory reflects Carl F Groupco ’ s proactive approach to its customers . It provides an extensive range of premium quality window and door hardware and has long-standing relationships with Europe ’ s most innovative manufacturers .

The company also offers a value-added consultancy service , testing and working with its customers ’ fabrication teams and manufacturer partners to scope new hardware solutions and ensure smooth transitions to new ranges .

For ease of ordering and an improved customer experience , the company recently launched My CFG , an online digital platform . John said : “ My CFG is an easy-to-navigate platform which works across desktop and mobile devices and features several key functions including online ordering , quotation requests and live account facilities . This brings huge benefits to our customers as it gives them 24 / 7 access to all business functions helping them to be more productive and efficient .”

The company also supported – and continues to support – customers and the wider supply chain through the changes to Building Regulations earlier in the year .

www . carlfgroupco . co . uk

» MIGHTON HAS announced that its Avia Secure smart casement handle has achieved Secured by Design ( SBD ) approval , the official police preferred specification for security products that can deter and reduce crime .

The SBD accreditation follows recent PAS24 testing and approval for the ‘ intelligent ’ Avia casement handle , which is designed to notify homeowners of the status of their windows by sending alerts to Apple devices or via the Apple HomeKit platform .

The SBD approval underlines the enviable security credentials of the Avia Secure family of smart home products , a range that combines class leading smart technology with proven , traditional mechanical solutions for ultimate peace of mind .

The Avia Secure range includes door , window and PIR sensors , a sash window fastener and smart socket which - like

the casement handle - have also achieved the government recognised BSI Internet of Things ( IoT ) security standard . The comprehensive range includes the Avia smart door lock too , which has passed rigorous testing to be awarded both Sold Secure SS301 Silver approval and ETSI accreditation .

Mighton ’ s Chairman , Mike Derham , commented : “ Smart products in the home have become part of our everyday lives – many of us will not think twice about using a mobile phone or tablet to adjust the heating , lighting or to operate home entertainment systems .

“ But when it comes to security , it ’ s a different story . Homeowners want the assurance that they are using the best technology available ,

which is why we have designed all our Avia devices to work seamlessly with Apple ’ s iOS operating system and HomeKit platform .

“ But they also want the peace of mind that the security products for their windows and doors are robust enough to withstand traditional attacks and can still function properly in a worst case scenario ,” he added .

“ We set the standard for smart and mechanical security with the introduction of our original Avia smart door lock and we ’ re now delivering that same level of confidence with the Avia Secure casement handle now that it has passed PAS24 testing and achieved SBD accreditation .”

www . aviasmart . com

52 DECEMBER 2022

CLEARVIEW-UK . COM