FROMTHEEDITOR
PROUD SPONSOR OF INDUSTRY NEWS
Welcome to my first edition of Clearview as editor. Happy New Year and I hope you had a great and restful Christmas.
Now we’ re right back to it and there’ s an awful lot coming up in 2018 – not just here in the UK, but internationally too.
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MANY OF US IN THE CONSTRUCTION and home improvement industries actually felt that things went reasonably well in 2017. Especially when set against a back-drop of Brexit, fluctuating interest rates and the housebuilding crisis.
Companies in the right niches grew, and there was plenty of investment in premises, machinery and all kinds of technology. An example is on page 42 where DoorCo MD Dan Sullivan talks about the investment he’ s made in his production line.
Despite consolidation and numerous acquisitions in our sector, demand still looks strong in the new year for higher end products. The latest Palmer Report predicts aluminium growth of 20 % by 2021 and in our annual predictions section( page 24), we hear that many companies are launching exciting new products this year and even expanding. Note AluK for example, which is opening a new paint facility at its Chepstow HQ, and Brisant Secure, which says demand for premium security products is growing fast.
There were also positive moves in the last budget that will help construction, such as eliminating stamp duty for first time buyers and an increased housebuilding budget.
But there is a note of caution. As Clearview went to press, the notoriously gloomy International Monetary Fund( IMF) had just downgraded expectations for UK GDP growth this year, saying that Brexit remained a‘ key uncertainty’ for the economy.
The IMF also pointed to sterling devaluation, inflation and lower consumer spending.
Our industry is famed for resilience and innovation in a topsy-turvy world, and there will always be companies who respond brilliantly to that. We are very good at the nuts and bolts of our business – in short, making great products – but we must also focus on other parts of our industry in the New Year including customer service and reputation.
After all, you can make the best product in the world but what does that matter if it’ s fitted by a cowboy installer?
Helen, Editor
INDUSTRY SUMMIT ANNOUNCED
A new conference for the glass and glazing industry has been confirmed.
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THE INDUSTRY’ S TOP business leaders, directors and senior management will converge near Birmingham for a major industry conference and debate in May.
The 2018 Glazing Summit is a powerful forum for fabricators, installers, glass companies, distributors and material suppliers to come together and discuss key industry issues and trends.
A line-up of experts will debate the‘ new landscape’ as opportunities and threats emerge across the industry; from the impact of Brexit and the housing crisis, the latest marketing trends, new developments in products and materials and disruptive technologies.
The Summit promises to tackle current issues head-on, including fire regulations and safety, implications of employed and self-employed rulings for salespeople and fitters, and new legislation such as GDPR.
Those attending will discover how the industry is evolving following a string of mergers and acquisitions, and get the inside track on why some of the
established‘ big players’ in the industry could disappear in the years ahead.
The Glazing Summit is a packed morning conference followed by a buffet lunch and networking with industry leaders, and is a must-attend event for senior people across all sectors of the industry- domestic, trade, commercial, new-build and social housing.
The Summit is organised by Insight Data and Purplex Marketing and speakers will come from all aspects of the industry.
The Summit will take place at St Johns Hotel and Conference Centre, Solihull, 5 minutes from the M42 motorway, from 9 am to 3 pm on Tuesday 22nd May 2018.
www. glazingsummit. co. uk
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