The Door Industry Journal: September 2020

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

SWS UK Says Farewell to Philip Cooper and Welcomes Mark Podmore

After almost 25 years working for SWS UK, it is almost time for the manufacturer to say goodbye to Philip Cooper who is about to embark on his retirement.

Many of SWS UK’s distributors will be familiar with Philip who has enjoyed an efficacious and varied career with the company. Starting out in the Sales office back in the mid-90s, Philip soon progressed to Marketing Manager where he spent nine years as a member of the Senior Management team.

In 2006 Philip transferred his customer service skills and industry knowledge over to the role of Regional Sales Manager.

During his time on the road, Philip has represented SWS UK in many regional areas, including Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the North East and West of England and the Midlands; perhaps making him the company’s best travelled RSM!

‘I’ve enjoyed my career with SWS UK and have been lucky enough to meet some wonderful people, both customers and colleagues. I’m pleased to be handing over the reins into the very capable hands of my successor Mark, who I’m certain will become an invaluable member of the Sales team.

‘During my retirement I’m looking forward to spending less time on the road, and more time in the air as I hope to enjoy more foreign travel with my family.’

Meet Mark Podmore, SWS UK’s New Regional Sales Manager

SWS UK are delighted to announce that Mark Podmore accepted the role of Regional Sales Manager and started in August, with a territory covering the South West of England

With a career spanning over twenty years in sales, after sales and account management, Mark comes equipped with a wealth of skills, perfectly suited to the role and will be a proficient point of contact for their distributors.

Mark says ‘I am most looking forward to the next chapter of my career and am excited to become part of an established and well-respected manufacturer. I am really looking forward to developing and evolving new relationships with my customers, colleagues and affiliates.’

In his spare time, Mark loves listening to music and especially enjoys seeing live acts. He is also an avid movie lover and has recently taken up mountain biking and cycling.

SWS UK are excited to be welcoming Mark into the SWS Sales team and are confident that his high value on excellent customer services, paired with his efficient and friendly manner will make him the perfect ambassador for SWS UK.

www.sws.co.uk

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Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Breaking Ground for Jewers Doors at the site of their new Headquarters

Jewers Doors’ Directors are breaking ground at the site of their new purpose-built factory and office building in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

Milton Keynes based Parkway Construction are building the new premises at Juno Place on Stratton Business Park, only a quarter of a mile from their current site.

Comprising of 45,700 sqft of factory and over 12,000 sqft of office space, it will more than double their existing facilities.

Established in 1983 and still a family run business, Jewers have been at their current UK Headquarters since 1993.

But with the workforce growing and now with offices in the Middle East, North America and Europe, they have made the decision to construct a purpose designed workshop and offices to design and manufacture their range of industrial sliding folding doors, aircraft hangar doors and bespoke industrial door solutions.

Contractor - Parkway Construction, Milton Keynes

Architect – Woods Hardwick, Bedford

Structural Consultants – ACIES

M&E Consultants – Cudd Bentley

For more information about Jewers Doors and their products please visit jewersdoors.co.uk

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Monday, 28 September 2020

Alutech Sectional Garage Door is the Perfect Canvas for Hebble House Mural

2020 Design on the Alutech Sectional Door

The mural on the garage door of Hebble House in Hebden bridge has become a focal point in the town centre and is often photographed by passers-by.

In previous years, the mural had been painted onto a wooden door that had begun to perish in the elements. So, homeowner Mike Green decided to the replace it with an Alutech aluminium L-rib sectional garage door, with built-in wicket door for additional access and Levigato automation for ease of opening.

The insulated aluminium panels provide the perfect non-corrosive substrate to ensure the mural looks its best all year round.

2019 Design on Original Door

Mike is always looking for artists to paint the next mural, which is renewed annually, and he usually receives 5-8 designs each year. Mike and his family enjoy reviewing the submissions and pay for the chosen artist’s time and materials.

This year Wilf Dessent, an illustrator and creator from Leeds, used spray paint to create the new mural on the Alutech sectional garage door. Wilf’s signature style has also been commissioned for designs inside local bars and venues and used on album cover artwork by bands from Manchester and Sweden.

2018 Design on Original Door

The idea to invite an artist to paint a mural on the garage door initially came about in response to a graffiti issue in Hebden Bridge, an area of Huddersfield renowned for its artistic community. Since the first Hebble House mural in 2018, other properties and businesses have followed suit, creating works of art to be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike.

To have your artwork considered for display on the next mural, please submit your design to info@tapwater.org

For more information about Alutech sectional garage doors, please email info@jdukltd.co.uk , call 01924 472924, visit www.jdukltd.co.uk or find them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Sunday, 27 September 2020

Miniature Land Rovers built upon Mobility Scooters get safety makeover from IN2 Access

Eddie Hewett, his son George, niece Isla, and brother Dudley Hewett

Eddie Hewett, from Surrey, contacted IN2 Access with a unique problem – he and his brother built two “miniature Land Rovers” for their children built upon 24 volt mobility scooters.

However, being heavy and powerful, he was concerned about safety - “We feel they could do some damage if the driver lost control,” he said.

Safety edges fitted across the front and back could act as “bumpers” – cutting the power in the event of an impact, but would it be a straightforward installation?

Safety edge on front bumper of the mini-Land Rover

Solution: Derek Foreman, Sales Director at Oswestry-based IN2 Access & Control Ltd., worked with Eddie on a solution. They used a combination of BBC Bircher’s ClickLine safety edge front and back, connected to the electric motor drive system via BS02-E02 safety controller.

Safety edge on rear bumper of the mini-Land Rover

“As the models were based on 24V mobility scooter drive systems, they already braked as soon as power was disconnected so we just needed to design a manual reset system so that when the edge was released, the vehicle would not lunge forward again,” Derek explained.

Eddie located the reset button on the “dash” amongst the other buttons and switches. The manual reset was achieved by way of using a latching relay with two outputs: one for vehicle “Drive” and the other for “Reset LED” and dual reset inputs.

A second relay was used to switch the system off when the edge monitoring BS02 controller was interrupted by an edge activation.

In order to restore the drive system, the reset button had to be pressed before the vehicle would operate. This was also the case for initial startup, ensuring maximum safety.

“I was pleased with how the Land Rovers turned out and appreciate the support we received from Derek and IN2 Access,” Eddie says. “There were a few electrical niggles that needed working out, but Derek was able to help me troubleshoot, and guide me to a solution that worked. Everything is all fitted now and it looks great.”

“When I first heard Eddie’s request I thought what a great idea,” Derek said. “IN2 Access was happy to help find the right solution for this novel application. We had a few technical things to iron out as it’s never as straightforward as you have in your mind, but I’m glad we got there in the end. The end results look fantastic. I hope Eddie’s children know how lucky they are!”

“The children seem to be driving very responsibly, much to our surprise,” said Eddie. “We had a few little mishaps on the first day but they seem to have learned fine control of the throttle very quickly.”

For additional information regarding this case or for bespoke solutions to a unique problem, contact IN2 Access & Control via email sales@in2access.co.uk, telephone 01691 655150, or visit www.in2access.co.uk.

Images Copyright: Mr. Eddie Hewett

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Saturday, 26 September 2020

Door & Hardware Federation supports Fire Door Safety Week 2020

Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) is demonstrating its continuing support for Fire Door Safety Week, a national safety awareness campaign that was first launched in 2013.

Held this year from 21-27 September, the campaign seeks to raise awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in protecting life and property, drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance. It is the brainchild of the British Woodworking Federation, supported by the BWF Fire Door Alliance.

DHF has been a long-standing supporter of the objectives of Fire Door Safety Week, and a fierce and passionate advocate for third-party certification of manufacture, installation, maintenance and inspection of fire and smoke doors.

It has been particularly vocal since the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy. In March 2019, in collaboration with Secured by Design (SBD) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA), DHF published a guidance document on flat entrance doorsets: A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets; A publication for housing associations, landlords, building owners and local authorities in England, which highlights the fundamental issues of fire safety for those selecting fire doorsets.

This publication can be downloaded from the DHF website: www.dhfonline.org.uk

DHF was also actively involved in the technical committees of the Industry Response Group, formed in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Report: ‘Building a Safer Future’, and also works on BSI Standards Committees, with compliance authorities HSE and Trading Standards as well as fire safety organisations in the UK and Europe.

As part of DHF’s Reachout Programme, at the beginning of 2020, and just before the UK entered ‘lockdown’, the organisation hosted a free fire safety seminar (11th February) at their training academy in Tamworth with a further one scheduled for 17th March that unfortunately had to be postponed.

The seminar was utlilised by those with responsibility for compliance, fire safety, asset management and procurement within local authorities and housing associations in the West Midlands area. DHF plans to roll these out again at the beginning of 2021; should lockdown restrictions persist, DHF can offer these via an online portal. DHF will also have a presence at the FIT Show in May 2021 at Birmingham’s NEC and will form part of their education programme.

“We are delighted to continue our support of Fire Door Safety Week and hope that our collective message, that fire doors should be correctly installed with robust fire door maintenance procedures in place as a key part of fire safety, is heard,” said DHF’s Head of Commercial Operations, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “In addition, we look forward to welcoming delegates to our future fire safety seminars, be they face-to-face, or online.”

For further information on Fire Door Safety Week, please visit: www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk

Find out more about the Door & Hardware Federation call 01827 52337 or visit www.dhfonline.org.uk

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Friday, 25 September 2020

Franchi Covid-Safe Products Win Hands Down

The door handle is probably the only part of a building that touched by every person coming in and out – and that makes them a potential hot spot for passing on viruses and bacteria.

As facilities managers and specifiers look for ways to adapt buildings to make them COVID-safe, Franchi plc has put together a raft of products to adapt doors with lever and pull handles to touch free operation, plus a suite of coatings and finishes which make door furniture safer and more COVID-secure.

Franchi Freehand is a range of products that quickly and simply convert lever and pull handles to hand-free operation – either using a forearm or foot. The Franchi Free Hand FR101 is a forearm shield for lever handles while the FreeHand FR102 works with pull handles.

Both offer a fast, simple temporary solution to the problem of infection transmission from hand to handle and from handle to hand. They can be quickly and easily installed on any 19-25mm diameter or square lever handle (FR101) or 19-38mm diameter round and some, also some square and oval section pull handles (FR102).

The Franchi Free Hand FR103 Lever Handle Door Opener is an innovative device that offers foot operation of a door for hands free functionality. A lever, pressed with the foot, operates the lever handle and allows the door to be opened with the foot.

The Franchi Freehand StepNpull can also be used on sliding as well as pivoting doors when fitted horizontally. Manufactured in robust stainless steel, the Franchi Freehand StepNpull is available in silver or black.

Franchi was established in 1970 in by Guerrino Franchi, and the business that bears his name is still family owned and run. In fifty years the company has built a reputation for providing a friendly, expert and efficient service for professional tradesmen, architects and contractors.

Franchi operates a wide variety of services - from locksmith and key cutting service from its four London branches that stock over 25,000 items, through to ironmongery specifications on some of the most prestigious residential, commercial, retail and leisure developments in the UK.

Franchi Glass is the leading supplier of architectural ironmongery fittings for glass doors as well as metal and timber door sets and now offers a bespoke product service for framed and frameless glass doors.

www.franchiglass.co.uk/freehand

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Thursday, 24 September 2020

Fire Door Safety Week: launch of new webinar series for installers

Fire door professionals are being encouraged to attend a series of free webinars to ensure they are following the latest best practice guidance on installation, maintenance and inspection.

The first webinar, “Fire Doors – the consequence of complacency”, will take place on Friday 25 September as part of Masonite UK’s support for Fire Door Safety Week.

It will focus on what happens when fire doors do not perform as they should and the consequences of this. Hannah Mansell, Group Technical Director for Masonite UK, will take attendees through a review of fire door safety, the consequences of complacency and will also host a Q&A session.

“Every single person involved in the chain of managing fire safety products needs to understand their legal and moral responsibilities for keeping the building occupants safe,” said Hannah. “It is not just a case of being trained once and considering oneself an expert; it’s about making sure that training is done on a regular basis and that anyone who is responsible for fire and building safety is completely competent; including everyone who is involved in the construction and maintenance of a building.

“These stakeholders must understand that when they chose to be involved in the construction sector, they are essentially signing up to do work, that one day, may save someone’s life. Those that do not hold themselves accountable are playing an extremely dangerous game.”

For more information on the webinar and to sign up, visit: bit.ly/Masonite-UK-webinars

www.masonite.com

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Wednesday, 23 September 2020

60% of Local Authorities delay Fire Door Maintenance and Inspection Programmes – leaving safety to chance

Over half (52%) of UK local authorities responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reported delays to planned fire door maintenance and replacement in the first half of 2020. The number rises to 60% when inspection delays are also factored in.

For building occupants and the fire services, fire doors play a life-saving role in holding back the spread of fire and smoke to help keep corridors and emergency exits clear. With more people spending time in their homes due to COVID-19, this year Fire Door Safety Week explores the state of fire door maintenance and replacement programmes across local authority-managed housing.

According to the data, at least 26,318 fire doors were scheduled for maintenance or replacement between January and June 2020, but 16,580 did not progress – meaning 63% of individual planned works were delayed until at least the second half of the year, affecting a minimum of 9,954 individual properties.

The data, obtained for Fire Door Safety Week, is based on responses from 147 local authorities that own and manage their own housing stock – not including areas where property is solely managed by private registered providers or housing associations.

Not all responding local authorities provided reasons for delay, but over half (53%) of those experiencing delays cited COVID-19-related restrictions, including limited property access and availability of contractors due to social distancing guidelines. However, it was positive that several local authorities proactively mentioned that emergency repair works to fire doors continued throughout the lockdown period to maintain the safety of residents.

Of those local authorities that experienced delays, 65% intend to commence works by the end of the year. This signals that the majority recognise the importance of properly fitted and maintained fire doors. However, worryingly 31% of local authorities stated that they are yet to define a date for recommencing the planned works.

Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation, which organises Fire Door Safety Week, said:

“It is clear COVID-19 has understandably impacted on service delivery across a variety of sectors, but fires do not stop. With the UK lockdown period forcing many people to spend more time at home, people without fit for purpose fire doors have been put at risk. There is a need for continued and urgent focus on ensuring the safety of all building occupants whether in local authority or privately-rented accommodation, workplaces or other building types.”

Discussing local authority plans to recommence delayed works, Helen Hewitt said:

“It’s encouraging to see that over half of local authorities experiencing delays are due to recommence or complete their scheduled fire door replacement and maintenance in the second half of 2020. For those yet to define a date to recommence works, it is vital local authorities take action to replace or maintain fire doors that have been identified by inspectors as soon as possible.

“The construction industry has worked hard to ensure that it is COVID-secure, and now there is a need to act to ensure individuals living and working in properties have safe and compliant fire doors. We hope Fire Door Safety Week will draw attention to these important issues and encourage all with responsibility for fire doors to take urgent action.”

Fire door inspections

In addition to delays to maintenance and replacement in the first half of the year, 31% of all responding local authorities stated their fire door inspection programmes were delayed, affecting at least 12,596 fire doors.

On inspections, Helen Hewitt commented:

“Regular inspections, carried out by trained and competent professionals, are essential in identifying damage that may prevent a fire door from performing in the event of a fire. If a damaged door goes unidentified it cannot perform its life-saving role. We urge all local authorities and building owners to restart inspections as soon as possible, if they haven’t already, as fire doors can become damaged at any time, especially where they are frequently used.”

The findings follow an open letter from the London Fire Brigade to all housing providers in the Capital urging them to put plans in place ahead of new fire safety legislation coming into effect. The letter strongly advises building owners to consider the risks of existing fire doors in their fire risk assessments, regardless of the height of the building.

Commenting on fire door standards, Helen Hewitt said:

“The Building Safety Bill and Fire Safety Bill, both currently going through Parliament, will place a greater responsibility on building owners to ensure risks are identified and improvements made where necessary. Our message to all building owners is: ‘stay ahead of the game and do not get left behind when it comes to bringing all fire doors up to the correct standard’.”

About Fire Door Safety Week (21-27 September 2020)

Fire Door Safety Week, the brainchild of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), was launched in 2013 in response to a legacy of fire door neglect. It is a ‘mass market’ awareness campaign to increase public understanding of the role that fire doors play in protecting life and property.

Guidance on fire door safety is provided through the campaign’s Toolkit – visit www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk to find out more.

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Tuesday, 22 September 2020

New Fire Door Safety Guidance launched for Local Authorities and Housing Associations

Local authorities and housing associations can now access free guidance on self-closing devices for fire doors.

The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers’ (GAI) has launched a new door closer safety checklist in line with building safety advice issued by the UK Government for building owners.

The new GAI 10 Point Checklist is designed to assist landlords and building owners as they carry out checks. It includes details on how to carry out initial visual inspections and operational checks to ensure self-closing devices will perform as expected in the event of a fire.

It highlights factors that could impact on a fire door’s ability to perform properly such as a damaged or leaking door closer. It also provides recommendations on the safe operation and maintenance of fire doors.

Douglas Masterson, technical manager of the GAI, said:

“We hope to assist those involved in the routine maintenance of door closing devices by providing them with the information they need in an easy-to-use and accessible format to ensure that this potentially lifesaving fire door hardware is in working order and up to standard.

“If at any point local authorities and housing associations are unsure or have any technical queries, they should reach out to a Registered Architectural Ironmonger (RegAI) for guidance on the next steps to take.”

The Door Closer 10 Point Checklist is available to download from the GAI website.

Social landlords can also download the Specifiers Guide for Fire and Escape Doors for further information on fire door hardware.

The Specifier’s Guide to Ironmongery for Fire and Escape Doors emphasises the critical role of fire and escape doors and the importance of correctly specified architectural ironmongery.

It explains different types of fire and escape doors and details the corresponding essential ironmongery, seals and signage including the standards to which they must adhere.

www.gai.org.uk/IndustryUpdates

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Monday, 21 September 2020

Alpha Deuren Alu-40 Panoramic Sectionals specified for Farnborough Airport Fire Station.

Southern Industrial Doors Ltd worked closely with their partners Alpha Deuren and the Fire Service Manager at Farnborough Airport Fire Station to provide the perfect Appliance Bay Door solution.

Southern Industrial Doors Ltd were appointed to supply and install nine Alpha Deuren Alu-40 Panoramic Sectional Doors with High Speed inverter GFA Door Drives providing operating speeds/opening times 3 x time faster than normal.

Part of the strict specification was that all Doors on the front elevation open at the same time in the event of an emergency call.

This was achieved by linking our Doors to the Crash Alarm Panel which triggers lighting and extraction for the Appliances and other Emergency controls.

Southern Industrial Doors installed a relay control panel above the six exit doors with a normally open signal to each Doors open command, via the GFA TS971 Control Panel.

Then once the alarm has been reset the Doors have a 4 minute timer before self-closing, made possible by installing an Optical Safety Edge and Send and Receive Photo- Cells.

One of the front and rear elevation doors are equipped with an integrated wicket/personnel door within the main door this additional feature enables pedestrian access to the station without the need for the main door to open helping to maintain the internal temperature as best as possible.

Farnborough Airport Crash Test Opening Video

The Farnborough Aiport Fire Station Manager commented:

“At Farnborough Airport we were in need of some updates to our Fire Station appliance bay doors. Southern Industrial doors assisting in reviewing the various options and prices and helped us to decide on the correct doors for our premises and budget.

“The whole process was very smooth and the installation was efficient and professional and the attention to detail resulted in an excellent outcome that the users and owners were very pleased with“.

For more information about the doors or the installation company please visit:

www.alpha-deuren.nl/en or www.southernindustrialdoors.co.uk

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Sunday, 20 September 2020

How the Electrifying Ford Mustang Mach-E will put smiles on Faces Across Europe

Whether testing on frozen lakes, in searing deserts, or using state-of-the-art driving simulators, Ford’s engineering teams worked across the globe to develop an all-electric Mustang Mach E that delivers a true Mustang driving experience for customers around the world.

And when it comes to knowing exactly what sets European drivers’ pulses racing, or helps them unwind and relax, nobody understands the region’s customers better than the team at Ford’s testing facility in Lommel, Belgium.

Here, unique suspension, steering, powertrain and even driver assistance technology characteristics were combined to produce a Mustang Mach-E that matches European drivers’ expectations of Ford’s first-ever purpose-built all-electric vehicle.

See the car in action - watch the video

“With today’s technology we can tailor a vehicle in the virtual world so that our early prototypes are well on their way to delivering the right character. However, that critical last 10 per cent can only be defined on the road,” said Geert Van Noyen, manager, Vehicle Dynamics, Ford of Europe.

“Mustang Mach-E’s balanced and responsive all-electric platform meant we could tailor the fun-to-drive experience, whether on Norway’s twisty Trollstigen mountain road, high-speed German autobahn or bumpy British B-roads.”

Key to Mustang Mach-E’s inherently sporty character are responsive electric motors powering the wheels and a battery located centrally, beneath the floor for a low centre of gravity.

Using the Lommel test facility’s 65 miles of test tracks – which recreate road surfaces from Belgian pavé to French cobbles, and feature replicas of road surfaces from countries including the UK, Germany and Spain – Ford engineers delivered a distinctive European feel.

Europe’s typically narrower, more twisty roads with higher speed limits than other regions require unique responses from the Mustang Mach-E’s connected and confident steering, supported by specially selected settings for the suspension system’s shock absorbers, springs and anti-roll bars.

Even the tyres have been specially chosen to deliver the ideal balance of grip and ride comfort across the region’s wide variety of road surfaces and weather conditions.

Mustang Mach-E’s smooth and stable ride is even more essential for the high speeds encountered on European motorways. Evaluation of the all-electric model’s high-speed cruising characteristics – including interior refinement – took place on German autobahns and at the Lommel facility’s 140 mph, 2.5-mile banked circuit.

“Using pure-electric power means the Mustang Mach-E interior is very quiet, and that makes preventing unwanted noise and vibration from reaching the interior even more important,” van Noyen said.

Driver assistance technologies including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Centring1 interpret road signs and lane markings across the continent, to ensure drivers benefit from the same intuitive and stress-free driving experience regardless of where they live, work or holiday.

In addition, the immediate electric power delivery provides the sporty responses favoured by European drivers. Mustang Mach-E’s all-wheel drive system applies torque independently to the front and rear wheels for improved acceleration and handling. Ford’s engineers rigorously tested the system to ensure it delivers the quintessential rear-wheel drive Mustang feel in conditions from Scandinavian snow to a Spanish summer.

And the ability to adjust the Mustang Mach-E driving experience isn’t only in the hands of Ford engineers. Drivers can choose from Whisper, Active and Untamed Drive Modes. Each mode delivers unique settings for steering, accelerator pedal and deceleration feel, ambient lighting and even vehicle sounds to match the experience to the driver’s mood.

See the car in action - watch the video

Ford also recently completed a tour of Norway – one of Europe’s most progressive markets for electrified vehicles – with Mustang Mach-E, helping provide insight into the model’s day-to-day operation using the existing charging infrastructure.

In real-world conditions, the extended-range battery, all-wheel drive model with a targeted WLTP driving range of 335 miles exceeded energy-efficiency expectations, travelling 301 miles non-stop from Oslo to Trondheim, finishing the journey with 14 per cent battery capacity remaining.

Mustang Mach-E is targeted to deliver a pure-electric WLTP driving range of up to 379 miles in extended range-battery, rear-wheel drive configuration.2 Latest testing shows charge time has improved by nearly 30 per cent from early estimates, reaching an average of 73 miles of range within 10 minutes using IONITY fast charging, when equipped with an extended-range battery and rear-wheel drive.3

“If there was one thing we wanted to achieve globally with the Mustang Mach-E, it was to produce an electric vehicle that would deserve to wear the Mustang badge,” Van Noyen said.

Mustang Mach-E is available to pre-order now at www.ford.co.uk

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Saturday, 19 September 2020

Origin Bounces Back to Business

Origin, the UK’s leading manufacturer of aluminium doors and windows, has adapted quickly to the new COVID-19 regulations, bouncing back strongly from lockdown to ensure it is business as usual for its Partners.

In fact, in July 2020, Origin received 30 percent more orders than in the same time frame the previous year.

Daniel Baker, Origin’s new Managing Director, comments:

“COVID-19 was obviously an incredibly difficult time for most businesses, with those operating in the manufacturing industry particularly feeling the pressures of lockdown. Thankfully, we have come out the other side and business is strong. This is in part due to our ability to adapt and innovate quickly, us being able to confidently offer a reliable service to customers new and old, as well as the demand being driven as consumers are wanting a change after spending so long in their homes over lockdown. To have 30 percent more orders than from July 2019 is remarkable given the circumstances.”

Origin’s ability to react to change quickly has allowed it to steal a march on the rest of the market in terms of lead times and consistently of being able to deliver on time and in full. It has been well documented that Origin’s ‘Your Lead Time, Not Ours’ promise changed the way in which the manufacture of bespoke products was viewed. The company has triumphed again, this time, with the speed at which it was able to bring its lead times back down to normal after lockdown, whilst the rest of the industry struggles to compete.

Origin Partners have become accustomed to an unrivalled service, which ensures they stand out above the crowd in a busy marketplace. The Partners will be relieved at the speed Origin has been able to recover, meaning that they never have to miss an install day and are able to get pre-lockdown projects back on track, improving their financial performance and reputation in the process.

Daniel Baker continues:

“We have had to adapt the way in which we run on a day to day basis, incorporating all of the necessary social distancing and quarantine rules. We started out relatively slowly, with longer lead times than we are used to, but through innovative thinking and introducing different shift patterns in the factory, we have been able to bring the lead times across all of our products back in line with what we and our Partners are used to. It has been a big challenge to overcome, but one we have tackled head on.”

In July alone, the Origin factory manufactured enough doors to cover five kilometres when fully pushed open. To put that into perspective, that is the same distance as fifteen and a half Eiffel Towers, or doors stretching 60 percent of the way up Everest, in just one month.

Daniel Baker concludes:

“In the current economic climate, no business can afford to lose money unnecessarily, so we take our part in the business success of our Partners incredibly seriously. Our Partners are vital to us as a business, so we support them wherever we can, providing them with the necessary tools for success, and us being able to deliver makes their offering a lot more competitive.”

For more information about Origin or becoming an Origin Partner, please visit www.origin-global.com.

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Friday, 18 September 2020

Assa Abloy Door Group Educate on the Importance of Fire Door Inspections in Schools

With this year’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign running 21-27 September, Door Group – a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland – is calling for higher standards of fire door inspections within education buildings.

Shockingly, there are over 1,000 school fires a year in the UK, costing an average of £2.8m in larger incidents, with one education insurer reporting that the large majority of UK schools are found to have ‘poor’ fire protection systems .

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires schools to undertake risk assessments to identify the general fire precautions needed to safeguard the safety of occupants in case of fire, including their safe means of escape. But with fire protection systems failing time and time again, it is clear that more needs to be done.

Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, and regular inspections are essential to fully ensure health and safety measures are met. Education buildings can present highly specific requirements for fire doorsets, with particularly varied legislation and building regulations surrounding fire doors in schools.

As part of its commitment to fire door safety, Door Group provide a fully comprehensive inspection which can be carried out every three, four, six or 12 months to suit specific requirements.

Following inspections, Door Group offers detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements, with the knowledge that identifying any potential issues that could impact safety and product performance can be lifesaving.

If any issues do occur, a tailored repair proposal is issued to include anything from replacement doors to a regular maintenance program. Door Group inspectors are BRE-certified and will ensure that all fire doors inspected meet all necessary standards and regulations.

Brian Sofley, Managing Director for ASSA ABLOY Door Group, explains:

“The figures we’re seeing regarding fires in the education sector are terrifying. An education building should be a safe and secure place for students and staff to work and learn, yet in recent inspections we have found a significant percentage (in some cases >90%) of fire doorsets in schools failing to meet fire compliancy requirements.

“Door Group is committed to making schools, colleges and universities across the UK fire protected. With regular and thorough inspections, we can ensure the compliance and performance of fire doorsets in an effort to improve overall fire safety in the educational environment.”

For more information please visit www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk.

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