NOVEMBER 2019 | 17
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
North East Bifolds switch to
Kombimatec CNC after seeing
the performance for themselves
In business as an alu-
minium window and sliding
door fabricator and installer
for just three years, volumes
had grown quickly for North
East Bifolds Ltd, based at
Seaham, near Sunderland and
the owners decided to invest
in a CNC machining centre.
However, having made
the decision to purchase
such a machine from one
supplier, directors Tony
Meah and Chris Craggs
switched to a Kombimatec
AMC308 after seeing one in
action at a business associ-
ate’s factory and examining
the high quality offered in
that firm’s products.
“We work with TSA
Aluminium on various
projects from time to time,”
explained Tony Meah, “and
just before we placed an
order for a CNC machining
centre with another compa-
ny, we happened to see the
Kombimatec machine at TSA
in operation. The efficiency,
ease of operation and the
quality of the work it pro-
duces made us completely
rethink our choice, and we
called Kombimatec.”
The Kombimatec kit in-
stalled at North East Bifolds
is the company’s AMC308
Automatic CNC Machining
Centre, which has been de-
veloped for both aluminium
and PVC-U profiles. It auto-
matically performs all drill-
ing, routing, slotting, tap-ping
and milling functions via a
sophisticated control system
and intuitive touch screen
interface and includes elec-
tron-ic variable speed control
and 4 adjustable pneumatic
clamps. The installation is
fully enclosed for safety and
noise re-duction. North East
Bifolds also upgraded their
machine to include an auto-
matic tool change cabinet to
further increase efficiency.
The Compound Double Mitre
Saw subsequently purchased,
is the Kombimatec DGS570,
which also uses ad-vanced
control software and fully
complements the machining
centre.
North East Bifolds Ltd be-
gan life after Tony’s house-
building firm consistently
experienced poor deliveries
and product quality from its
window and door suppliers:
“Builders need windows
and doors on time and in
full, and we were let down
Morley celebrates double award win
It’s a double celebration for Morley Glass & Glazing as
the business has been announced as the winner of two
categories at the 2019 National Fenestration Awards.
The business came out on
top against two other compa-
nies to win the Integral Blinds
Company category and was also
revealed as the winner of the
IGU Manufacturer award for the
third consecutive year, this year
sharing the accolade with Clay-
ton Glass.
Morley MD Ian Short com-
ments: “We really feel as though
every year gets better and better
for our business, and 2019 has
certainly been no exception. This
year saw us hit a million metres
of glass milestone with Saint-
Gobain Glass, and we also had
a fantastic outing as exhibitor at
the FIT Show back in May.
“Most recently, we were proud
to report an annual growth in
turnover of 22%, and we’ve
achieved all this without ever
having to compromise on offer-
ing our industry-leading lead-
time of 10 days from 11am any
Friday and while continuing to
regularly manufacture over 2500
blinds every week.”
As always, the business has also
upheld its commitment to support-
ing a number of worthy causes
through the community, including
recently hosting The Rotary Club
of Roundhay’s inaugural petanque
tournament, which raised £2,513
for three local hospices.
All the winners in the 26 cate-
gories in the National Fenestration
Awards will be invited to a special
Winners Event held by the award
organisers in the New Year.
www.morleyglass.co.uk
so often that Chris and I
decided to set up and make
our own,” said Tony. “Our
commitment to supplying
builders when we say we
will do it, has really worked
for us to the point where
we needed to invest in the
Kombimatec to step up out-
put and maintain and even
improve quality. Business
has grown rapidly making
and installing Schuco doors,
es-pecially in high-end
homes, together with Smart
windows and doors. We
have an excellent reputation
now and the business is
now outstripping our day
jobs,” he joked.
www.kombimatec.com
ALAN FIELDER GOES
ONTO PASTURES NEW
Alan Fielder, Edgetech’s ex-
perienced Sales & Marketing
Director, is leaving the company
after twelve years. Overseeing
the company’s UK sales activity,
Alan has helped hundreds of IGU
manufacturers increase quality,
efficiency, and enjoy sustainable,
profitable growth.
He was also at the forefront of
Edgetech’s ground-breaking ‘Jour-
ney to C’ roadshow tour in 2010,
that helped establish window
energy ratings and eased the way
for fabricators and installers to
achieve them.
Last year, Alan received the
inaugural Heart of the Industry
prize at the National Fenestration
Awards, where judges praised him
for his ‘dedicated and long-stand-
ing service to the UK fenestration
sector’.
Alan Fielder said:
“My time at Edgetech has been
an absolute blast, and I would like
to thank my colleagues past and
present, our wonderful customers
and our worthy competitors for
their sterling contributions to a
very enjoyable journey – it’s been
something of a privilege.
“Moving forward, I would like to
think that my knowledge may be
of value to folk in the UK fenestra-
tion industry, and would certainly
consider a few days per week
consultancy if the right things
come along.
“My wife Susan and I have
been planning a permanent move
to our little house on the beach
on our beloved Isle of Wight for
some time now, and in 2020 we’ll
be looking to make that a reali-
ty. I also have a small collection
of quite interesting guitars, so it
might be an idea to learn how to
play one of them.”
www.edgetechig.co.uk