Clearview South May 2014 - Issue 150 | Page 16

INDUSTRYNEWS M and M Windows go bigger and better! Wigan-based VEKA fabricator M and M Windows is moving to a new factory on the town’s Little Lane, Gooses Green. With more space and a more prominent position from which to be seen by potential customers, the M and M eam is optimistic about the opportunities the move will bring. MD Colin McCoy explains: “We’re happy to be going into a larger production space which gives us the possibility of expanding and potentially employing more staff in the future. “The important thing is that we now own the building rather than renting, which means we have a greater level of stability and control.. “The position of the building, close to the busy A49, was a big selling point for us as it has the potential to be seen by lots of passing trade. “Working with an industryleading company like VEKA has helped us ride out the recession, and now we’re looking forward to growing even stronger from our new premises.” ‘be seen by lots of passing trade’ VEKA plc, 01282 716611. www.vekauk.com The McCoy family team. Cotswold invests in capacity uplift programme A leading international supplier of friction stays will roll out a major production improvement programme in the next few months. Cotswold Architectural Product, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, has committed to an investment strategy that will allow it significantly to increase its capacity. The first stage of the programme will be to commission a new EZ stay line – allowing for a rapid increase in capacity for this product. The EZ easi-clean range of egress stays from Cotswold is one of the firm’s most popular; and General Manager Tim Ferkin says that demand is increasing month on month for the range. At the start of 2014 Cotswold was acquired by Coventry-based Caldwell UK, part of the American Caldwell Manufacturing group - a family-owned American-based global operation founded in 1888. Cotswold currently supplies its innovative hardware solutions into 56 countries globally; and also regularly creates bespoke solutions for fabricators across the UK, including some of the industry’s most well-known names such as Polyframe and Safestyle; Metal Technology and Kawneer. Call 01242 233993 or visit www.cotswoldwindows.co.uk SO WHAT FOILS US? Prefix Systems, the UK’s largest independent conservatory manufacturer has helped open up a new era for the conservatory market affectng everyone throughout the supply chain, culminating in increased consumer demand for more coloured conservatories. The humble white conservatory still dominates sales in volume, yet sales of coloured and woodgrain roofs show a very broad split. Prefix clearly grasps all trends and now sees one in five orders for through their factory with a foiled finish. Interestingly in the last six months, grey has increased to 38% of all foiled roofs, with 16 MAY 2014 foiled white and foiled black 16% each. Chartwell Green remains popular with 13%, cream 10% and the first woodgrain, Irish Oak at 7%. Some of the grey foiled pre-fabricated conservatory roofs are going into installations with bi-folding doors, which often necessitate additional structural strength in the form of Prefix’s cost-effective, exclusively engineered Bi-Span system. Conservatory specification is clearly on the rise with new colours, enhancements such as Cornice and Pilaster and Ultraframe’s impressive new Loggia Prestige system which can be considered as the ultimate beauty enhancement for any home. Call 01254 871800, e-mail [email protected] or Twitter @prefixsystems. To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com