The Door Industry Journal

Saturday, 14 February 2015

The Locksmith Expo Pioneering Innovation

Attending for the sixth consecutive year since the show began in 2010, Security Solutions, a division of ASSA ABLOY UK, will be exhibiting at the Locksmith Expo 2015.

Returning to the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, on the 7th and 8th March, Security Solutions will be showcasing its innovative offerings on stand A1.

Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to get some hands-on experience with many of the most popular products from UNION, a Security Solutions brand, including its StrongBOLT® range.

Known for its superior strength and exceeding the requirements of BS3621:2007, the StrongBOLT® British Standard 5 lever mortice lock fulfils the security needs of home insurance policies. However, UNION’s representatives will reveal how locksmiths can now benefit from an extended StrongBOLT® range, allowing them to save time, without compromising on quality.

UNION’s Eximo range has also been developed in response to customer feedback, and will be on display at the exhibition. UNION’s Panic Exit Device range includes panic latches and bolts, emergency push pads, mortice operated exit devices featuring UNION’s Optimus3 mortice lock cases, and outside access products with lever and knob variants.

Finally, UNION’s Retro3 and Retro4 door closers will also be on display. Offering easy installation, the door closers are non-handed and can be mounted on the hinge or non-hinge side of the door, reducing the need for considerable planning and enabling installers to complete jobs faster.

Tina Hughan, Marketing Director at ASSA ABLOY, said:

“Having grown out of a family business set up in the heartland of the British lock-making industry, for over 160 years the UNION name has been synonymous with reliable, high quality hardware.

“However, UNION has recently been on an exciting journey developing forward-thinking solutions, whilst maintaining its heritage. This mirrors the locksmith industry as a whole, which is currently pioneering some innovative solutions, while maintaining its core features.

“The Locksmith Expo has always proven to be a great event to showcase the technological advances within the industry, so we are looking forward to attending for the sixth time.”

For further information please visit www.uniononline.co.uk

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Friday, 13 February 2015

Assa Abloy Shines New Light On Access

ASSA ABLOY UK is transforming access control with the launch of Shine, a digital lock specifically designed for commercial glass doors.

Developed in line with customer demand for keyfree solutions, Shine provides an access control solution for internal glass doors, without the issue of having to drill to allow the locking mechanism to pass through. Shine provides a convenient locking solution for the commercial sector, suitable for use in office blocks and retail premises.

The new digital lock is ideal for refurbishment and maintenance contracts, saving installation time and cost on site during renewal programmes. Similarly, OEMs can benefit from reduced production time and the ability to attach the lock to a variety of glass types.

Shine’s attractive touch pad allows users to gain access with a personalised 4 to 12 digit PIN code or RF card key for convenience.

Fully reprogrammable, users can also set up to 20 different codes for separate visitors; this is ideal for providing ease of access to multiple staff. Codes can be quickly and easily changed with use of an administrative code PIN, preventing access to a PIN holder group at any time, without having to inform other users or redistribute keys.

Shines’ Magic Mirror function is modern, sleek and aesthetically pleasing, keeping it in line with the design of modern buildings. The keypad numbers illuminate as soon as a user touches the digital door lock, increasing its contemporary feel. The mirror is also practical, allowing users to check behind them when entering the code, which can be useful in high traffic areas. Shine also allows users to enter fake numbers before or after entering the PIN code, in order to prevent it from being exposed.

Andy Stolworthy, Product Manager for ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions, says:

“ASSA ABLOY’s launch of Shine is an example of the continued investment in innovative locking solutions to meet the demands of the market. There is a growing trend for digital locking systems, as the UK becomes more aware and comfortable with the technology, by launching Shine for our OEM customers we are better able to service this demand.

“The real benefit of the Shine digital door lock is the ease of installation and versatility - as the door does not have to be drilled in order to attach the unit to the door, it lends itself to RMI projects. Using a clip type bracket with a very strong double-sided tape, Shine can be simply attached to glass doors of 10-12 mm in thickness, as there’s no need for complicated hardwiring or electrical support.

Shine makes digital locking technology accessible and convenient for a wider range of project and installation types.”

A remote control version is also available, which uses the latest wireless floating ID technology to activate the lock within a 50m range.

For added peace of mind, the unit has a low battery audible warning, but should the power fail a 9v emergency battery can be used, which supplies enough energy for the PIN code or remote fob to be used, this back up option is concealed within the handle.

For further information please visit or www.assaabloy.co.uk

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Wednesday, 11 February 2015

‘Team Easygates’ take on hard obstacles!

Midlands based company Easygates Direct, Nationwide electric gate automation supplier, is gearing up for next month’s Major Series in Warwickshire in support of Save the Children. The 10k obstacle course is set to put staff members through their paces on the 7^th March!

20 employees and friends will embark on their second year at the event, following successfully raising over £2,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support and the local charity BUDS in 2014. A sponsorship target of £1,500 has been set to donate to Save the Children this year to help support the lives and rights of children in over 120 countries.

Managing Director of Easygates Direct, Tony Daniels-Gooding said:

‘This event is all about team work and camaraderie and finding solutions to obstacles, which is something we practice daily in the business. It is a great cause to be supporting and an ideal way to work together and accomplish a fun challenge.’

Easygates Direct have over 25 years’ experience in the industry and specialise in gate automation, safety solutions and access control. The company is renowned for supplying quality, safety and technical service to a wide range of customers. Rapid growth over the last three years has enabled a healthy increase in the company’s workforce.

‘We are very proud to be raising money for Save the Children and would really appreciate our customers support in helping us meet our sponsorship target by visting www.justgiving.com/EasygatesLtd ’ said Tony.

www.easygatesdirect.co.uk

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Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Glasstastic Service from Apeer

Orders for Apeer’s bespoke glass artwork service are booming.

The company, which has its own in-house glass studio and employs a team of 13 decorative glass technicians, says the improving economy along with growing awareness of the service have resulted in a surge of orders.

Apeer is also one of the very few UK-based door manufacturers – if not the only one – that hand crafts its standard glazing designs to order and offers a completely bespoke glass design service.

Already ahead of the field in terms of an almost unlimited colour offer and leading edge construction, Apeer’s reputation for decorative glass panels provides retailers with yet another point of difference for their customers.

Says Lisa McClean, head of the in-house studio for Apeer:

“Our bespoke work is becoming increasingly popular with people who really want to give their homes an individual look. They do that in all sorts of ways – from pictures of their pets or a favourite landmark to one we did recently with the couple’s names on it.

“We’re even fairly flexible about small changes to our standard designs – something we are able to do because each one is made to order.

“It means homeowners can create their own truly unique entrance system – something we are not aware that anyone else offers.

“Obviously every piece of work we do is very time consuming and bespoke designs can add extra time onto the process, so we cost these according to the complexity of the design.”

Reinforcing its position as a luxury end producer, Apeer’s glass studio is part of the company’s start-to-finish manufacturing facility at Ballymena in Northern Ireland.

Bespoke designs for glass panels, sidelights and windows are individually drawn up in consultation with the homeowner but its standard glass designs are all featured on the company’s ‘Doorbuilder’ software system which is available to all Apeer stockists.

For more information about Apeer visit www.apeer.co.uk

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Monday, 9 February 2015

Heritage and Innovation at The Hardware Show

ASSA ABLOY UK brands UNION and Yale will showcase their range of innovative solutions for merchants and suppliers at The Hardware Show 2015.

Representatives from both brands will exhibit on stand H8, at the event held at Citywest Hotel, Dublin from 15th to 16th February, offering some hands-on experience with some of their most popular products.

UNION, a Security Solutions brand, will display its popular StrongBOLT® British Standard 5 lever mortice lock, known for its superior strength and exceeding the requirements of BS3621:2007, and will reveal how builders’ merchants and suppliers can achieve additional benefits by stocking the full StrongBOLT® range.

UNION will also be displaying its Eximo, panic and emergency exit device offering, as well as its Retro3 and Retro4 door closers.
Yale will present its Doormaster™ multipoint lock range, which allows merchants to help their customers meet the demand for replacing multipoint locks, without having to replace whole doors, making the job an easier fix and much more affordable.

Yale’s AS Platinum cylinders, Keyfree and Keyless smart locks, CCTV kits, padlocks and alarms, will also be exhibited.

Tina Hughan, Marketing Director for ASSA ABLOY, said:

“Having grown out of a family business set up in the heartland of the British lock-making industry, for over 160 years the UNION name has been synonymous with reliable, high quality hardware.

“We are excited about showcasing our latest product developments at The Hardware Show and will offer our customers an insight into how they are designed to add value to their sales. Visitors to our stand will also have the chance to ‘guess the code’ for our key-less access control solution Codehandle, for the opportunity to win a prize.”

David Herbert, Head of Marketing for Yale UK, said:

“Yale’s comprehensive line of door hardware is renowned for its quality and value and we are looking forward to sharing our expertise with our customers at The Hardware Show.

“We are also holding a ‘spot the difference’ competition on our stand, so visitors will have the chance to win some prizes.”

For further information please visit www.assaabloy.co.uk/securitysolutions and www.yale.co.uk

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Sunday, 8 February 2015

Bonhams sets a New World Record with Luxury British Marque Aston Martin

1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible

Over two million euros worth of Aston Martin metal went under the hammer at Bonhams 5 February Grand Palais sale, with a rare 1965 DB5 Convertible setting a new world auction record at €1,897,500 (£1,430,715) and a 1962 DB4 Convertible selling at €1,060,000 (£750,000).

James Knight, Bonhams Group Motoring Director, said:

“Bonhams European motoring department has witnessed a tremendous start to 2015. The Paris auction has been the most successful to date, with a record breaking price for the stunning Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, international bidding, some stunning motor cars, and a record breaking total for a motor car auction held by the Bonhams Group in continental Europe. The market is in rude health - we look forward to continuing the trend for record setting motoring auctions as the year progresses.”

Synonymous with Britain, and of course, British film heroes, Aston Martin has produced iconic motor cars throughout its decades of manufacture – arguably none more so than those designed in the David Brown era: the DB4 and DB5.

Introduced in 1963, the DB5 was a development of the preceding DB4. Classically proportioned, the Touring-designed body established an instantly recognisable look that would stand the marque in good stead until 1970. Only 35 DB5 convertibles were ever made in left-hand drive, making this offering a very rare find.

1962 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible

With only 70 produced, the 1962 DB4C is one of the rarest Aston Martin road cars of its time. It successfully combines the brand’s traditional virtues of style and performance with the delights of open air motoring, and is today a most sought after and highly prized motor car.

www.bonhams.com

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Thursday, 5 February 2015

Urban Front Celebrate 10 Years in Business

It’s been an exciting time during the last few weeks at Urban Front as they've been gearing up to celebrate their 10th Anniversary this Spring. Not only have they had a fantastic year, they’ve also got an even more amazing year planned with lots of great products and a party to boot!

So where did it all begin and what has actually been achieved in those 10 years?

The idea for Urban Front started much earlier than 2005, in fact it was 2003 that the seed was planted when the founders, Nabil and Elizabeth Assaf, were renovating a 1970’s house and couldn’t find a door that was contemporary enough and made out of wood. Although both the founders knew nothing about doors, they decided to make their own and used it for their house. For quite a while after the door was fitted, lots of people would knock on the door to ask where it was from and the Assaf’s felt a niche was there to be taken advantage of.

Two years of research followed into the making of doors. Nabil was a banker and Elizabeth worked in television production however together they had developed property on the side for five years and completed a design course.

In 2005, after finding a company to make the doors for them, the Assaf’s launched Urban Front from a tiny office in Watford. It took another two years to set up a workshop in Watford and to start manufacturing in-house. They’ve never looked back. They were the first company in the UK to design a dedicated contemporary range of doors with high quality finishes.

Elizabeth Assaf comments:

"Over the last six years, we’ve dedicated a lot of research and development time to our anti-warp highly insulated doors taking them from 45mm thick in 2005 up to 98mm (Passive House) in 2014. We’ve concentrated time and effort on fire and security ratings, double and triple rebated doors with high insulation, sourcing from the best suppliers in Europe and beyond. We’ve launched Pivot doors as standard production, large oversized doors, Passive House doors, painted and internal doors and garage doors all with a concentration not only on design, but on performance, and a dedication to high quality".

So what about the future?

"This year we are planning to gain the ISO9001 Quality Management certification, further security testing, becoming FSC certified and we have our sights firmly set on the USA".

Urban Front doors sell worldwide and are manufactured in Buckinghamshire, UK.

For more information email info@urbanfront.co.uk or visit www.urbanfront.co.uk

Urban Front Ltd
Unit 4 Chesham Business Park
33 Townsend Road, Chesham
Bucks
HP5 2AA

tel: 01494 778 787
fax: 01494 778 784

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Wednesday, 4 February 2015

RIBA Approved CPD from Aluprof

Aluprof UK, a rapidly growing European division of the successful European aluminium systems company, is now offering specifiers a RIBA approved CPD. “The Use of Glazed Screens to Control the Spread of Smoke & Fire in Buildings” is now available on request from the RIBA CPD website or contact through Aluprof UK.

The CPD aims to offer guidance in the correct specification and installation of high performance fire screens. ‘Building fire facts’ offer the delegates some insight as to what it is like when a building fire takes hold. “It takes just two to three breaths of toxic smoke to become unconscious”, the major cause of building fire deaths.

Aluminium screens are rapidly becoming the specifiers choice for both internal and external fire screen requirements, with up to 120 minutes of integrity and and insulation. The CPD goes on to describe how aluminium fire screen systems can match with standard systems in both colour and sight lines to ensure an aesthetic appearance across the building facade.

The 45 minute CPD is available across the UK for specifiers and presentations are undertaken by Aluprof technical staff.

With the UK head office and distribution base in Altrincham, Cheshire, Aluprof specified projects are designed, fabricated and installed by selected, specially trained companies across the UK. Further information is available on the company’s website at www.aluprof.eu and specialist advice is available from Aluprof on 0161 941 4005.

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Tuesday, 3 February 2015

Is Offsite Construction Driving the Commercial Housing Market?

The UK Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis, recently stated that firm's not using new technology in order to speed up housebuilding now "risk being left behind." Moving away from traditional methods of construction and embracing new technology is absolutely key to achieving speed of build in today's major housing shortage.

With the UK requiring 250,000 new homes to be built each year in order to meet demand, offsite construction is a clear solution. Simon Orrells recognised the potential when he started his company back in the early 1990's - Frame Wise is now one of the UK's leading timber frame manufacturers and installers. After over two decades in the industry, Simon shares his perspective on how offsite construction is going to play a key role in driving the commercial housing.

"We are at a time when it is vital to ensure that money invested in construction goes as far as possible - however, quality is more important than ever and cannot be sacrificed as a result.

Offsite, as a method of construction, offers clear benefits in terms of cost and speed of delivery and it is essential during this time of rapid development, that these benefits are recognised and exploited. The government's 2025 Industrial Strategy states the aspiration of a 50% reduction in the overall time, from inception to completion for newbuild and refurbished assets, based on the industry's performance in 2013. The pressure on the affordable housing sector to produce more homes for less has never been greater."

Timber Frame in Offsite Construction

"The offsite construction industry is now worth up to £3 billion per year and according to research conducted by MTW, 65% of timber frame suppliers are now reporting growth compared to 40% in 2013, underlining rising optimism for the majority of the timber frame market. Housing Associations are waking up to the benefits of offsite construction - increasing the usage of the method rapidly since the early 2000's due to the speed of build that it brings. Closed timber frame panel systems offer factory fitted insulation and now even windows and doors, as well as closed off internal wall linings - maximising the benefit of speed and allowing for more work to be completed offsite. As well as speed of build, timber frame also offers a competitive build cost - in reaching such a high proportion of the housing market it is evident that timber frame has equalled, if not bettered, the cost of traditional methods of construction. Offsite construction of timber frame eliminates any weather-dependant issues, which makes project planning more predictable and reduces the risk of setbacks. Working in exposed weather conditions, as with on site construction, can hinder many construction follow-on trades, such as electricians and plasterers who cannot start their work until the interior is protected from the elements. These trades can start much earlier in the construction programme of a timber frame house using offsite construction, meaning that the building can be finished sooner and in turn, allows for faster return on investment when it comes to commercial housing."

Offsite Construction - Setting a Benchmark for the Industry

"Not only has offsite construction set a benchmark in the industry in terms of speed of build, it is also ahead of the game delivering sustainability benefits. The government's 2025 Industrial Strategy identifies the importance of sustainability within the construction industry - with the aspiration of becoming dramatically more sustainable though its efficient approach to delivering low-carbon assets faster and at a lower cost. Timber frame manufactured offsite can provide U-Values of as little as 0.10 W/m2K, with traditional methods struggling to reach less than 0.25 W/m2K. Other additional sustainability benefits are often not immediately recognised from the outset but these can include low levels of wastage on site, significantly reduced transport impact - both for site deliveries and operatives - as well as health and safety improvements that have clearly surpassed many project teams.

Although the government has stated that the UK requires 250,000 new homes to be built each year in order to meet demand, last year only 141,000 were constructed. As Brandon Lewis stated - more innovation in housebuilding is long overdue in order to be able to achieve this target and this involves moving away from the traditional process of taking over 20 weeks to build an average home.

The housing market is starting to show an increased interest in offsite solution suppliers, with positive signs of investment and an increase in activity levels. Although offsite manufacturing is a relatively new method, not just to the UK but the rest of the world - it has demonstrated significant innovation within the sector. Substantial investments are being made in the development of offsite construction in order to increase manufacturing capacity and offer a wider range of solutions - therefore improving quality and value for money. The UK is now leading the way of an unprecedented increase in home-grown manufacturing talent and investment - positioning itself as a priority marketplace for leading overseas producers.

As houses become more advanced it is clear that factory based solutions will be better able to meet the needs of legislation. Offsite construction can adapt quickly to meet future challenges with fewer defects and ultimately lower costs."

For more information visit: www.framewiseltd.co.uk

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Monday, 2 February 2015

Bespoke screens designed by SWA members

Exploiting the strength and slim proportions only steel can offer, bespoke internal glazed partitions, screens and shower enclosures are increasingly being designed and manufactured by Steel Window Association members for high-end commercial and residential projects.

Visually steel has an innate solidity without being overpowering, a look no other material can replicate due to the slenderness and robustness of the steel sections. Unlike the potentially chunky proportions required with timber or aluminium, a steel T-bar or glazing bar (a mere 25mm wide) is enough to ensure maximum strength while providing the greatest possible area for glass. Traditional W20 steel window sections are frequently used to form screens. These may be configured to create three quarter height and full height panels with 90 degree returns or curves and to take large or small glass panes.

Screens can include windows or doors up to a height of 2.4m with fixed glazing above where extra height is required. Most screens are single glazed but when needed for acoustic reasons, for example when creating corporate boardrooms, double glazing with acoustic glass may be employed. A fixed screen with no doors or other opening sections can be designed to achieve a 30 minute fire rating. When used in wet rooms and as shower screens, weather seals can be employed to ensure a fully waterproof enclosure.

To provide for the highest durability and to achieve the aesthetics required, screens may be hot-dip galvanized and factory finished with a high quality polyester powder coat applied in any RAL colour. Alternatively, an industrial raw steel finish can be provided that shows up the details of the manufacturing process, including the welded joints. This is achieved either through a clear powder coating or with the application of a high quality factory applied lacquer.

For further information on the Steel Window Association, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk or call 0844 249 1355.

* Pictured above is an example of a steel internal screen produced by an SWA member

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