Creating Safer Homes for Everyone in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter

Lady Pirrie House and Dargan House in Belfast have achieved a Secured by Design (SBD) Gold award. Secured by Design awards recognise projects that apply SBD principles to prevent crime through environmental design, alongside the implementation of police-endorsed third-party tested products such as secure windows, doors, locks, CCTV and lighting.

Lady Pirrie House and Dargan House form part of Loftlines, a new urban community in the Titanic Quarter, featuring sustainable homes across a range of tenures; including Build-to-Rent, affordable apartments, and social housing in the city centre. The development was approved as part of Belfast City Council’s broader housing strategy to address housing shortages along with enhancing public spaces and providing commercial and leisure amenities such as gyms, co-working spaces and community areas.

The development block offers a mix of social and affordable housing. While all social housing in Northern Ireland must meet SBD Gold standards, this is not the case for other residential properties. It was important to the Titanic Quarter and the developers, Lacuna Development, to create a residential area that was consistently safe across all the homes whether they were social housing or for sale.

Construction began in May 2022, and the project was signed off in January 2026 with SBD principles adopted throughout. SBD Licensed Consultant Pete Connolly had an instrumental role providing technical guidance, for example finding solutions for the stair and building floor plates that required additional access control, sourcing suitable suppliers and products and facilitating workshops with contractors/ developers GRAHAM to come up with workable solutions to problems. Regular communication and collaboration with GRAHAM resulted in a successful and smooth build.

Loftlines forms part of an ambitious multi-million-pound regeneration in the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, an area spanning 185 acres of waterfront on the former Harland and Wolff Shipyard. Once a thriving dockyard and the location where RMS Titanic was designed and built, the Titanic Quarter has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use zone including tourist and heritage sites, residential housing blocks, commercial workspaces, leisure and entertainment facilities and venues. The centrepiece of the project is the Titanic Belfast museum which draws in crowds from around the world.

Pete said, “This has been a great project for me. To work with the development team from the early concept state, I consulted throughout all the development, and the team were on site and in regular contact seeing assurance and guidance. That level of consultation allows for a smoother integration of SBD."

Anthony Best, Managing Director of Lacuna Developments said, “Lacuna is delighted to see this award recognised all the hard work by the team over the last number of years. At the heart of Dargan House and Lady Pirrie House at Loftlines has been a commitment to setting new standards for social and affordable housing in Belfast and this award is testament to that.”

James Eyre, Chief Executive of Titanic Quarter said, “We are delighted to see Watkin Jones, GRAHAM, Lacuna Developments and TODD Architects presented with this award. It clearly demonstrates their commitment - and that of their wider team – to achieving the highest Secured by Design Gold standards here in Titanic Quarter.”

Michael Bunyan, Group Development Director at Watkin Jones said, “This accreditation reflects the rigour behind our collaborative approach and commitment along with our partners to create safe, high-quality homes which are also built with a high level of security in mind. As we continue delivering Loftlines, this award reinforces the value of designing responsibly as we help shape a sustainable new neighbourhood for the residents of Belfast.”

Michael Daly, Chief Officer of Belfast Harbour Police, said, “Secured by Design recognises developments that follow nationally recognised police standards for crime prevention through construction and design. These principles were built into Loftlines from the very beginning and are shaping a neighbourhood that is safe and welcoming. Creating places where people feel secure is central to community wellbeing, and developments built to this standard make a meaningful contribution to supporting policing and fostering safer neighbourhoods”. 

Find out more about SBD Developers Awards here: www.securedbydesign.com/services/sbd-awards

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How steel doors are evolving to meet performance and compliance

Rob Mottram, Head of Product and Compliance at steel door manufacturer Robust UK, discusses how changing market expectations are shaping the way steel door systems are specified and delivered today, with insight into how Secured by Design influences product development and the importance of testing and compliance.

Q: What do specifiers look for in doorsets?

A: Specifiers today are rarely looking for security on its own. They want a doorset that delivers proven intrusion resistance, fire performance, durability, thermal efficiency, compliant escape hardware and a high-quality finish. This is driving demand for third-party tested steel doorsets as customers increasingly look for verified performance rather than relying on manufacturer claims. There is also an expectation that doors arrive fully assembled with pre-fitted hardware, enabling quicker installation with less reliance on site interpretation. We’ve seen a growing interest in multi-performing doorsets such as GLAS-DOR, OUTA-DOR THERM and SECUR-DOR 2.1, reflecting a clear shift towards combining strong technical performance alongside visual quality. The key is not compromise, but choosing the right certified door system and tailoring it to the project, so it delivers exactly the level of performance needed without being over- or underspecified.

Q: How do you balance these expectations?

A: The balance comes from designing the doorset as a complete system. Security starts with the fundamentals, such as leaf construction, frame strength, and hardware selection. Performance extends into fire resistance, acoustic control, thermal transmittance, corrosion resistance and operational durability. Design quality comes in when those requirements are integrated properly, with the right flush detailing, glazing, and colour choice. To get Secured by Design approval, a doorset needs to prove enhanced security by meeting a certified security standard such as PAS 24 or LPS1175, both of which test how well a door can resist forced entry.

Q: How do you keep ahead of developments?

A: From a product and compliance perspective, the key is to keep up with changes in standards, regulations, and security threats, and then turn those changes into practical design decisions. Our approach is built around continual investment in independent testing and certifications with organisations including Secured by Design (SBD), Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) and United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC).

Q: What is Secured by Design, and why does it matter?

A: Secured by Design is a recognised police-backed accreditation scheme that identifies security products proven to meet defined performance standards. That matters because it gives specifiers, contractors, and end users another level of assurance that a doorset has not only been tested, but assessed against standards intended to reduce vulnerability to criminal attack. SBD-approved doorsets are underpinned by tested standards, supporting safer access strategies and can help satisfy planning and insurer expectations.

Q: At what stage does Secured by Design influence product development?

A: It influences the process from the very beginning. If security compliance is treated as a late-stage add-on, the product usually becomes over-engineered, commercially inefficient or difficult to certify. We begin by defining the risk level, use case and certification route at the concept stage, then develop the leaf, frame, reinforcement, hardware and ancillary details around that intended performance level. This is crucial when a doorset needs to meet multiple criteria at once. In practice, Secured by Design and its underlying standards influence key decisions from hinge specification to vision panel design, louvre selection and threshold arrangement. Product development, therefore, starts with the end performance requirement and works backwards into the design, rather than starting with a generic door and trying to meet compliance afterwards.

Q: How can you recognise a Secured by Design-approved door?

A: The most reliable way to recognise an SBD-approved door is through the manufacturer’s certification and product documentation, not visual inspection alone. Specifiers should look for clear evidence of Secured by Design approval alongside the relevant test standard, such as PAS 24 (2022) or another accepted route, and ensure the supplied hardware and build specification match the certified version. Reputable manufacturers will support that with technical data sheets, certification references and guidance on the scope of approval.

Q: Which of your doorsets are Secured by Design approved?

A: Our Secured by Design-approved doorsets include SECUR-DOR 2.1, TUFF-DOR 2.1, 3 and TUFF-VENT. SECUR-DOR 2.1 is our most versatile entry-level security doorset, certified to PAS 24 (2022), tested to the STS 201 security standard. It is designed to resist opportunist forced entry methods typically associated with low to medium risk settings such as residential and social housing. Its development focused on delivering a genuine security upgrade that remained commercially accessible, which is why we also worked on cost-effective, tested panic hardware in partnership with HOPPE (UK). TUFF-DOR 2.1 takes security further with LPCB certification to LPS 1175 B3 (Issue 8). TUFF-VENT meets a specific need for continuous airflow without compromising security, providing a fully louvred solution for plant rooms, service areas and other ventilation-critical spaces that still require a tested security level. Across all three SBD-approved solutions, the development principle is the same. We are solving a real application problem with third-party tested evidence rather than asking a standard door to do a specialist job.

Q: What is it like being a Secured by Design member?

A: Being a Secured by Design member reflects our commitment to meeting recognised security principles and maintaining independently tested standards, while also helping to differentiate our products in the market by demonstrating alignment with a police-backed benchmark. As a Secured by Design member, we build confidence with architects, main contractors, and end users by assuring that our doorsets have verified security performance. This helps reduce specification risk, improve protection, and ensure doorsets are designed and tested to perform under realistic attack conditions.

Q: Are there any developments you are excited about?

A: Yes, particularly those that respond directly to industry challenges. A good example is TUFF-VENT, which resolves the long-standing conflict between ventilation and security. Projects often need continuous airflow without compromising protection, and TUFF-VENT addresses that by delivering a fully louvred doorset which is PAS 24-certified and Secured by Design-approved, closing an important specification gap. More broadly, we are seeing strong progress in application-specific solutions. Innovations such as RISER-DOR, a specialist doorset designed for riser shaft applications, show where the market is heading – away from one-size-fits-all and towards solutions designed to solve specific challenges, whether that is fire protection, thermal efficiency or installation practicality. The most important innovation, though, is the continuing move towards integrated, certified, project-ready systems that make life easier for specifiers and installers while improving confidence in the finished building.

Q: What’s next for Robust?

A: Next for Robust is disciplined expansion, increasing capacity, deepening certification coverage and continuing to simplify specification and installation for the market. Since relocating in 2024 to a 7,900m² facility, we have the capacity to scale intelligently, extending our range of technically robust, third-party certified doorsets that solve real project problems. At the same time, there is a strong focus on making those solutions easier to specify and install consistently, because compliance only has real value if it can be delivered in practice.”

Founded in 1999, Robust UK has grown from a small manufacturer into one of the UK’s leading specialists in steel door solutions. Today, Robust’s range extends far beyond general-purpose steel doors to include certified fire, security, thermal, glazed, louvred and other specialist applications.

For more information on Secured by Design approved security doorsets, visit: https://www.robust-uk.com/ or contact 01782 592900 / sales@robust-uk.com

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“Compliance has to be ongoing, evidence-based and supported by properly trained people”

Nine years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has reflected on the major changes that have taken place across the construction and built environment sectors and the continuing work required to improve building safety standards across the UK.

The Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 claimed 72 lives and exposed major failings across parts of the construction, products and regulatory system. On 19th May 2026, the BBC reported that police and prosecutors are now considering potential criminal charges against up to 57 individuals and 20 organisations connected to the disaster, with possible offences including gross negligence manslaughter, corporate manslaughter, fraud and health and safety breaches. 

The same reporting highlighted findings from the Grenfell Inquiry, which described “systematic dishonesty” by some companies involved in the manufacture and sale of cladding and insulation products, alongside failures in oversight, testing and accountability across the wider system.

Since the tragedy, the construction and built environment sectors have undergone significant regulatory and cultural change, with much stronger focus on accountability, competence, compliance, product transparency and resident safety. The introduction of the Building Safety Act has reshaped responsibilities across the built environment, placing greater accountability on clients, designers, contractors and those responsible for managing higher risk buildings. 

The Building Safety Regulator has also introduced stronger oversight and enforcement powers, alongside increased focus on maintaining accurate building information throughout a building’s lifecycle through the “golden thread” approach. The sector has also seen far greater scrutiny around construction products, including testing, certification, traceability and ongoing compliance. There is now much wider recognition that product performance alone is not enough and that competence in installation, maintenance and inspection is equally important.

“The Grenfell tragedy changed the dialogue around building safety permanently,” explains DHF’s Deputy CEO, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “The inquiry findings and the recent updates around potential criminal charges have reinforced the importance of accountability, transparency and competence across the whole supply chain.

“One of the clearest lessons from Grenfell is that safety cannot rely on assumptions or disjointed responsibility. Everyone involved in the process has an important role to play in ensuring products are correctly specified, tested, installed and maintained.”

DHF continues to work closely with Government departments, regulators, certification bodies and industry stakeholders to help support practical and effective implementation of ongoing reforms. The federation has submitted comments and feedback to the Government consultation on Construction Products Reform and continues to engage with proposals linked to the Building Safety Regulator and wider construction products reform programmes. DHF is also currently preparing comments on BS 8670-2 and gathering feedback from members to help inform its response.

The proposed reforms represent one of the most significant overhauls of construction product regulation in decades. Current proposals place greater emphasis on product traceability, accurate product information, digital record keeping, testing, certification and accountability throughout the supply chain.

“We are seeing a much greater focus on evidence based compliance, product traceability and demonstrable competence across the sector,” says Patricia. “There is also increased demand for third party certification, audited processes and stronger quality assurance. The industry has moved into a far more compliance focused environment. Organisations are expected to show clear systems around risk management, training and ongoing monitoring.”

In addition to its regulatory engagement work, DHF continues to support members through technical guidance, training programmes and competency development initiatives. This summer, it will launch its new Core Competence in Building Hardware Training Programme. 

The programme has been designed to help address knowledge gaps and improve technical understanding and compliance awareness relating to building hardware products. DHF has also contributed to the development of competence frameworks covering the installation of metal doorsets, industrial doors and shutters, and automated gates. These frameworks help define the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for safe and compliant installation.

“Competence is now central to regulatory expectations across the built environment,” concludes Patricia. “Compliance has to be ongoing, evidence-based and supported by properly trained people throughout the supply chain. At DHF, we remain fully committed to supporting the industry through guidance, training, technical leadership and competency development. The goal is to help create a safer and more compliant built environment for everyone.”

www.dhflonline.org.uk

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Access Garage Door Group Celebrates 50 Years of Success and Growth

The Access Garage Door Group is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of sustained growth, innovation and commitment to both the retail and trade sectors of the garage door industry.

Founded in 1976 by Stephen Trott in New Malden, Surrey, under the trading name S J Trott Limited, the business began during a memorable year that saw Concorde take to the skies on its first commercial flight to Bahrain, Britain endure its famous summer heatwave, and James Hunt crowned Formula One World Champion. From these early beginnings, Stephen steadily developed the company throughout the Southeast, building a reputation for quality products and exceptional customer service.

As the business expanded, it evolved under a number of well-known trading names. In 1986, the company became London Garage Doors before adopting the name Access Garage Doors and Gates Ltd in 1989. The same period also saw the launch of Capital Garage Doors, together with Sparesmaster, a specialist garage door parts supplier, while Garage Door Associates was established to support ambitious entrepreneurs looking to develop their own garage door businesses.

A key figure in the company’s development has been James Wright, who joined the business in 1987 as a branch manager before quickly progressing to company director. In 2008, he was appointed Managing Director and helped lead the company through a significant period of growth and diversification. Following the sad passing of founder Stephen Trott in 2020, James took personal responsibility for guiding the business through a difficult period while continuing to support the Trott family. Having worked alongside Stephen for many years, James regarded him not only as a colleague, but also as a close friend. Today, the company remains family-owned and operated, with Stephen’s wife and children continuing to oversee the group.

In September 2024, James stepped back from his role as Managing Director to take on a part-time director position within the business, allowing him to enjoy a more balanced home and work life. His son, Ashley Wright, was appointed Managing Director of the group, continuing the company’s strong tradition of family leadership and long-term commitment to the industry.

Today, the Access Garage Door Group operates as a successful and dynamic organisation across both the retail and trade sectors, with each division managed independently to ensure there is no conflict of interest. Its wholesale businesses, Capital Garage Doors and Sparesmaster, have grown into major industry players over the years. Sparesmaster now offers one of the largest ranges of garage door spares, tools and consumables available to the trade, while Capital Garage Doors has established itself as one of the UK’s leading trade suppliers. In addition to its core garage door offering, Capital now includes dedicated building plastics and industrial door divisions and undertakes projects for major developers throughout the South and Southwest of England.

Meanwhile, Access Garage Doors has expanded to six retail locations and recently acquired Dons Doors in Southampton. The acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to further strengthen the group’s retail presence across the South and Southeast. Dons Doors, a well-established business trading for nearly 20 years, adds coverage in a region previously untouched by the Access brand.

Looking ahead, 2026 will also see a renewed focus on expanding Garage Door Associates Ltd, the company’s franchise division, which supports and trains individuals looking to build successful businesses within the garage door industry. Eastbourne is the latest franchise location to open, with discussions already underway regarding a further franchise in Peterborough.

With its diverse operations, experienced workforce and strong infrastructure, the Access Garage Door Group is able to undertake projects that few others in the industry can match, from bespoke specialist installations to high-volume developments. The group currently employs 65 staff, including 18 installers and service engineers operating across the region, and continues to invest heavily in both its people and future growth.

Alongside its commercial success, the company remains committed to supporting charitable and community causes, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Salvation Army, local children’s football and rugby clubs, and Free Shop Crawley, which receives the group’s largest charitable donations.

To mark the milestone anniversary, the company will host summer celebrations with colleagues, customers and industry friends aboard a Thames River cruise, featuring food, drinks, live music and entertainment.

Commenting on the anniversary, Wolfgang Gorner, Managing Director at Hörmann UK, said: “Reaching 50 years in business is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of the strength, professionalism and vision that has driven Access Garage Door Group over the past five decades. We have worked alongside the company for many years and have seen first-hand its commitment to quality, customer service and continual investment in both people and the future of the industry, while maintaining the family values on which the business was founded. On behalf of everyone at Hörmann UK, I would like to congratulate the entire team on this remarkable milestone and wish them every success for the next 50 years.”

www.hormann.co.uk

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Ten Styles, Ten Colours, Ten Days

The Tremendous 10 promotion from Hörmann Truedor provides installers and dealers a compelling opportunity to capitalise on fast-turnaround composite doors that combine strong consumer appeal with excellent value for money.

The Tremendous 10 promotion offers a carefully curated range of 10 best-selling composite door styles, available in 10 popular colour options, all delivered in just 10 working days. With prices starting from £450.00 plus VAT, the promotion has been designed to help trade customers win more business while protecting margins.

The door styles have been specifically selected to reflect current market demand and include designs from the Hörmann Truedor Cottage, Traditional and Contemporary collections. This focused range makes it easy for installers to offer homeowners genuine choice without unnecessary complexity, supporting faster sales decisions and smoother ordering.

All doors are supplied with standard glazing where applicable and are available with white frames or Anthracite on white frames, alongside low aluminium thresholds as standard. Installers can also choose from three sill sizes, providing flexibility for a wide range of installation requirements.

Hardware specification is equally strong, with every door supplied complete with a multi-point locking system, chrome lever handle and letterbox, and Hörmann Truedor has recently enhanced the package further with the addition of a chrome knocker and spy hole at no extra cost.

Colour options have been chosen to reflect what homeowners are asking for most, ranging from classic Black, ever-popular Anthracite Grey and Chartwell Green, through to bold statement colours such as Ruby Red.

The 10 working day lead time applies as standard for factory-direct deliveries, while customers receiving doors via Hörmann despatch can expect delivery within 10 days plus their next scheduled run, providing reliability and consistency that installers can plan around with confidence.

Commenting on the promotion, Colin Grey, Sales Manager at Hörmann Truedor, said: “The Tremendous 10 promotion has been developed to give our trade customers a simple, competitive and highly saleable composite door offer. By focusing on 10 door styles, 10 colours and a 10-day delivery, we’re able to offer outstanding value without compromising on quality. It also gives installers the reassurance of fast, reliable service and doors that are sustainably manufactured here in the UK. This promotion is just one of several initiatives designed to actively support our customers in growing their composite door sales.”

For further details on the Hörmann Truedor range of composite doors visit Composite Front Doors - Hörmann Truedor and for information of the Tremendous 10 promotion contact the Hörmann Truedor sales team.

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Standing Out in a Crowded Market: The Value of Secured by Design

In a highly competitive marketplace, product differentiation is one of the greatest challenges facing manufacturers and suppliers of doors, windows, and hardware. With hundreds of companies competing for the attention of architects, developers, and specifiers, the question remains: how does a brand truly stand out?

For more than 700 forward-thinking companies, the answer lies in Secured by Design (SBD). As the official UK police security initiative, SBD offers the only way for products to achieve formal police recognition. It serves as a powerful market differentiator - a clear statement to customers that products are engineered to the highest recognised security standards.

What is Secured by Design?

A boom in housing construction during the 1980s had left a legacy of poorly designed estates where criminal activity could thrive. Recognising that the police service needed to move beyond reactive enforcement, the SBD initiative was created to embed crime prevention directly into the heart of building and landscape design. The driving force behind this success is a national network of police specialists: Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs).

DOCOs are highly trained police staff who provide specialist guidance to architects, developers, and local authority planners. Engaging at the earliest stages of a construction or refurbishment project, they apply proven design principles to minimise criminal opportunity - ranging from optimising natural surveillance to specifying robust physical security products.

The value of SBD membership

Through collaboration with DOCOs, developers can achieve SBD awards for their buildings. Because these standards are now integral to satisfying the official security requirements of Building Regulations across the UK, SBD-accredited products are consistently in high demand.

SBD membership delivers several strategic advantages:

• Official police recognition: SBD is the sole route to achieving UK police endorsement for products via its Police Preferred Specification accreditation scheme
• Specification: SBD-accredited products are the go-to choice for Police DOCOs. They are specified in new builds and major refurbishments daily, creating a consistent demand for your products
• Visibility: SBD members receive a dedicated profile on the SBD website, directly signposting buyers, architects, and large-scale developers to members products
• Industry connections: Membership grants access to the annual ATLAS conference, providing a unique platform to showcase innovations directly to these police officers who advise on security solutions at a local level

SBD does not merely award a logo; it maintains a strict partnership model. Ongoing requirements for re-testing and factory inspections ensure that the integrity of the brand remains protected, sheltering members from competition against substandard products.

The PSTI Act: Turning Regulatory Compliance into Advantage

The security landscape is no longer limited to physical barriers. For door and window manufacturers incorporating smart technology - such as keyless digital locks, status sensors, or smart home automation integrations - the regulatory environment has shifted.

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act is fully in force and while some manufacturers may not view their products as traditional IoT devices, the legislation defines ‘connectable products’ broadly. In addition, responsibility under the act extends across the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to distributors and retailers.

Compliance is mandatory, and the enforcement body, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), holds the authority to issue substantial penalties for non-compliance. However, proactive businesses are viewing this legislative shift not as a regulatory hurdle, but as an opportunity to build digital trust.

The Secure Connected Device Accreditation

To assist companies in navigating this digital transition, SBD developed the Secure Connected Device accreditation in consultation with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

This rigorous program goes beyond the baseline requirements of the PSTI Act, assessing products against all 13 provisions of the ETSI EN 303 645 standard. Achieving this accreditation grants products the SBD Secure Connected Device accreditation badge, signalling to specifiers that their smart technology is resilient against modern cyber threats. Furthermore, an annual appraisal process ensures continued compliance as cyber threats and government frameworks evolve.

Lead the Market. Gain a Competitive Edge. Become Secured by Design

Secured by Design offers a path to demonstrating excellence in both physical and digital security. By aligning with the UK's official police initiative, you translate a commitment to quality into a market advantage, positioning your products as the trusted choice for specifiers and consumers alike.

For membership details and technical enquiries, visit www.securedbydesign.com

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ASSA ABLOY acquires Sentinel Dock & Door in Canada

ASSA ABLOY has acquired Sentinel Dock & Door (“Sentinel”), a commercial dock and door service company based in Canada.

"I am very pleased to welcome Sentinel to ASSA ABLOY. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to strengthen our position in mature markets through adding complementary products and solutions to our core business,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

"The acquisition of Sentinel significantly strengthens our direct channel presence, including service, and broadens our footprint across Canada. With their strong, service-oriented business and well-established operational platform, we are well-positioned to accelerate growth in the market," says Massimo Grassi, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of Entrance Systems Division.

Sentinel was founded in 1983 and has some 375 employees. The company is headquartered in Ontario with coverage across Canada. Sentinel will be part of the Business Segment Industrial within the Entrance Systems Division.

Sales for 2025 amounted to about MCAD 137 (approx. MSEK 960) with a good EBIT margin. The acquisition will be accretive to EPS from the start.

www.assaabloy.com

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Hörmann Truedor Roadshows Showcase Installer Growth Opportunities

Hörmann Truedor has successfully completed a series of roadshows across the UK, designed to demonstrate how entrance door installers can unlock new business growth through its composite door offering and comprehensive dealer support package.

Held as informal early morning events, the roadshows brought together installers over coffee and breakfast to explore opportunities to expand their product portfolios. The Hörmann Truedor team were on hand to outline how the range of UK-manufactured composite doors, backed by Hörmann’s engineering expertise, strong brand reputation and nationwide infrastructure, can provide a high-quality, consumer-focused addition to existing offerings.

A key highlight of the events was the introduction of Hörmann’s latest consumer marketing initiative, Hörmann Street. This targeted social media campaign, inspired by popular UK soap operas, features a fictional street and a cast of recurring characters navigating everyday drama, relationships and suspense. Each episode subtly integrates the features and benefits of Hörmann Truedor composite doors, aiming to drive traffic to the company’s website and generate genuine homeowner enquiries.

Attendees were given an exclusive preview of the campaign, which received an overwhelmingly positive response. Installers praised both the creativity and execution, recognising its potential to engage homeowners and support lead generation.

Hörmann confirmed that all enquiries generated through the campaign will be directed to approved dealers via its new online Installer Finder, offering installers a clear commercial advantage. To help maximise conversion rates, the company has also implemented a suite of practical sales tools and support, including an advanced online Door Designer, product training, marketing resources and ongoing technical assistance.

In addition to the long-term growth potential, installers attending the roadshows were offered a range of launch incentives, including a £1,500 door voucher package, a 750-point sign-up bonus for the Hörmann Rewards programme and free access to the Door Designer for the first year.

Overall, the roadshows provided installers with a concise and engaging introduction to partnering with Hörmann Truedor, highlighting how the company can help drive demand, attract new customers and increase profitability within the composite door sector.

www.hormann.co.uk

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Garador celebrates its local factory

Garador recently joined in the celebrations for the official Somerset Day 2026; organised by Passion for Somerset, a community interest company dedicated to making their county special.

Garador is certainly a main flag flyer for the county; it has been helping to lead the garage door manufacturing industry for over 75 years and still has its headquarters and factory based in South Somerset.

In the 1950s, Garador was introducing to the country the first ever one piece up and over garage doors. Now it still helps to lead the way with its very latest range of Up and Over garage doors… all engineered to deliver dependable performance, lasting security and effortless operation along with ever evolving new designs, colours and finishes.

Ben Parking, Marketing Manager of Garador, said: “At Garador, we’re proud to call Somerset home. From our manufacturing base here in Yeovil to homes right across the UK, Somerset’s heritage of craftmanship, hard work and innovation inspires everything we do.”

Find out more about Garador by visiting the new website on www.garador.co.uk or call Garador customer service on 01935 443700.

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AC Cars unveils new production AC Cobra GT Coupe

AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has revealed the brutal new AC Cobra GT Coupe in production form. Unifying the historic AC Cobra’s iconic aesthetic with a fixed roofline and curvilinear rear, the GT Coupe represents a new era for the company which is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding.

Unmistakable in origin, and presenting a more focused and aggressive stance than its GT Roadster stablemate, the physical unveiling of the AC Cobra GT Coupe shows the scale and drama of the supercar for the first time. Drawing on motorsport derived details to sharpen its on-road presence, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe is a thoroughbred example of sophisticated ferocity.

Sharing roughly 75% of its engineering with the GT Roadster, the new model benefits from comprehensive enhancements developed during testing and development.

Available in both left and right-hand drive and powered by a sonorous 5.0-litre V8, delivering up to 730 PS, the car features AC’s own extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis and unique carbon fibre bodywork to deliver a benchmark driving experience.

Speaking at the premiere, David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “The AC Cobra GT Coupe is unique in the history of AC Cars and, with production of the GT Roadster now underway, it shows the road ahead for the company as we build and deliver cars for existing customers. AC Cars continues to invest in its operations, and develop new partnerships.

"This will provide the catalyst to take AC Cars from around 100 hand-built cars a year currently up to no more than 1000 cars across all models in total. As we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the company, I want to thank the entire team for their dedication as we move from a boutique manufacturer to a global performance brand. However, we will still retain the craftmanship and exclusivity that our clients respect.”

Extremely limited in production, with each example built specifically for its client, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will start at approximately £234,300 + taxes for the naturally aspirated model, while the supercharged model starts from £256,300 + taxes. The first examples will be delivered in 2028 – after initial GT Roadster deliveries are completed.

Consultations for the allocation of the AC Cobra GT Coupe are now available via ac.cars

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