Pro Installer March 2022 - Issue 108 | Page 6

News
6 | MARCH 2022

News

Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk

MORLEY GLASS BOOSTS UNI-BLINDS MANUFACTURING CAPACITY AS INTEGRAL BLIND DEMAND JUMPS 46 %

Morley Glass has invested more than £ 750,000 to increase its capacity for manufacturing its UK market-leading Uni-Blinds range of integrated window and door blinds by a further 50 %.
The investment comes in a year when Morley Glass has produced record volumes of Uni-Blinds , up 46 % versus the previous year , reflecting the strong demand that installers are experiencing for the ultra-modern shading and privacy solutions provided by the range .
A new state-of-the-art production line for making insulating glass units complete with ScreenLine Venetian blinds in the cavity has been installed , which means Morley Glass now has three dedicated production lines in all . Installed by long-standing machinery partner Best Makina , these will enable Morley Glass to manufacture up to 6,000 high quality integral blind units every week to support the growth in demand from its nationwide installer base .
The new plant means the Morley Glass factory in Leeds now incorporates five systems for manufacturing the Uni-Blinds SV System , a cordless sliding Venetian blind that utilises a patented magnetic system to enable long term , effortless operation . This system continues to be the most popular option amongst Uni-Blinds installers , accounting for 70 % of all Uni-Blinds sold , driven by homeowners who want a sleek shading and privacy system that will perform reliably over a long service life .
Ian Short , MD of Morley Glass says : “ It was only

Fenestration professionals urged to go ‘ above and beyond ’ on windows security

With an estimated 65,000 burglaries reported between July and September 2021 , a windows expert is imploring installers and fabricators to re-evaluate the security credentials of their frames and hardware and seek further assurances from regulatory bodies .
four years ago that we made our last major investment in our manufacturing capacity , but the strength of growth that we have seen for Uni-Blinds , particularly over the past two years , has exceeded our expectations . This required us to commission further new machinery earlier than we had anticipated to ensure we stay ahead of the curve .
“ Importantly , it gives our factory the capacity we need to respond to the growth in Uni-Blinds sales over the coming years and supports our change of focus to being 100 % an integral blind unit manufacturer . With sustained long term growth over two decades and recent annual growth of around 50 %, we know how important it is not to rest on our laurels and we are already planning ahead for the next investments .”
The addition of new production lines at Morley Glass ’ s 50,000 sq . ft site near Leeds comes hot on the heels of a number of other recent investments by the company . In the second half of 2021 , the company replaced its machinery for processing post-consumer waste glass for recycling with a new automated plant capable of handling much larger volumes .
And in the same period , Morley Glass added six Luton vans to its fleet to maintain its industry-leading 10-12 day lead time on Uni-Blinds , when ordered by 10am on Thursdays .
www . morleyglass . co . uk
According to ONS , one in five burglars will enter a property via a window . Paired with findings from a recent survey which found that over a third of Brits feel a greater need to protect the security of their homes , compared to before the pandemic , quality windows will be a key safeguard against burglars . Windows in English dwellings must currently comply with Approved Document Q ( ADQ ) of the Building Regulations concerning security , for example by meeting the PAS24:2016 security standard . However , an added layer of credibility can be provided through meeting requirements set out by Secured by Design ( SBD ). The official police security initiative
, SBD works with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure security standards are current and updated in line with emerging crime trends .
With burglary statistics anticipated to rise as people spend more time outside their homes Mark Gajda , Head of Technical Services at REHAU , is appealing to fenestration professionals to consider these higher-level security standards when specifying frames .
“ Security is a key concern for many building occupants because we all want to feel safe in the space we live ,” he explains . “ Burglaries are likely to rise post-pandemic , so window professionals must go above and beyond to provide solutions that
meet this need . With this in mind , we ’ ve extended our support for tradespeople by joining the SBD initiative , providing installers , fabricators
and building applicants alike with further peace-of-mind on the performance of frames .”
To gain approval against SBD requirements , products must have passed enhanced security testing to PAS 24:2016 . This is completed at a UKAS test centre and requires subsequent submission of relevant reports , which sets SBD aside from ADQ .
Mark continued : “ REHAU has always put strong emphasis on ensuring our products are tested against all fenestration industry requirements to give building users peace of mind . With the
addition of the SBD logo , project and building managers have an extra layer of quality assurance .”
“ Because homeowners and building occupants may be concerned about burglaries , they deserve the reassurance that the elements making up their home offer adequate levels of security . This is why it ’ s vital for windows suppliers such as REHAU to keep an eye on how they can exceed the minimum standards of security .”
www . rehau . com / uk-en / approvals