Pro Installer October 2015 - Issue 31 | Page 12

12 OCTOBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER PRO NEWS www.proinstaller.co.uk INTO THE FINALS! Ballymena, Northern Ireland–based door and window manufacturer Apeer has been chosen as a finalist in this year’s G Awards, the prestigious and highly sought after window and door industry ‘Oscars’. Selected in the popular New Product of the Year category by the judges for its Lumi window and door system that was launched earlier this year, Apeer’s managing director Asa McGillian says that word spread ‘like wildfire’ through the factory when the news was announced: “The hearts and souls of everyone at our factory have gone into Lumi,” said Asa. “This is the first time that we have entered the G-Awards but I have watched people go up to collect their Awards on the night and wondered what that must feel like. I hope I will find out but I imagine it must be nerve wracking waiting to hear!” Lumi is a groundbreaking new range of customisable, matching frameless windows and bi-folding, patio and residential doors. The secret to Lumi’s superb aesthetics, performance and strength is the triple glazed units that are bonded to an internal core of highstrength glass reinforced plastic (GRP) frames, the external pane of which offers uninterrupted, edge-to-edge glazing. The system is a radical new approach for residential windows and doors. The winners of this year’s G-Awards will be presented at the highly popular, glittering ceremony, which will take place on November 27th at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane. www.apeer.co.uk MANAGING GROWTH The UK’s largest independent trade counter network, National Plastics, has plans to open 17 new stores by the end of 2017, bringing its total number of stores to 50. To reflect the scale of its ambitions, the company has appointed three regional operations managers; Bradley Edmonds, Simon Edmonds and Alex Linnell, to help manage the growth on the ground. National Plastics’ Managing Director, Geoff Foster, said: “As we continue to expand it’s important that our infrastructure grows with us so we can continue to offer exceptional service to our customers. Our regional operations managers form a vital part of that infrastructure and we’re delighted to welcome Bradley, Simon and Alex to the team.” Bradley Edmonds, who is Regional Operations Manager for the North and Midlands, joined the company in February. Simon Edmonds, who covers the South West, joined in August. Alex Linnell, who covers the South, joined in July. All three have extensive experience in large chain environments. Bradley said: “The company is very ambitious and has exciting plans but at the same time we’re encouraged to think outside the box and to run with our own ideas – it’s a very refreshing approach.” Simon agrees, saying: “I wanted to work somewhere I could make a difference and be part of something exciting. I’m encouraged by the company’s openness to new ideas.” Alex added: “I love the ambition the company has and I love the freedom I’ve been given to help us achieve it.” www.nationalplastics.co.uk