14 | SEPTEMBER 2020
News
OBITUARY
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
GRABEX WINDOWS IN RACE TO PROVIDE
FUNDING FOR DEMELZA HOSPICE
Keith Vast
It is with great sadness that
profine UK announces the
passing away of Keith Vast at
his home on Wednesday 29th
July, following a prolonged
period of ill health.
In April 2020, Keith retired from profine
UK, yet he was largely responsible for the design
and development of the KÖMMERLING 70 window
and door system, which today remains a class
leader in terms of performance, quality and design.
Keith’s career with the business extended beyond
20 years in the technical department and he was
very well respected by customers, suppliers and
colleagues alike.
Andrew Charlesworth, head of technical for profine
UK commented: “As profine continues to grow
strongly within the UK and in now establishing a
local manufacturing base for the first time, we trust
this a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication
Keith showed over the years. But now our thoughts
go out to his family and his wife Joyce during this
difficult time.”
After 1016 laps completed
in 24 hours at the
Teesside Karting - the first
in a series of major endurance
races based both
in the UK and mainland
Europe, Grabex Windows
continues to campaign for
their local Demelza Hospice
Care for Children.
Grabex Windows has
launched ‘Race 4 Children’
to raise awareness and
funds for Demelza. The
charity, which has seen a
huge drop in income as
a result of the coronavirus
pandemic, provides
specialist care and emotional
support for children
with terminal conditions
throughout Kent, South East
London and East Sussex.
The Orpington-based
manufacturer and installer
of conservatories, windows,
sliding and bi-fold doors,
has previously supported
Demelza by holding open
days which, as a result
of the pandemic, have
not taken place this year.
As lockdown restrictions
eased, the company decided
to launch its fundraiser
which will see the Grabex
team compete in a series
of endurance kart racing
challenges in the UK and
mainland Europe over the
course of the year, with the
final two taking place in
the famous Le Mans and
Campillios.
“For some time now I
have been involved in kart
racing and it became my
hobby” says Grabex MD
- Michael Grabowski. “We
decided to invite a few
friends from Grabex and
from the race track and
start fundraising together
as a Grabex Racing Team.
Demelza was always our
chosen local charity but
we never backed it up
on such a big scale. By
launching Race 4 Children
we can continue to
raise awareness and funds
throughout the course of
the year.”
The first races attracted
online donations of over
£1000 with the offline yet
to be officially counted by
Demelza representatives.
With some adjustments to
the original schedule due
to quarantine restrictions
in mainland Europe, the
campaign is now set to
continue within the UK.
The charity has seen a
huge drop in income as
a result of the coronavirus
pandemic, and needs
our help to deal with the
impact of the virus to continue
providing specialist
care and emotional support
for children with terminal
conditions. In normal times
the vast majority of funding
(nearly 90%) comes from
the public, and their amazing
supporters.
We want to express our
gratitude and thank our
sponsors: Reynaers Aluminium,
Carl F Groupco, Remmers,
IWM and Soukup,
Wurth, Marsh Commercial,
Stone Empire, Fit Cookie
and UK IT Services who
promptly got on board
and provided us with their
financial support and items
that will be auctioned and
raffled as our teams are
racing.
To donate and find out
more about Demelza visit
justgiving.com/race-forchildren.
To follow Grabex Windows
on their fundraising
journey visit facebook.
com/GrabexRacing
New appointment to support continued growth
Specialist fabricator Mercury has
appointed experienced industry professional
Paul Russell as Procurement Manager.Paul
is joining Mercury at an exciting
time in its history as the Gloucester-based
business looks to further increase market
share over the next few years.
‘
I am proud to have
joined Mercury
’
He said: “I am proud to have joined Mercury.
It’s a dynamic and ambitious business
with clear plans for growth. It is also a
strong, financially stable business and its integrity
and honesty are central to its success.”
Paul joined Mercury from the Customade
Group where he had worked since
2006. He is an experienced procurement
manager with extensive experience in the
industry and holds a CIPS (Chartered Institute
of Procurement & Supply) Advanced
Diploma. He takes responsibility for Mercury’s
procurement and supply chain.
Mercury manufactures an extensive
range of PVC-U and aluminium windows
and doors direct to trade and commercial
markets. The company has doubled
its turnover since lockdown and remains
well on track with its ambitious growth
strategy. It recently opened a second manufacturing
unit in Gloucester to keep pace
with demand and has made a considerable
investment in automation machinery
too.
www.mercuryglazing.co.uk