The arrival of vacuum insulated glazing, or VIG, has got me to thinking about our industry in a much wider sense. The more I look at vacuum insulated glazing, the more I believe it is something we should be looking at in way more detail and energy. But it shouldn't stop at that. In [...]
We live in a post-COP26 and net-zero world now. We can debate the merits of the deal that was struck at the very end of the conference and whether it goes far enough. It doesn’t. But in this post-COP26 world, with climate change at the forefront, everything we do within the UK fenestration sector [...]
Data released today confirmed that the UK is undergoing a rapidly increasing squeeze on the cost of living, with inflation surging to 4.2% in the month of October compared to the same period last year. That is the highest in a decade and will put further pressure on the Bank of England to raise [...]
Change is in the air. Because you know, we haven’t had quite enough change over the past two years. The change this time is coming with Building Regulations. The bit I want to focus on with this one is u-values, or rather, what is going to be the best route to achieve the new [...]
There’s been schemes, groups, initiatives and all manner of other efforts. But the skills and youth gap is worse than ever. Our industry has done a great deal of talking within itself about the problem. We know with incredible detail the range of issues that have caused the problem we find ourselves in. However, [...]
In a press release issued by Business Pilot this week, they report that leads for new windows and doors are down 12% in October compared to the previous month. In recent months it has been noticeable that the tone of the conversation has changed. So is this the start of a more protracted decline [...]
COP26 is finally upon us. The most important UN Climate Conference and the moment we are told that we are out of time. I watched the powerful opening ceremony, with speeches from the UK Prime Minister, poets, Sir David Attenborough, leaders of island nations and more. If you did too, then you’ll now have [...]
I asked this question on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. I got nothing on Linkedin but was swamped on the other two platforms with answers which surprised me a little. We know that our industry is badly in need of youth and new talent, a shortage which has been exacerbated over the last couple of [...]
A worrying new report from Plimsoll, a global research and analysis business, has published a new report which says that there is significant trouble ahead for UK glass production. This warning comes on the back of sustained problems with glass supply in the UK, and a backdrop of supply chain problems that have affected [...]
And so the shortages of fenestration supplies continue to stack up. This time its silicone. There have been sporadic warnings about the lack of silicone throughout the year, but this one feels a bit more significant. Prices are also going up markedly too. Many are seeing steep double-digit increases, which are only going to [...]
Over in Europe, the M&A scene has sparked back into life with the news that Biesse Group, based in Italy, has agreed to buy fellow Italian machinery company Forvet S.p.A. Statement from Biesse Group Here is the announcement from Biesse Group about the acquisition: Biesse Group signs a contract for the acquisition of 100% [...]
The pandemic continues to cause problems around the world when it comes to event planning. This time it is Bau China 2021 which has had to move its dates. Thankfully not too far, only to mid-December and just before Christmas. China does continue to have a very strict COVID containment policy, and so any [...]
You can feel the strain between the different levels of the supply chain right now. Fabricators are becoming frustrated with system companies. Installers are already frustrated with fabricators. The last 12-18 months has certainly put a strain on us all and across the supply chain. But those relationships are coming under increased pressure, and [...]
In an unprecedented move to communicate the ongoing supply chain problems to the rest of the sector, 19 fenestration sector companies have signed an open letter to the industry in a show of support. #unitedfront It was a comprehensive statement: CONTINUED SUPPLY CHALLENGES Overwhelming demand for construction products since the easing of lockdown restrictions [...]
In figures published by the Office For National Statistics (ONS) this week, they have said that the construction sector has recorded all-time high job vacancies since records began in 2001. Record construction sector job vacancies From July to September, the total number of job vacancies in the construction sector rose to 43,000. That is [...]
The age-old problem of getting paid. It’s worth mentioning from the start that the majority of homeowners are good payers. They pay installers on time, most of the time, and are reasonable people. However, you cannot escape the difficult customers out there, and it does seem that there are more than there used to [...]
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