INDUSTRYNEWS
Venturing into new territories
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WARWICKSHIRE-BASED COMPANY Newbury Commercial Glazing services a wide range of customers , both in the private and public sector , and produces a collection of aluminium windows and doors , and curtain walling , using Smarts , Kawner , Schuco , and Jack Aluminium systems .
Clearview visited the company ’ s Operations Director , Ian Hannis , after recently meeting him at Fensterbau and again at the FIT Show . Ian explained how the business is venturing into new territories through the trade market , establishing its offering by looking at smarter ways of manufacturing and developing new sales avenues .
Tucked away behind a suburban housing estate , Newbury Commercial Glazing resides on a newly-built selection of units in the village of Lower Cape , Warwick . The units house the company ’ s stock , manufacturing and administration facilities , with a recently purchased unit standing ready for Newbury ’ s latest venture .
Greeted by Ian , dressed in jeans and t-shirts and comfortable in his own surroundings , it was evident that this was a guy who likes to be hands-on in the business .
Within the first ten minutes of our meeting , Ian ’ s enthusiasm for the company ’ s plans for the future shone through , and getting straight to the point he discussed how the company has been quite specialised within the education sector over recent years and how he and the owners ’ son , Oliver Newbury , are driving through a 10-year strategic plan that will see the company operate in new markets and change the businesses approach , setting standards through the industry .
“ We are particularly well-established locally within the education sector working colleges and schools , but we had become too complacent . Winning tenders for the public sector , in particularly in education , can be extremely time consuming in terms of the resources needed to deal with season aspect of the contract and it is easy to take your eye off the ball when you are immersed in the middle of an ongoing contract .
“ The aluminium sector has always been very prominent in commercial markets , with specifiers and architects demanding more sustainable products . The development of aluminium from the systems houses over recent years has seen a direct impact on the
domestic market and this has helped form part of Newbury ’ s plan to extend our expertise in the manufacturing of aluminium products into the domestic market .”
Under a different name , Newbury was first established some 25 years ago , established by Oliver ’ s father . The existing company was set up a few years ago and , under the new regime , the company has built up good working relations with both suppliers and local authorities , the business thrived and developed a product range fulfilling the needs for its commercial customers .
Ian adds : “ Our business still has the foundations of that early company , however we have had to work smarter at producing our products to be sustainable and manageable to our business . What this has meant for us is a total review of our whole processes , including the introduction of an internally developed software programme to enhance our operations .
“ Whilst reviewing and developing our strategic plan , we knew that in order to set ourselves apart from competition and become more attractive to clients , we needed to prove our manufacturing capabilities were better .
“ We are currently developing an internal , tailor-made system for Newbury with the overall aim to become a paperless process from
the first point of contact with a customer , right through to delivery .”
Newbury aims to create a seamless production process for Newbury and integrate with its newly installed sawing and cutting machine , and other production equipment , means the company will see improved production flow and reduced production lead-time .
“ Our aim is to be in a position where we become automated to be able to produce products on extremely lean lead-times . These activities give us the ability to keep overheads to a minimum and reinvest into other areas of the business , and ones that will set standards within the fields we operate in ,” Ian adds .
Another key investment , forming part of the business plan and something Ian is keen to share , is the opening of a localised trade counter .
“ We are keen to open up an avenue to support local installers and fabricators looking to fit an alternative to PVCu . With the support of our extrusion suppliers , we are setting up a new trade counter where customers will not only just be able to order and buy products from , but will get advice and the backing should they need more help ,” Ian concludes .
www . newburycommercialglazing . co . uk
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