Clearview National March 2016 - Issue 172 | Page 99

HARDWARE& SECURITY

THE UPRISING OF SOMETHING
SPECIAL FROM G-U UK
»»GRETSCH-UNITAS HAS BEEN
servicing the fenestration industry for
many decades, and most will be aware of
the company’s brands including BKS and
Ferco.
The German based organisation was
initially founded in 1907 by Mr Viktor
Gretsch. In 1910, Viktor was joined by
Johann Maus as his partner and managing
director. Over the last century, the company
has been passed down through generations of
Johann’s s descendants and is still to this day a
family owned business.
Specialising in the development,
manufacture and supply of window and door
technologies, employing more than 3,700 and
operating in more than 35 different countries,
G-U is inevitably one of the largest door and
window hardware suppliers in the world.
Stephanie Wright, Clearview Editor
recently visited G-U’s new offices in Coventry
and spoke to the company’s managing director
Rob Rossall about how the business has
restructured to accommodate the changes
in the UK marketplace and what exciting
new products Rob and his team have been
developing for the fenestration industry.
Rob explains: “G-U has built its reputation
in the UK initially for the manufacture
and supply of our comprehensive range of
multi-point locks. Since, the 1990’s our
G-U/Ferco range has been a popular choice
amongst fabricators, installers and locksmiths
and this can certainly be accredited to the
manufacturing excellence and quality supplied
by our German colleagues.
“Over the last few years with the downturn
in both the UK and European markets, it
was to be anticipated that G-U UK would
not go uns cathed, and in 2010 the decision
was taken to relocate our warehousing and
administration operations to accommodate
the decline.
“The restructuring included the move
to our current managed office suite and a
more heightened approach to the way we
manage stock into the UK from our foreign
manufacturing and distribution base in
Germany.
“Some claimed at the time, the move
to restructure our operating facility was a
strategic move to withdraw from the UK
market; however, the decision was borne out

of ensuring the business stabilised through the
recession, continuing to supply products to
our target audiences.
“Internally, the restructure enabled the
business to revisit our position in the UK
market, which on all levels was and continues
to be an important forum for G-U to operate
in. The restructuring was a successful move
that has provided double digit growth over
the last three years and led to investment in
product development for the UK market.
“Since then, G-U UK’s focus has been to
further improve our approach through our
supply chain and the products we offer. Our
core range of multi-point locks – Secury A
and Secury Europa Multi-point locks have
always been at the heart of the businesses
product offering and have seen sustainable
growth across the UK for many years due to
the quality and engineering excellence shown
by the performance of the locks.
“The G-U Secury A represents a high-end
residential and commercial lock, with a fully
automatic locking feature as standard. The
lock has multiple applications and offers
users peace of mind, having been included in
successful security and document Q testing
as well as FD 30 and FD 60 fire testing. Our
GU Secury Europa forms G-U’s mid range
multi-point lock offering. A traditional lever/
lever or split spindle product, again meeting
the requirements of PAS 23/24 and document
Q.
“In 2015, we added the GU 3000 range
of multipoint locks to target existing Asian
imports and other trade locks in the sector.
We experienced immediate success with the
range and this has continued to be the case
sinces its launch.
“The BKS range of mortise locks and
associated architectural hardware is one of the
most comprehensive available, offering narrow
case and DIN case size mortice locks; single
point and multipoint escape locks; electric
solenoid locks; motor locks; mechanical
and electrically controlled escape hardware;
cylinder systems and access control products.
“BKS products have been successfully
securing the doors of major commercial
installations in the UK for over 30 years and
are widely specified on an ever increasing
number of key projects presently underway in
the UK and Irish market place.

“Our multi-point lock range has
been widely used in both the OEM and
replacement markets for many years and both
industries recognise the quality of fitting
a G-U Lock, which is why more recently
G-U UK has concentrated its efforts on
creating more high-level, highly specified
range of products for the replacement market
including, the newly launched TS007 3* BKS
Euro cylinder.
“We have been developing a range of
new products over the last few years, to be
even more suited for the UK market. The
new 3* Euro cylinder has what we believe
to be the qualities needed for the OEM and
replacement market. Not only is it stamped
with the BKS branding, needing no additional
prepping, anti-snap, pick, drill and bump
resistant, but has a unique USP - with a LED
light fitted to the key case head, for ease of use
in dark or low light environments.
“A single LED key is supplied in with the
cylinder, along with two normal keys and
two fixing screws, giving the Locksmith the
opportunity to sell spare LED keys to the
homeowner. We believe this to be a unique
selling proposition for the Locksmith, a
chance to up-sell with added benefits over
their competitors.
“Over the forthcoming months, the
industry will see more cost effective products
designed and developed by G-U to help
gain additional sales and margins, and with
the business looking at both direct sales
and through distribution to widen the
products sales areas, there is an opportunity
to gain higher margin sales from unique new
products. ” Rob concludes.
For more information regarding G-U products
visit www.g-u.com/UK/en/home.html

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