The Door Industry Journal: October 2022

Monday, 31 October 2022

Autumnal Breaks in the UK Mean Fire Safety is as Critical as Ever

From the rugged coastline of Cornwall to the tumbling leaves of the New Forest and the heather clad Highlands, the UK is a wonderful place to take an autumnal break. Especially when you can spend a cosy evening in front of an open fire or wood burner.

It’s no wonder that so called ‘staycations’ are still very much the order of the day for many UK holidaymakers.

To meet the demand, the number of UK holiday homes has risen by 40%. But the rapid increase has brought with it several concerns. Top amongst them is fire safety.

The Fire Door Inspection Scheme says that last year a staggering 75% of UK fire doors failed inspection, the majority of which are in rented buildings. Given the rapid increase in holiday cottage lets, and the number with real fires, it’s possible that some of these rentals don’t meet fire safety standards.

At least one holiday let landlord has been fined for breach of fire safety regulations. The owner of a self-catering premises in Perranporth, Cornwall, was ordered to pay nearly £4,000 in fines and costs after his premises failed to meet fire safety regulations. But a fine is not the worst that could happen, summing up the case the magistrate said, “Potentially people could have died. Luckily this did not occur.”

Whether you’re renting a holiday home, or renting one out, it’s important to know the safety requirements. From shepherd’s huts in Scotland, to cottages in Clovelly, here’s an overview of a landlord’s main fire safety duties:

Fire safety measures

Multi-purpose fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, a fire blanket and fire exit signage must be included within all holiday homes.

Fire detection and carbon monoxide detectors

At least one smoke alarm must be installed on every floor of a rented property. A carbon monoxide alarm must also be fitted to any room that contains a solid fuel burning appliance such as a coal fire or wood burning stove. Landlords must test alarms at the start of every tenancy.

As of February, all homes in Scotland must also have an interlinked fire alarm system. It’s the first of the UK nations to pass this legislation in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, and it means that if one alarm goes off, all alarms go off.

Electrical fire and gas safety

Landlords must also ensure that all electrical appliances, circuits, and fixed installations within the property are safe. Although not a legal requirement, landlords are also advised to obtain an Electrical Safety Certificate that provides proof that a qualified electrical engineer has inspected the premises. Insurance may be invalid if this inspection has not been carried out.

With regards to gas, properties that use gas supply for central heating or cooking appliances, must hold a valid Gas Safety Certificate. These appliances must be regularly maintained and serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Furniture safety

To comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988, landlords must ensure that all furniture is “fire resistant” by checking the manufacturers permanent label which signifies compliance.

Fire doors

Fire doors are worth singling out for attention as they are often neglected, and many UK fire doors fail inspection. They play a vital role in helping to stop the spread of heat and smoke, protecting lives as well as buildings, and are an essential requirement for flats, or houses with loft conversions. They are also recommended for the kitchens of all rented properties.

What more can you do?

Another way landlords can help to ensure maximum protection against a fire is to install fire rated locks with fire kits. FireKit by Codelocks fits to the lock of a door and adds additional protection by ensuring that smoke and fire cannot travel through lock installation gaps.

Easy to install and compatible with new and existing Codelocks mechanical and electronic latch lock products, Codelocks’ FireKit provides locks with 30- or 60-minutes fire protection allowing tenants more time to safely evacuate.

In the event of a fire, intumescent strips and tubes expand to protect the latch, filling any apertures to stop smoke escaping and flames spreading. Alternatively, you can replace an existing lock with a coded lock from Codelocks’ Fire Rated Lock range.

For more detailed information on your fire safety responsibilities refer to the government website.

www.codelocks.co.uk

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Low Cost and Free Publicity - Your company can easily benefit from some publicity like the posts above for a contribution towards our layout costs (£60 to £80 plus VAT), payable in advance or you can receive the service absolutely free of charge if you advertise (see below).

We post articles up to twice a day and never delete them - we only archive them each year so that they continue to remain visible to search engines.

To have your story published - just send us your news item, logo and image(s) and we will review the material, make any necessary changes to the wording / wordcount and then advise you when it will be published.

If you are a regular advertiser in our printed and online publications, placing series bookings for adverts or subscribing to our VIP Packages, you will qualify for a specific number of free postings on this blog while you continue to advertise with us. See our media pack for more details.

Also, if you purchase one of our Online and Print Combo packages, Featured Articles or Advertorial packages shown in our media pack, posting on this blog is included in the price.

For details and rates for all of our advertising options in print and online, download our media pack contact us or visit our website.

Door Industry Journal is a trading style of Avalon Innovations LLP - Company No. OC364751

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Sunday, 30 October 2022

BMW Partnership with National Parks UK to improve EV access & Boost Nature Restoration

BMW UK and National Parks UK announce a new three-year partnership, called Recharge in Nature, that will help to make the 15 National Parks even more accessible for electric cars.

The partnership will also support nature restoration, biodiversity, sustainability, and well-being projects across the Parks.

The UK’s 15 National Parks are visited over 100 million times each year[1] and 90 percent of these visits are made by car.[2] With the exponential growth of demand for electric cars, which already account for 14 percent [3] of new car sales in the UK, pressure on the limited recharging networks in the National Parks is growing.

BMW’s Recharge in Nature project will enhance this network with the installation of Pod Point recharging posts at key locations across the 15 UK National Parks, helping to enable access to these beauty spots for the lowest emitting and quietest vehicles.

The Lake District National Park is the first location, where the installation of recharging posts has already started. It was chosen because it is the most visited of all the National Parks and because the enhanced recharging network has the potential to support local communities as well as to increase travel choices for tourists.

Over the next three years, BMW UK will also work with National Parks UK to support locally delivered initiatives, focussed on enabling more sustainable tourism, nature restoration, biodiversity, and well-being through the Recharge in Nature Fund.

These supported projects will enable the National Parks to promote more sustainable UK tourism, enhance well-being, and to restore nature and biodiversity, helping the National Parks to progress faster and with greater impact in these priority areas.

The first Recharge in Nature Fund grant will support the restoration of dew ponds in the South Downs National Park. It will then roll out to support projects within Snowdonia, Dartmoor, and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs in 2023, with projects at the other 11 National Parks to be confirmed.

Chris Brownridge, CEO, BMW UK, commented:

“Sustainability is at the heart of our business and enhancing the EV recharging network in the UK’s National Parks will help to make these favourite destinations more accessible for the increasing numbers of drivers who choose an electric car, as well as to support local communities in their shift to the new technology. With biodiversity and the health of UK nature more important than ever before, we are also pleased to support a range of local projects within the Parks to help preserve these precious landscapes for the future.”

Richard Leafe, CEO, Lake District National Park, said:

"In the Lake District, we are aiming to be a net zero National Park by 2037 and one of the best ways to achieve this is by reducing carbon emissions from visitor travel. Our partnership with BMW is a significant step towards this, giving visitors and communities a wider choice of sustainable travel options, meaning we can all play a part in continuing to protect and enhance this special place.”

The BMW Group has set clear CO2 reduction targets across the lifecycle of every vehicle and is constantly seeking new ways to cut emissions. By 2030, the CO2 emissions per vehicle will be at least halved from 2019 levels.

BMW Group is the first German carmaker to join the Business Ambition for 1.5°C as part of the Paris Climate Agreement - the most robust commitment to the goal of full climate neutrality, over the entire value-added chain, by 2050 at the latest. By doing so, the company is also part of the Race to Zero.

For more information about BMW Group UK and the Recharge in Nature Project visit: bmw.co.uk/nationalparks

[1] STEAM tourism data, 2019

[2] Aggregated National Parks data, 2018

[3] www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-data/evs-and-afvs-registrations/

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Saturday, 29 October 2022

UK Security Doors Renew Membership with Secured by Design

West Midlands based UK Security Doors have renewed their membership with Secured by Design, the official police security initiative.

From their West Bromwich base, UK Security Doors design, manufacture, and install bespoke aluminium doors, windows, and curtain walls for clients across the whole of the UK.

The company produces two basic ranges, both of which can be customised with a wide variety of designs, styles, hardware, and colour, giving customers numerous configurations to choose from.

UK Security Doors have a number of Secured by Design accredited products across both their Signature and ThermSecure ranges. The Signature range is a patented system profile, designed and applied specifically to the social housing market.

The range features prominently in refurbishment of buildings, including healthcare facilities (NHS trusts), education facilities and office blocks.

The ThermSecure range is utilised for any construction required to meet new-build building regulations and includes any building with thermal properties such as schools, retirement homes and heated communal areas.

The combination of ThermSecure and Secured by Design accredited is fairly unique within the door manufacturing industry, making UK Security Doors a market leader in the manufacture of doors suitable for both refurbishment projects and new builds.

For both the Signature and ThermSecure ranges, there are two steps to Secured by Design certification. Doors must first meet a basic level PAS24 and then enhanced security features, required by law for new builds, help the profiles to achieve STS202 BR2 with a higher level of enhanced security.

At this level, the doors are subjected to more brutal and sustained testing to ensure they meet the level of security and safety required for social housing, council buildings, housing associations, offices, and other locations particularly subject to high levels of vandalism.

Jason Haycock, Sales and Contracts Manager for UK Security Doors, said:

“We are delighted to have renewed our Secured by Design membership. As a company, we have a real dedication to our clients to provide them with market-leading service and quality.

We listen to the real-world issues that Contracts Managers, Asset/Maintenance Managers and Quantity Surveyors are experiencing and apply them to our range, which has led us to produce one of the most comprehensive scopes for aluminium security doors in the UK.”

Ruari Robertson, Secured by Design, commented:

“I am thrilled that UK Security Doors have renewed their valued membership for another three years. I look forward to working with them during this time to further enhance our relationship.”

You can find out more about UK Security Doors and their Secured by Design accredited products at:

www.securedbydesign.com

For more information:
www.uksecuritydoors.com
0121 505 2279
sales@uksecuritydoors.com

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Friday, 28 October 2022

Hörmann support Secured by Design in the market

Hörmann UK have launched a promotional campaign to support sales of their Secured by Design (SBD) sectional garage doors to the end consumer.

Aimed at encouraging registration of installed doors, Hörmann will send a free sectional door cleaning kit direct to every end consumer registered by a Hörmann dealer.

Hörmann are the only manufacturers to offer SBD as standard on their LPU42 and LPU67 automated sectional doors and to be valid for SBD accreditation the doors must be:

Registered with Hörmann
Installed behind the opening
Combined with a Hörmann operator
Unmodified and not include any glazing options or external handles
Fitted after 01.05.2021

Registration is easy via a dedicated SBD website which provides information on the accreditation scheme and includes a simple registration system.

The campaign will run from 1st November to 31st January and to register Hörmann SBD sectional doors visit: www.hormannsecuredbydesign.splashthat.com/

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Case Study: Custom-Made Sloping Bottom Slat Ensures a Perfect Fit for Plastics Warehouse

A troublesome sloping opening in a new, industrial unit has recently been made secure with a robust roller shutter from SWS UK’s SeceuroDoor range of industrial shutters.

With a noticeable incline in the ground beneath the opening, an innovative sloping bottom slat was added, ensuring a perfect fit despite the unusual conditions.

The Client

Based in Launceston, in the South-West of the country, Horizon Plastics supplies the trade and DIY market with building plastics for the production of windows, guttering, cladding, and other specialist products.

The Project

Horizon Plastic’s premises had recently benefited from a new unit that had been purpose-built to store the company’s valuable stock and materials. The unit included a large opening, measuring 5m x 5m which would allow frequent forklift access, in addition to serving as a loading bay for the company’s lorries and vans.

A roller shutter was required to secure the stock, both when access was not required and when the premises were closed. And with anticipated daily movements of 30 openings/closures, the shutter would need to be of industrial strength with a robust, reliable motor.

Horizon Plastics contacted their local roller shutter distributor; South West Group which has branches in both Helston and Bodmin and is a long-established distributor of SWS UK’s products.

After completing a full site survey, South West Group recommended the electric SeceuroDoor 75 22g Industrial Shutter with a GfA Safedrive 3 Phase motor.

The high-performance shutter would be ideal for the company’s daily usage whilst providing strong, reliable security during the site’s non-operational hours.

An additional hurdle to overcome was the uneven ground below the shutter. A significant slope meant that a conventional bottom slat would have left a large gap, compromising security and protection from the elements.

Horizon Plastics had considered having the ground levelled, so they were delighted when South West Group advised them it was possible to have a custom-made, sloping bottom slat made to secure the gap.

SWS UK manufactured its innovative sloping T-rail which included a left-hand height offset of 250mm, complete with a galvanised finish to match the rest of the shutter.

The Installation

A team of two installers from South-West Group completed the installation in October in just six and a half hours. The thorough and accurate survey meant installation went without a hitch, allowing the shutter to be operational and the unit to be secured in less than a day.

The Outcome

The team at Horizon Plastics was delighted with the product and the excellent level of workmanship from South-West Group. They explained how they found it difficult to visualise how effective a sloping bottom slat would be, but how impressed they were with the neat, custom look once the roller shutter was installed.

A made-to-measure industrial shutter has given them a perfect fit, keeping out intruders and harsh weather.

The Product: Tel Me More

The SeceuroDoor 75 Continental Shutter is a robust, roller shutter from our popular SeceuroDoor range of industrial shutters. It has a steel, scrolled slat profile and versatile manufacturing options that make it a popular choice for retail, commercial and industrial applications.

The Sloping Bottom Slat is perfect for when the ground is uneven, or it has an incline. This innovative slat can be manufactured with a gradient of up to 250mm and can be configured with either a wired or wireless safety edges.

www.sws.co.uk/commercial/industrial/seceurodoor-industrial/

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Yale pledges support for Fire Door Safety Week

Yale has pledged its support to Fire Door Safety Week 2022, reinforcing its commitment to fire safety in residential, commercial and public buildings.

Running from 31st October – 4th November, Fire Door Safety Week is an annual campaign in a response to a legacy of fire door neglect. Drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance, the initiative aims to engage and educate specifiers, building owners and the general public on fire door safety.

Fire doors are one of the most fundamental elements of a building’s passive fire protection, acting as the first line of defence in a fire and providing the vital minutes for occupants to evacuate the building safely.

With this in mind, Yale has a full suite of security hardware to help provide protection against fires. This includes the AutoEngage multi-point door lock which has recently been tested by Heron Fit Out and passed the requirements of the FD30s fire test.

Julian Knipe, Commercial Manager of Heron Fit Out Limited comments:

“Fire doors play a critical role in saving lives and protecting properties. FD30 refers to a door assembly rated at 30 minutes fire resistance when tested in accordance with BS 476-22. It is the most common specification for fire doors leading to escape routes and the Yale AutoEngage lock passed with flying colours, making it the lock of choice for our Front Entrance Door range.”

Brett Evans, Technical Director for Door Hardware at Yale DWS, adds:

“Fire door safety is a huge priority for us. We hope that by supporting Fire Door Safety Week year on year, the initiative will highlight the issues surrounding fire door safety and move the industry forward.

“We are extremely proud of our suite of hardware for fire doors. Each product in the range can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of a fire doorset and provides the outstanding security features you would expect from Yale.”

To find out more about Yale’s full range of fire door safety products, visit www.yaledws.co.uk or call 01902 366800.

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Tuesday, 25 October 2022

Irish Oak now available on sectional garage doors!

JDUK Door Systems launched a new range of sectional garage door to the UK market in July earlier this year, along with the unveiling of dynamic new branding.

Since then, the forward-thinking garage door supplier hasn’t stood still and has already introduced exciting new options to the range.

Following feedback back from installers, an Irish Oak foiled finish has been added to the range, a unique offer to the UK market for sectional and side-hinged garage doors.

What is more, door profiles and frames are available in the same lamination as the door leaf, something relatively unique to the UK market.

There are also two new stainless-steel profiles now available for flat finishing and frame capping, removing the need for using UPVC that really difficult to source especially for wood effect finishes.

JDUK offers the largest range of standard RAL colours currently available in the UK market of 34 colours, with special price breaks on anthracite grey and jet black.

UniPro comes in a choice of four attractive textures of Woodgrain, Smooth, Sandgrain and Smoothgrain.

Moreover, Smoothgrain offers the largest range of laminated/foiled finishes available, with over 40 finishes including 25 wood effects and 17 coloured, which now also includes Irish Oak.

And with the Home Inclusive 2.0 range, JDUK can guarantee an exact colour match across its range of door systems which also includes aluminium and steel entrance door.

The Unipro series of sectional garage doors includes side sprung, front mount torsion and rear mount torsion options and comes in five popular panel designs of L Ribbed, M Ribbed, S Ribbed, Georgian and Microwave.

Side sprung doors are available up to 5m wide and offers 100mm headroom, including the tolerance required for the automation.

A unique header/fascia has been designed specifically for the UK, to provide rigidity and strength for in between and under installation, which can also be used to position the operator bracket if you’re struggling to find a fixing point.

Each UniPro 40mm panel is filled with Freon-free polyurethan foam for outstanding thermal performance, with a 1.3 W/m2K thermal transmittance factor on doors of 2500mm x 2125mm. Panels are also sealed at the panel joints.

UniPro comes with installation-friendly features too, such as pre-assembled pully wheel assembly bracket, cable hook-up plate, connecting header bracket, spring hook-up plate and bottom panel rubber seal.

To request a brochure, visit the showroom, or for more information, please call 01924 472924, email sales@jdukltd.co.uk or visit www.jdukltd.co.uk

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Monday, 24 October 2022

E. & S.W. Knowles Warns of Dangerous Delays in Fire Door Safety Checks

E. & S.W. Knowles – the Birmingham-based manufacturer of internal doors - is warning of backlogs to fire door maintenance and replacements that could be causing dangerous problems.

In 2020 it was revealed that at least 26,318 fire doors were scheduled for maintenance or replacement between January and June of that year, 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.

It is thought that there is still a significant backlog in the system.

This is dangerous, as fire doors play a critical role in protecting lives and preventing the passage of fire to other parts of a building or another building.

To qualify as a fire door, a door must have a door leaf, frame/lining, intumescent seals, a latch or lock, hinges and frame/wall sealing. Other items that may be required include smoke seals, door closer, signage, other ironmongery, fire door glazing, threshold seals, and an air transfer grille.

All the right components must be correctly fitted and maintained to ensure the door works properly in the event of a fire.

As part of Fire Door Safety Week – an annual safety campaign – companies and organisations are urged to undertake a five-step safety check to ensure that:

Certification is correct and up to date and all ironmongery is CE marked and compatible with door leaf certification
Apertures haven’t been altered for glazing or air transfer grilles (which can make certification void)
The gap around the door is a constant 3 to 4 mm, with firmly fixed hinges and seals that are securely fitted at the tops and sides
Door closers shut the door onto the latch from any position – this must be checked down to 75mm from the closed position
The door closes correctly around all parts of the frame

Steve Horner, Managing Director at E. & S.W. Knowles explains:

“Often fire doors are installed and then forgotten about, but – just like any piece of equipment – they need to be properly checked and maintained,”

“It’s the responsibility of building owners, landlords and tenants to complete these checks on a regular basis. It doesn’t take long but could literally be the difference between life and death in the event of a fire”.

E. & S.W. Knowles offers a wide range of standard internal fire doors, with bespoke options also available.

All of them are fully tested and are third-party accredited under the IFC Certification and BM TRADA ‘Q’ Mark Fire Schemes, with fire protection ratings that range from 30 minutes (FD30) right up to 120 minutes (FD120).

Accompanying timber doorsets mean that the buyer receives a compatible door, frame, hardware, seals and glass from one quality and trusted supplier.

All doorsets are supplied as a complete package ready for installation and can be fully machine prepared for hardware, providing a precision fit that maximises performance and simplifies installation.

All fire doors and timber doorsets in the E. & S.W. Knowles range comply with building regulations.

To discover more about fire doors and timber doorsets from E. & S.W. Knowles, you can access an online brochure at www.knowlesdoors.co.uk/brochure/

Sources: www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk/about/2020-fire-door-safety-week-campaign/

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Sunday, 23 October 2022

Aston Martin Works Marks 50 Years of V8 Greatness

It’s 1972, and Aston Martin is undergoing one of its periodic seismic changes. Sir David Brown, the talented industrialist who steered the business through some of its most memorable 20th Century moments, has sold the firm to a new owner, Company Developments Ltd, and a fresh spirit of optimism takes hold.

Enter the AM V8. A car that, while launched early in the tenure of Company Developments was firmly rooted in the engineering and design ethos of the David Brown era.

Replacing the DBS V8, which had itself championed the use of Aston Martin’s first V8, and the first new engine for more than ten years, the AM V8 was essentially a styling exercise – replacing the angular nose of the DBS with a more curvaceous, purposeful front end that, together with some subtle styling changes elsewhere, gave the new car a much more muscular look.

Key to that new nose was the arrival of two seven-inch quartz iodine headlamps and a black mesh grille.

The return of a small open ‘power bulge’ on the bonnet; the ‘Coke-bottle’ flanks; and the use of Aston Martin V8 side strake badges completed the exterior styling revisions.

That this same William Towns’ shape, in essence, would represent the Aston Martin ‘look’ for almost two decades – the last AM V8 styling-inspired cars only ending production in 1989 – shows not only the importance of its 1972 debut, but also the appeal of a styling silhouette that is utterly unmistakable today as a product of the marque’s Newport Pagnell era.

This first iteration of the 5.3-litre engined AM V8 retained the Bosch fuel injection system from the DBS V8, and while power and torque figures were not commonly quoted, it is believed that these cars were good for as much as 320 bhp, with around 360 lbs/ft of torque.

\Mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox, or optional Chrysler Torqueflite 3-speed auto, that was ample urge to carry this early ‘70s sports car from rest to 60 mph in around six seconds with a top speed of circa 160 mph.

As was often the case in Aston Martin history, production numbers of these early cars were incredibly small by today’s standards. A mere 289 AM V8 models of this iteration were built between April 1972 and July ’73. They were succeeded by cars with less complex Weber carburetion, the later cars also featuring larger bonnet scoops.

Numerous iterations of the AM V8 followed over the years – the 1978 ‘Oscar India’ cars with closed bonnet scoop among their changes being among the most plentiful – along with the arrival of Volante versions in June 1978 for those seeking open top motoring.

What united the cars, though, aside from their style, performance and exclusivity, was their luxury. The finest Connolly hides, sumptuous Wilton carpeting and, from the arrival of the ‘Oscar India’ cars, the use of burr walnut dashboard trim, were among the many features that marked out these cars as luxury models.

V8 Vantage

No AM V8 retrospective would be complete without reference to the original Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It was hailed at its 1977 introduction as “Britain’s first supercar”.

It could outrun a Ferrari Daytona in the 0-60 mph sprint, and if pushed to the limit it could record a top speed of 170 mph thanks to its use of high-performance camshafts, an increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output.

A true British bruiser, the V8 Vantage’s performance belied its significant heft. Critical to the huge performance leap of this Vantage was a significant upgrade to the V8 engine, thereby triggering the ‘Vantage’ moniker, of course.

The carburettors were changed to the larger 48 IDF Weber which were fitted to revised inlet manifolds. Together with larger valves, revised exhaust manifolds, revised camshafts and a higher compression ratio, once run-in, the engines were capable of 380bhp.

At the time, though, and with true British modesty, the power output was described by Aston Martin simply as “adequate”.

The V8 Vantage’s chassis was stiffened with adjustable Koni dampers, shortened springs and a larger front anti-roll bar. Wider 255/60 VR15 Pirelli CN12 tyres were fitted together with spacers to widen the track.

External modifications were clear, and aerodynamic in nature. It was easily distinguished for the standard AM V8 by the front air dam, twin Cibie H4 driving lights within the blanked off grille (cooling air for the radiator being drawn in from beneath the bumper) and a boot lid spoiler at the rear.

All of these aerodynamic additions were essential to reduce lift. Another feature was the use of a sealed bonnet bulge to cover a larger airbox above the down draught carburettors.

The V8 Vantage evolved significantly over the course of its reign – which spanned two decades and only ended in 1989 with final deliveries of the last 5.3-litre ‘X-Pack’ car. It even provided the basis for a shorter, radical, and hyper rare, V8 Vantage Zagato saloon.

Throughout its build period this iteration of Vantage remained the jewel in Aston Martin’s burnished crown.

Bond is back

Towards the end of its reign the AM V8 saloon, and corresponding V8 Volante, played another important part in Aston Martin history by reuniting the marque with its most famous ‘owner’ – James Bond.

In the 1987 film The Living Daylights, which featured Timothy Dalton as 007, producers EON took the decision to return Bond to his familiar position behind the wheel of an Aston Martin using a V8 Volante that, through the magic of the movies, is ‘winterised’ into a V8 saloon by Q branch.

Bristling with gadgets including a jet engine booster rocket, retractable outriggers for use on snow and ice, and twin heat-seeking missiles, the ‘Oscar India’ saloon has become a regular display piece and indeed, so iconic was the car’s appearance that, in the most recent film No Time To Die, James Bond (Daniel Craig) is once again seen behind the wheel of his beloved V8.

Sports car racing

Naturally enough, AM V8 saloons also had a proud club racing history and cars were campaigned by enthusiast owners across the UK, and far beyond.

Perhaps the most famous of these weekend warriors was the car that came to be known, affectionately, as ‘The Muncher’ by virtue of its apparently insatiable appetite for brake discs.

Admittedly this car was developed from a DBS V8 but very quickly acquired the revised front end of the AM V8 as it went through numerous design and aerodynamic developments, some of which were very much an acquired taste!

The car was the brainchild of Aston Martin enthusiast, service agent and one-time distributor, Robin Hamilton.

Early club racing success spurred Hamilton on to push the V8 into Le Mans 24 Hours competition at a time when the brand itself was not prioritising its motorsport activity.

RHAM/1 as it was called shocked not only the French spectators but also, perhaps, the competition by notching up a highly creditable 17th overall in the 1977 running of the famous 24-hour race, before further developments – including the addition of twin turbochargers – saw it achieve an outrageous peak power output of 800 bhp.

Reflecting on the enduring appeal of the AM V8 in all its many forms over almost two decades of production Aston Martin Works President, Paul Spires, said:

“The 1970s were, in many ways, a testing time with social and economic unrest rife. Yet, through it all, we created the AM V8 which, today, is rightly seen as one of the jewels in our illustrious history.

“That so many of these big, brutish sports cars survive and thrive today is testament not only to their enduring appeal but also to the legion of owners, past and present, who have worked so hard with us to keep the cars running.
“As all things ‘70s seem, once again, to be back in fashion it’s only right that, today, we mark the 50th anniversary of one of our most desirable heritage models.”

www.astonmartin.com

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website

Saturday, 22 October 2022

Awards Success for Tillymint Communications and ADSA

Alison Gallagher-Hughes from Tillymint collects the award at CIPR PRide

PR company Tillymint Communications scooped a cluster of wins at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards – including one which highlighted the benefits and achievements of the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA).

Tillymint Communications won:

Best Independent PR Practitioner of the Year (gold award)

Best Low Budget Campaign (silver)

Best Publication (silver).

Winners were announced during a ‘screening party’ hosted by CIPR Midlands at Millennium Point, Birmingham last week (13 October) which broadcasted the announcements from London.

It saw PR and communication professionals from across the region come together to celebrate the achievements of the past year. The event was sponsored by Next Level Recruitment and Pitch Consultants.

ADSA’s Conversation Campaign picked up silver for the Low Budget award. It is an integrated campaign highlighted member benefits delivered through display advertising, social media content, events and marketing collateral.

Aimed to get members and industry professionals talking about the issues that matter, a hashtag device #bepartoftheconversation was used across all channels. Output included an animated graphic, which to date, has received more than 40,500 views.

Ultimately, the campaign underpinned a wider communication strategy for ADSA as the leading voice of the industry, representing its members interests by establishing and maintain standards, increasing competence levels and boosting membership opportunities.

As a consequence. ADSA membership grew by more than 25 per cent during the first phase of the campaign.

Said Tillymint founder Alison Gallagher-Hughes:

“It is such an honour to be recognised by fellow professionals within the communications industry which neatly coincides with our anniversary. It is just two years ago this month that Tillymint was established and it’s great to look back at how far we have come and what we have achieved for our clients.”

ADSA MD Ken Price added:

“We have the honour of being Tillymint’s first-ever client. We have worked with the company over the past two years are delighted at what Alison and the team bring to our organisation. They really understand the nature of our industry and always add value with their creativity and willingness to go the extra mile.

“We see Tillymint as being an extended member of the ADSA team, so we are thrilled that they have received this recognition for all their hard work. It’s a partnership that works extremely well and I am sure will go on to achieve even bigger and better things.”

For more information on Tillymint’s PR and marketing services visit: www.tillymint.co.uk for information on ADSA membership view www.adsa.org.uk/membership

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Return to the Door Industry Journal Website