ROOFLIGHTS & LANTERNS
40 YEARS OF UNPARALLELED INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE
Pioneering North East manufacturer raises glass to celebrate a staggering four decades at the forefront of fenestration .
In a world where a lot can happen overnight , rolling the clock back 40 years brings visions of an entirely different era ; one where the UK was even yet to see the arrival of a Compact Disc let alone online sales and domestic 3D printing . The fenestration industry was however heading into its PCVU boom time and one business was set to shake up the industry in more ways than one ; known in the years to follow as Made for Trade .
Originally established as Aanco by Richard Gaunt in 1979 , the company was officially incorporated on December 13th 1983 , and since then has evolved into a powerhouse in the industry . A business that began as a supplier and installer of windows and conservatories to the retail market throughout the 1980s and 1990s , it moved from an original location in Sheffield to the North East , and soon became known for raising the bar and doing things differently in that busy PVCU sales era .
It wasn ’ t long before an enviable reputation was firmly established in the Tees Valley area ; becoming known for unparalleled quality in both products and service . As well as delighting customers by offering unbeatable prices , the company invested in the region with its inaugural purpose-built Teesside factory , soon followed by a show village to engage with consumers and showcase the products for which they had already become known .
That same quality-led ethos has remained at the core of the business for the last four decades , and during its transition from retail to trade with fenestration products that moved with the times and market demand . The company steadfastly remains a family enterprise and still provides the best quality products at the best prices , whilst that famous North Eastern friendliness is reflected in the industry ’ s best customer service and support from what is now a workforce in excess of 250 .
The strive to constantly improve production and manufacturing took a huge leap forwards in the early 2000s when Richard ’ s son Bradley joined the team , bringing with him qualified experience in lean manufacturing – a step change that was set to revolutionise not just their home-grown company through newfound efficiencies
but to pioneer new precision engineering standards across the industry . The Made for Trade name was suitably established in 2005 and the company continued to grow in size under new leadership .
The next significant step came in 2016 , with the launch of the Korniche brand ; a disruptive product line that would go on to change the perception of the fenestration industry and stand behind a range of items with a unique engineering-led focus . So much so in fact that in the years that followed , Made for Trade is often regarded not as a fenestration business , but as a precision engineering company that just happens to be designing and manufacturing fenestration products .
The first Korniche product to market was the Aluminium Roof Lantern , which alongside its design set the bar to new heights when it came to ease of
58 JANUARY 2024 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM