Clearview National April 2019 - Issue 209 | Page 6

PROUD SPONSOR OF INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRYNEWS FROM FACTORY TO THE HOME » » FREEFOAM, A LEADING manufacturer of fascia, soffit, gutter and cladding products for the building industry in UK, Ireland and Mainland Europe is delighted to launch a new short video to showcase its supply chain and the support it gives to all within it. Manufacturers, like Freefoam, who supply trade customers can seem distant and remote from their end users. Freefoam wanted to dispel this myth and shine a light on the whole supply chain that is dedicated to delivering choice from factory to homeowner. From the Mixing Plant where raw materials are blended and stored, to the production plant featuring state of the art extrusion facilities, through to new warehouse provision where all products are stored and despatched, the video illustrates the full extent of the Freefoam plant. Customer service is at the heart of Freefoam. Supplying to a range of independent stockists and multi branch merchants throughout the UK from Aberdeen to St Austell, the film shows one of these deliveries taking place, to ensure customer’s shelves are kept fully stocked. www.freefoam.com THE FOREFRONT OF THE SMART SECURITY MARKET » » ERA, THE UK’S LEADING HOME security specialist, has purchased British smart security pioneer Y-cam. The acquisition will make ERA one of the most advanced and capable providers of smart security solutions for the home. Y-cam’s proprietary cloud platform, alongside its range of award-winning security cameras, alarms and sensors, will bring ERA unrivalled expertise in the sector and substantial potential for further growth. According to a recent GfK Global report, the UK is the fastest growing smart home market in Europe and smart security products have the second highest level of appeal after connected entertainment devices. Darren Waters, ERA’s CEO said, “This acquisition is an important strategic move for ERA. Rapid growth in the connectivity of British homes coupled with a big increase in consumer awareness means that demand for trustworthy smart security technology is increasing rapidly. Unlike many other businesses in the sector, we’re building our smart capability on 180 years of home security expertise; this unrivalled experience gives massive confidence to trade partners and end-users alike. The acquisition of Y-cam puts ERA right at the forefront of the smart security market.” www.eraeverywhere.com Manufacturing ‘Made Smarter’ » » AS A MANUFACTURER KNOWN FOR innovation, and a major employer for the region, VEKA Group was proud to be involved in supporting and educating other local 6 » A P R 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M businesses at an event for North West SME manufacturers. The Made Smarter programme, a Government-backed £20m business support, saw more than 100 delegates attending the half- day session at Preston’s County Hall. At the event, VEKA Group’s Paul Kennington was able to physically illustrate the ‘Made Smarter message’ by showcasing a fully functioning window – which looked just like a traditionally fabricated PVC-U frame – before revealing that it had been produced by a 3D-printer. Paul explains: “Technologies like this create opportunities for us to develop simple solutions, such as jigs to help with manufacturing processes, to more complex components allowing customers to incorporate a physical part into their design before committing to further investment in development. VEKA Group has always been proud of its ability to anticipate and adapt to changing industry demands. We operate the country’s most technically advanced PVC-U mixing plant right here in Burnley, and we are committed to ‘staying ahead of the curve’ and constantly improving efficiencies to ensure our customers can do the same.” www.vekauk.com