14 | MAY 2022
News
SEVEN REASONS WE SWITCHED TO ALUMINIUM … AND HAVEN ’ T LOOKED BACK …
Around two years ago D & I Windows switched from PVC-u to aluminium . While it isn ’ t unheard of for fabricators in fenestration to add new systems ‘ strings to their bows ’ or alter their approach to working methods ; to completely change their portfolio from one material to another isn ’ t an everyday occurrence . Add to that , the switchover coincided almost perfectly ( or imperfectly ) with a global pandemic and it ’ s only natural to want to know if they are happy with the decision . Catching up with David Saxon revealed not only the multitude of reasons that made himself and business partner – and co-owner of D & I Windows – move into the aluminium market , but also why it ’ s one of the best decisions they ever made …
“ It ’ s easy to get left behind in business ,
1 . that ’ s true in any sector and we have never shied away from making changes if we think it ’ s the right thing to do for the company , our team and our customers . Ian and I have worked in fenestration for decades between us and first met in our roles for a local authority . When we took redundancy in 2010 and set up our own business , we didn ’ t think it was going to be easy . We worked hard and put the hours in , advertising locally . We went from having an empty order book to taking on care-home work and commercial contracts . Throughout this time , if we needed to move premises , we did . If we needed to take on new staff or retrain team members we did . Whatever was right for the business , even if it required upheaval or not going down ‘ the easy route ’, we rolled up our sleeves and we did it . So , when we started to find that we could no longer physically fabricate the amount of PVC-u frames we required , and buying them in to supply them didn ’ t satisfy us either , we started to look into aluminium instead .”
“ The market for aluminium is much
2 . more mainstream now than in the past . From a commercial point of view , it has always been the popular choice for specifiers , architects and end users . But until relatively recently , the domestic and residential projects have leaned much more towards PVC-u . ‘ Grand Designs ’ properties would use aluminium but your average Mr and Mrs Smith would perhaps see it as too high-end , with a price to match . For various reasons however , we have seen aluminium become much more commonplace . People seem to be more prepared to pay for the premium product . Extensions , garden rooms and open plan ‘ bring the outside in ’ building work is seen up and down almost every street across the country . And they are just a few of the factors that mean the demand for aluminium is thriving and we wanted our piece of the pie .”
3 .
“ The word ‘ fun ’ and fenestration aren ’ t often heard in the same sentence ! But we really see aluminium as a fun and nice system to work with . From a fabrication point of view , often with PVC-u , people working with it have one job to do at a single station and they repeat it over and over as part of the line . Aluminium is more mechanical however so you feel like you have more of a hand in creating the product . It would be a lie to say that most of the team were quite shocked with the decision at first , and there was a steep learning curve for many to get to grips with . Once they got the hang of it however though there is more job satisfaction and you do get a certain sense of pleasure from the process . Of course , it is not our job to make ‘ fun ’ for our team but every manager and business owner should want to get the best from their workforce ; it works both ways after all .”