Pro Installer September 2019 - Issue 78 | Page 11

SEPTEMBER 2019 | 11 News Installer News is sponsored by FENSA NEW WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION CENTRE TAKING SHAPE Work is well underway on 5. A bit of myth busting on MMC 7. Celebrations and a beer festival Everyone knows that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are back in vogue, but what is the reality this time? MMC is a strong theme at this year’s UKCW. Full- scale builds will be erected onsite with live demos of MMC technol- ogy in action. Head to the MMC Hub for other digital demos and simulations too. Examples of the pre-manufactured structures at the show range from a modular care annex for the healthcare sector and a SIPS panel residential build- ing, to a factory-finished modular bathroom pod for the high-end hotel sector, and offsite solutions for the education sector. Everyone enjoys a good awards night and UKCW is no exception. The show hosts the UKCW Role Model of the year, the new Build- ing Trades Awards with Fix Radio and the new UKCW Construction Awards. Plus, to encourage young people into construction the iBuiltThis competition is back and the winners will be announced at UKCW. And if you’re not involved in the celebrations, just unwind each day with a beer, some street food and a spot of music. The Fischer bar is in Hall 11 and the Rawlplug bar is in Hall 12. Don’t forget the Beer Festival, sponsored by NBS and of course the ‘Rockaoke’ on Wednesday night. UKCW is one event with many sections, including Build, spon- sored by Easy-Trim, Building Tech, Civils, Energy and HVAC, Surface and Materials, and Timber. It also features Concrete Expo (8-9 October only) and Grand Designs Live (9-10 October only). 6. An experience not easily forgotten To really understand another per- son, as the saying goes, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. So, when did you last get to run a building site? Make a beeline for the Cov- entry University stand and its site simulator. It’s hailed as one of the most powerful experiences of any construction show. If you’re feeling brave you can step into the site hut, take on the role of the site manager and get first-hand experience of what it’s like to work on a busy pro- ject. Not for the faint hearted! Single registration gives access to all areas of the show. For further information visit: www.ukconstructionweek.com the new 300,000 sqft warehouse and distribution centre for leading systems supplier, Epwin Window Systems. Based in Telford, Shrop- shire the large-scale new build facility is due to be completed and operational by the end of the year. The impressive 18-acre site will be home to both the new ware- house and distribution centre and the new 160,000 sqft aluminium finishing plant which opened in September 2019. The size and scale of the invest- ment in its infrastructure is nota- bly impressive. Clare O’Hara, Man- aging Director of Epwin Window Systems commented: “The new distribution centre and aluminium finishing plant underpins Epwin Window Systems continuing commitment to sustained business growth and long-term investment as demand for our PVC-U and aluminium systems continues to grow.” The new state-of-the-art ware- house and distribution centre will optimise efficiency at every level. The facility will consolidate all existing warehousing facilities into one sleek operation and has the capacity to hold in excess of 5000 stock lines while utilising the latest technology to help further improve logistics. The new warehouse facility is just one part of a wider pro- gramme of investment for Epwin Window Systems during 2019. The company has already expanded its PVC-U extrusion capacity by more than 40%, increased its foiling capacity by 30% and launched a brand-new aluminium window and door system, Stellar. www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk BREXIT, GRENFELL AND TACKLING ROGUE TRADERS ALL ON AGENDA Taking place on Thursday, September 12 at Edgbaston Stadium and Conference Centre, Birmingham, more than 400 fabricators, installers and suppliers are expected to attend the one-day conference. The morning kicks off with the Insight Data ‘Window Industry Report’ before respected industry leaders take to the stage to talk about sustainability, recycling and how the industry is tackling the anti-plastic movement. With the aftermath of Grenfell still in the minds of the industry, and legislation and new regula- tions driving change, experts will then discuss what it means for fabricators, installers and the glass industry. Next, and with Brexit looming and the government warning companies to brace themselves, a keynote speaker will consider the implications for the fenestra- tion industry to help navigate the Brexit crisis. Our panel of industry leaders will then debate some of the biggest questions of the moment, before leading business speak- er Adrian Webster takes to the stage. After lunch, the afternoon kicks off with the industry’s marketing specialists Purplex revealing the marketing secrets to drive growth and profitability. With the industry is facing its biggest ever shake-up with a flood of mergers, acquisitions and consolidation, a panel of indus- try experts will then discuss how companies can sell their busi- ness for maximum value or use acquisitions as a way of achieving significant growth and economies of scale. The day concludes with a debate on the future of the glass and glazing market and what the industry will look like in three years’ time as smart technology takes hold. www.glazingsummit.co.uk