The Door Industry Journal

Thursday, 20 April 2023

Stoke-on-Trent Manufacturer Opens the Door to a Multi-Million Pound Move

Robust UK's new world-class facilities in Lymedale Business Park

One of the UK’s leading steel door manufacturers in North Staffordshire is moving to a new production facility with a £6 million pound investment.

Robust UK is currently based in Sutherland Road, Longton but as part of continued expansion plans, they are relocating to new world-class facilities in Lymedale Business Park, Coaldale in Newcastle-under-Lyme later this year, which are nearly double the size.

The firm which manufactures more than 25,000 door sets every year - for customers across the UK, has more than 40 years’ experience in making custom-made steel door solutions. Robust became part of the Novoferm Group in 2019 and this investment will build a world-class manufacturing facility in Staffordshire.

They supply an extensive product range, all designed and manufactured on-site at their current factory to both the industrial and commercial sectors. Robust currently employs 150 staff but that number is growing as client numbers continue to increase. Robust has ambitious plans for the new facility and to continue to grow by 50% by 2030.

Paul Williams, Sales Director (left) and David Lycett MD
pictured on the steps of their current site

Managing Director at Robust UK David Lycett said:

“It’s a really exciting time for Robust UK as this is just the start of a major financial investment in our future and our growth plans. We have been looking to move to bigger, better facilities for some time, but we wanted to find the perfect location not just to meet our manufacturing needs but the right location for our staff too. We’ve made the announcement this week and everyone’s really excited about the move.

He added: “It’s not the first time we’ve moved. We actually started our journey from a factory in Tean when we were founded in 1997. We then moved to bigger premises in Cheadle as our business grew before moving again to our current home in Longton. Back in 2018 we actually invested £2 million into our existing site which allowed us to relocate the semi-automated production line from our facilities in Sweden, to the UK, significantly increasing our production capacity.

“Five years on though we have grown exponentially and have literally outgrown our current site. The new world class facilities are going to be state of the art and will have enough space so we can continue our exciting growth plans for the future. The new facility will be fully furnished with new equipment to ensure there is no loss of production between sites while moving.”

The move is expected to be completed by November this year.

Robust is part of the Novoferm Group – Europe’s largest entrance system supplier, which supplies an extensive range of products across the globe. Novoferm is part of the Sanwa Group, a world-leading manufacturer of entrance systems- founded more than 50 years ago. They supply high-quality, reliable and innovative products, through a global network of more than 100 companies and thousands of approved distribution partners. The Group have around 9,000 employees and annual sales in more than 60 countries totalling more than € 2.5 billion.

To find out more please go to: https://www.robust-uk.com/ 01782 592900 or email sales@robust-uk.com

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Wednesday, 19 April 2023

Rhino Doors nears completion on London Underground's Bank Station project

Rhino Doors, the UK’s leading manufacturer of high-performance engineered doors, has nearly completed work on a complex £1 million-plus contract on the London Underground network.

The project, which involved designing, manufacturing and installing 20 self-closing fire doors in the cross passages at Bank Station, presented a number of logistical challenges.

Dr Chris Norris, Rhino Doors’ Chief Engineer said:

“As well as the demands of working at one of London’s busiest interchange stations over a year, we had to deal with several technical challenges,” said Dr Chris Norris, Rhino Doors’ Chief Engineer.

“Site installation had to be carried out within restricted hours, including engineering hours when no trains were running, to ensure the safety of passengers, operational railway and our engineers.”

In addition, the irregular tunnel geometry meant that cladding systems for the door surrounds had to be adapted to fit, while unexpected structural loads meant that doors had to be modified.

“We have had to be responsive to the demands of this installation – it has been very much a bespoke solution,” added Dr Norris.

Working alongside leading engineering and construction contractor, Dragados S.A, Rhino has installed 18 double-leaf and 2 single-leaf, oversized latch less fire doors which self-close to provide a barrier against smoke and 60 minutes of integrity fire resistance from either side.

The stainless-steel doors, held in the open position by electromagnets, provide protected escape routes and places of refuge for passengers passing through one of London’s busiest interchange stations on the underground network in an emergency.

Stuart Moss, Sales Manager - Major Projects at Rhino Doors, said:

“Working closely with the team at Dragados, we’ve been able to meet the challenging performance requirements set.

“We see this project as a testament to the high level of design and manufacturing expertise we provide to the transport sector.”

Bobby Pyne, Agent at Dragados, added:

“Tackling the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project in partnership with Rhino Doors has been demanding, technically challenging, but equally rewarding from start to finish.

“From a challenging sequence of fire testing to the final installation of the doors, it’s rewarding to see this project coming together, and the Rhino team have been great to work with, overcoming challenges that the interfaces with the existing station and new works.”

The Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project, in the heart of London’s financial district, will increase capacity by 40% and include new passenger tunnels, a new southbound running tunnel and a new southbound platform for the Northern Line.

Find out more about Rhino Doors by visiting www.rhinodoors.com

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Tuesday, 18 April 2023

Abloy UK showcases new digital portfolio at the Security Event 2023

Abloy UK is inviting visitors to stand 4/F60 at The Security Event to get hands on with its innovative range of electromechanical and digital access solutions.

Products include Incedo™, Aperio®, SMARTair™, and CLIQ®, which can be combined with compliant electric locks to create a bespoke access control system, designed specifically for an organisation’s needs, and to meet building regulations.

Incedo™ Business is a flexible security ecosystem that combines ASSA ABLOY’s world-leading range of wireless locks and other access hardware with flexible software, multiple management options and the ability to scale on demand, in any direction.

Aperio technology offers cost-effective, integrated access control, and is the ideal retrofit option to update an existing access control system to wire-free, providing a simple, intelligent way to upgrade the controllability and security level of a premises.

SMARTair™ utilises electronic locks to provide advanced, user-friendly access management with multiple credential options.

In addition to the Openow™ mobile solution which enables the sending, revoking and updating of virtual keys over the air in seconds.

ASSA ABLOY PULSE is an intelligent, energy harvesting, future-proof solution you can install new or retro-fit in existing sites, which is suitable for all kinds of environments, from schools to assisted living blocks and multi-resident apartments.

eCLIQ is a retro-fit solution to control the movement of people, and allows access to be easily granted, changed and removed while providing a wide range of data for health and safety purposes.

PROTEC2 CLIQ is user friendly access management system that enables remote key management and provides comprehensive audit trails on locks and padlocks.

It also offers the ability to electronically mark lost or stolen keys in the system, meaning security can still be maintained and risk reduced in circumstances where a key has been misplaced without rekeying.

The Escape Door System (EDS) is designed specifically to ensure people can escape safely through electrically controlled escape doors and maintains secure locking in the event of an emergency.

The EDS is comprised of 3 components to meet BS EN 13637 – Blocking, Control and Trigger - tested and certified together as a package to ensure compliance and safety.

Abloy also offers compliant Low Energy Electric Locks, which only consume energy when the lock is being used, in contrast to door magnets which require a constant electric current to keep the door locked.

These Electric Locks have an annual energy consumption of 0.02kWh compared to 52.0kWh per year for those reliant on magnets.

The Security Event is held at the Birmingham NEC over 25 - 27 April 2023, showcasing the world’s leading security brands.

For further information on products and services available from Abloy, visit stand 4/F60 at the Security Event 2023, or alternatively visit https://bit.ly/3wfq54M, call 01902 364 500, or email info@abloy.co.uk.

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Monday, 17 April 2023

Bill to ensure safety of IoT products becomes law

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 has now been enacted into law having received Royal Assent on 6th December 2022.

The new law applies to all consumer IoT products, including:

connected safety-relevant products such as smoke detectors and door locks
connected home automation and alarm systems
Internet of Things base stations and hubs to which multiple devices connect
smart home assistants
smartphones
connected cameras

Consumer connectable products, such as those listed above offer huge benefits for people and businesses to live better-connected lives with a lower carbon footprint. It is a rapidly growing area of emerging technology: forecasts suggest that there could be up to 50 billion connectable products worldwide by 2030, and on average there are nine in each UK household.

However, the adoption of cyber security requirements within these products is poor, and while only 1 in 5 manufacturers embed basic security requirements in consumer-connectable products, consumers overwhelmingly assume these products are secure.

However, whilst connectable consumer products have previously had to comply with existing regulations to ensure that they will not directly cause physical harm from issues such as overheating, environmental damage or electrical interference, they have not been regulated to protect consumers from cyber harm such as loss of privacy and personal data. To close this regulatory gap, the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 has now been enacted into law.

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors to ensure that minimum security requirements are met in relation to consumer-connectable products that are available to consumers and provides a robust regulatory framework that can adapt and remain effective in the face of rapid technological advancement, the evolving techniques employed by malicious actors, and the broader international regulatory landscape.

Secure Connected Device accreditation for IoT products

The national police security initiative, Secured by Design (SBD), launched the Secure Connected Device accreditation scheme in 2022 in response to the pending legislation, coupled with growing demand from industry and current members seeking to gain SBD accreditation for IoT products.

The SBD Secure Connected Device accreditation scheme, developed in consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), helps companies to get their products appropriately assessed against all 13 provisions of the ETSI EN 303 645 standard, a requirement that goes beyond the Government’s legislation so that companies can not only demonstrate their compliance with the legislation but protects them, their products and customers.

The SBD Secure Connected Device IoT Assessment identifies the level of risk associated with an IoT device and its ecosystem, providing recommendations on the appropriate certification routes with one of the SBD-approved certification bodies.

Once third-party testing and independent certification for a product has been achieved, the company can apply to become an SBD member, with the product receiving the SBD’s Secure Connected Device accreditation, a unique and recognisable accreditation that will highlight products as having achieved the relevant IoT standards and certification.

Why is the Secure Connected Device accreditation for IoT products important?

The risk of a cyber attack or breach against an IoT device can be reduced as SBD-accredited devices have been tested to ensure they have been built to the required security standards.

The Secure Connected Device accreditation is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for the security of their IoT products in the UK.

SBD continually monitors national crime trends to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour and new technology, ensuring that standards are updated to reflect these changes.

View from the expert

Michelle Kradolfer is the Internet of Things (IoT) Technical Officer at Police CPI and the lead for Secured by Design’s Secure Connected Devices accreditation. Michelle graduated from University with a Master of Cyber Crime and Digital Investigation (with Distinction) and has worked at INTERPOL, with the Research and Innovation team within the Cyber Innovation & Outreach Directorate, as well as a Cyber Development Officer with the Police Digital Security Centre.

Michelle said:

“Without the appropriate levels of security, any internet-connected device or app is at risk of providing cyber criminals with a key to enable them to access and steal personal data. It is therefore vitally important to ensure that all IoT products have the right level of security in place to protect consumers and reduce the risk of them falling victim to cybercrime. Adverse publicity due to a cyber incident could be catastrophic to the reputation of the product and company.

“Compliance with the ‘Secure Connected Device’ accreditation sends a clear message to the wider industry of the importance of IoT security and companies accredited to this new SBD standard will lead by example and be at the forefront of the IoT revolution and in doing so will help to keep their customers and the public safer from the risk of a cyber breach”.

The Police Preferred Specification

SBD has operated an accreditation scheme on behalf of the UK Police Service for products or services that have met recognised security standards for nearly 25 years. These products or services – which must be capable of deterring or preventing crime - are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’.

There are many hundreds of companies that produce thousands of individual attack-resistant crime prevention products, in more than 30 different categories, which have met the exacting standards of the Police Preferred Specification. This includes doors, windows, external storage, bicycle and motorcycle security, locks and hardware, asset marking, alarms, CCTV, safes, perimeter security products, and many others.

SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK.

Find out more on SBD’s Secure Connected Device accreditation at www.securedbydesign.com/Internet-of-Things

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Sunday, 16 April 2023

Alvis Grand Prix Race Car resurrected decades after being left to rot in a scrapyard

The sole surviving Alvis Grand Prix racing car, once abandoned in a scrapyard in Coventry, is being revived by The Alvis Car Company, its original creator. It is set to mark its first public appearance in Chiba City, Japan at Automobile Council 2023, 96 years after its race debut at the 1927 Junior Car Club 200 Mile Race at Brooklands.

After lying dormant for decades, it has been a long and arduous journey to resurrect the historic competition car to its former glory.

Despite the car being largely original upon its acquisition in 2006, with only a handful of parts such as the bonnet, rear suspension and radiator entirely missing, the car’s rejuvenation has relied on several months of painstaking research.

The Alvis caused a stir in 1927 owing to its highly unusual mechanical layout. Remarkably, the car has no conventional front axle. Instead, the steering system uses four elliptic leaf springs in a unique, independent arrangement.

A powerful in-line, eight-cylinder, 1.5-litre, supercharged engine sits just behind the longitudinally mounted gearbox, giving the car a distinctive length when compared to its competition in 1927.

These distinctions would unfortunately spell unreliability for the Alvis. One of two cars entered, this particular chassis was the #2 Alvis for the 1927 British Grand Prix.

Issues with both cars meant ultimately neither made the start. Two weeks later #2 made its debut in the JCC 200 Mile Race at Brooklands. Showing prodigious pace, and lapping the track in excess of 120mph, this Alvis, driven by George Duller, qualified second behind the sister car of Maurice Harvey.

Duller’s Alvis took the lead at the drop of the flag, but after dropping back to third due to a spark plug change, the Alvis retired with an engine failure on lap 52.

Upon returning to the Alvis factory, the car’s engine was removed and entirely dismantled to diagnose the cause of the failure; a shattered con-rod, now on display in Alvis’ showroom in Kenilworth.

The car would never house its original engine again. It remained in Alvis’ possession, powerless and unused, for just over a decade.

Attempting to free up space in the factory in the late 1930s, the car was one of a trio of front wheel drive examples that Alvis sent to Roach Brothers, a car breaker in Coventry. Roach Brothers were given strict instructions that it was to be broken up and not sold on.

Subverting this original agreement, the car was sold to Bill Pitcher, a motorcycle dealer in Rugby and secretly allowed a second chance.

Pitcher set about trying to find a replacement engine and gearbox and settled on a 1929 engine that originally came from either Alvis’ TT or Le Mans cars and an Alvis transmission system from 1929.

Pitcher’s idea to re-develop the Alvis with a rear-engine layout fortunately never materialised, and he was forced to sell the car when his business failed, around 1955. The new owner, lifelong front wheel drive Alvis enthusiast Nic Davies then owned it for nearly 50 years.

Davies travelled the world with the car, taking it to Australia, Papua New Guinea, Florida and more. Throughout this time, the car was kept in the condition left by Pitcher, until 1990, when Davies began an ambitious reassembly project.

Although far from complete, this project saw the car run under its own power for the first time in over 75 years on the 19th of April, 2003.

It was in this state in 2006 that the car was acquired by Alan Stote (the current owner of The Alvis Car Company) and Tony Cox (a front wheel drive Alvis expert), and the definitive restoration process to period specification began.

Several period photographs of the car in race trim, surviving drawings of its engine and the core elements of the car that remain in good condition (chassis frame, bodywork etc.) have been crucial to returning the car to its original state.

Fastidiously studying these parts and reverse-engineering them using CAD allowed Alvis to remanufacture new components in its factory, or with UK-based suppliers. A new, period-correct engine block and gearbox casting replaced the similar but incorrect units Pitcher had sourced decades ago, to ensure the utmost faithfulness to the original car.

The restoration of the Alvis Grand Prix is the latest achievement for the flourishing British marque and follows its range of six ‘Continuation Series’ road cars and an order book for the handmade models stretching into 2025.

Together with sister company Red Triangle, the Alvis Car Company offers parts and sales of period and new Alvis models alongside restoration and maintenance services. All of this takes place at its works in Kenilworth alongside a vast storeroom of authentic Alvis parts, stored since the original factory site closed in 1967.

Alan Stote, the owner of The Alvis Car Company said:

“The lack of historical information presented a key challenge during the restoration process, but at the same time has made the project more intriguing, and one that has been a journey of discovery,”

The car is set to be publicly unveiled this weekend at Automobile Council 2023 (14th – 16th April), in Chiba City, Japan as a complete rolling chassis. Further work is planned to complete the engine later this year, ahead of a series of demonstrations and displays at key events.

Alvis would ultimately like the car to return to Brooklands in 2027 for the 100th anniversary of its debut.

https://thealviscarcompany.co.uk/

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Saturday, 15 April 2023

Garador Run for Local Hospital

Employees at leading garage door manufacturer Garador are establishing a strong reputation for their charitable activities.

The latest effort to help others is from Garador’s shop floor worker Nick Boon, who started the year training hard for a local half marathon race.

He has now just completed the 13 mile race in 1 hour 47 minutes, raising £285 for the local Yeovil Hospital Charity.

Garador’s Managing Director Jon Watson said:

“It was a great effort as it was a challenging route, going out into the country before returning to the hilly centre of Yeovil town.

“All the money raised goes to help the local hospital buy essential equipment, a very worthwhile cause.”

www.garador.co.uk

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Friday, 14 April 2023

The Key Role of Indicative Testing

When it comes to British Standards testing there are a whole host of factors that can affect the result. There are a large number of window and door profile systems, a broad range of hardware suppliers and product ranges, and course glass combinations.

All of this, combined with different fabrication techniques, can have a major impact on the outcome of the test. Therefore, indicative testing is key.

Gareth Phillips, Technical Services Manager for Yale, comments:

“In the current financial climate, value for money is particularly important for fabricators and installers.
“We appreciate that product testing and certification are both time-consuming and a big investment, not only due to the cost of the test itself but also for the sample door and/or window and of course, the time spent away from the office.
“Through indicative testing, we aim to help our customers avoid inappropriate product selection and potential test failures, creating confidence when it comes to the final British Standards testing.”

The Technical Services Team at Yale is on hand to provide technical expertise from the start of the design, build, and fabrication process, right through the testing phase where they provide insightful advice and support on the most suitable hardware solutions and fabrication techniques, in preparation for a positive outcome during the final official testing and accreditation.

As the leading name in home security, Yale has the infrastructure in place to test doors and window hardware to the most stringent and up-to-date industry standards, providing accurate data on the product’s performance, as well as offering endurance testing, static load testing and corrosion testing.

Located at the Centre of Excellence for Window Products in Cheltenham, Yale has a corrosion test tank, six endurance rigs and a dedicated endurance rig for spring balance, a PAS24 window and door rig, along with a window lock endurance rig.

Yale is also able to provide commercial window endurance and mock project simulation within its large-scale commercial test rig. The test rig enables indicative testing on project-specific opening vents, with the ability to tip the rig into any inclined position between vertical and +/- 20 degrees, and tailor the test to represent a particular building or project, no matter how obscure.

Gareth adds:

“We aim to provide the best possible product and service for our customers.

“Our indicative testing offering allows us to give customers confidence and peace of mind as the products have been tried and tested with the utmost accuracy and credibility – specific to a certain project or application.”

Yale’s dedicated technical services team covers the whole of the UK. To find out how they can help your business, visit www.yaledws.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1902 366800

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Thursday, 13 April 2023

Industrial loft doors from Hörmann UK - Glass and steel in perfect harmony

Combining large, glazed panels with high-quality slim steel profiles, industrial loft-style doors from Hörmann UK offer specifiers and consumers endless opportunities to create modern doors and room screening for a feeling of space and light.

The loft door range is an internal glazed door system which has been developed in response to the growing trend for slimline, heritage-style doors and screening in the interior design market.

The range will be exhibited for the first time in the UK on the Hörmann stand during the FIT Show - Stand no. P21, Hall 9, 23rd – 25th May.

The loft doors can be designed as single or double-leaf options and can be either hinged or sliding. The addition of side elements and transoms means that large opening spaces can be created to provide an unobstructed view between living areas.

Two slim glazing bead options are available. An angled version with exposed screw heads creates a traditional industrial look, whilst a narrow, angled 15mm bead without exposed screw heads provides a more modern, sleek and elegant appearance.

Glazing is available in either Clear or Clear white, with the steel profiles supplied in RAL 9005 Jet black matt as standard, five preferred colours including Traffic white and Anthracite grey or RAL colours of choice.

Textured and pearl-effect finishes together with the addition of handles and fittings from the Hörmann black.edition provides further opportunities for creativity and style.

David O’Mara, Marketing Manager at Hörmann UK comments:

“Our loft door system is the ideal product for creating bespoke interior glazed doors, partitions and dividers.

“This all culminates in helping to separate living spaces whilst maintaining optimum levels of natural light. Whilst particularly suited for domestic properties the system can also be used in commercial situations such as entrances, offices and studios.
“Hörmann can now offer the market an interior glazed door system which combines creativity and flexibility with the Hörmann guarantee of quality.”

To find out more about Hörmann loft doors visit www.hormann.co.uk or call 01530 516868.

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Wednesday, 12 April 2023

It’s Time to Down Tools & Hotfoot it to FIT Show

We get it, you’ve got a backlog of leads to fulfil and your order book is looking pretty healthy for the foreseeable. You’re probably thinking there’s not much point in taking time off the tools to make a trip to FIT Show (NEC 23 - 25 May, 2023.)

It’s only been a year since the last FIT Show, so there won’t be much new to see, and you can always go next year, right…? WRONG!

News Flash! After FIT Show this May, our tenth anniversary edition no less, FIT Show won’t return until May 2025. Can you afford to leave three years between your FIT Show visits by not attending this May? This is your chance to secure your future pipeline and drive long-term leads.

And if you think there won’t be anything new to see, you couldn’t be more wrong. Over 25% of the lineup is made of brands who have never exhibited before, and 40% are from overseas.

These are brands and products that you will never have seen at FIT Show before. In the last few weeks alone brands such as Sheerline (Garnalex), Whitesales, Supalite, Gerda Doors by Pioneer Trading, Saint-Gobain, Listers, Glazerite, Business Micros, Chekatrade, Mennie Canada.

Emmegi and Deponti have joined the lineup (And there are even more BIG names still to be announced!) Expect to see 200 brands showcasing thousands of the latest products.

Alongside new brands, you won’t want to miss the brand new Installer HUB feature with live product demos where you will be able to receive training and support on how to install the latest products on the market, as well as speak directly to the people who manufacture them.

Have you heard about our CPD Certified learning programme? We’ve teamed up with GGF & FENSA to curate a programme of 30+ hours of seminars, all delivered by industry experts. You will be able to attend free sessions like these:

‘Facing the future: 2023 State of the Nation’
‘How to avoid a race to the bottom’ (working for sales, selling more high margin products, wider themes)
‘Market trends and expectations’
Building Regs – ‘Future Homes Standards’ & ‘The Building Safety Bill’
U-values and net zero goals - ‘Meeting the demand for the 100,000,000 windows which need replacing’
‘Get social media fit; five easy ways to find and secure sales using social media’
‘How to use storytelling to increase sales’
‘Fire Doorsets: Legislation Changes’
‘Regulation changes in roof lights and lanterns’
‘Sustainable Glazing - the future of recycled glass’
‘Pulse Testing - An alternative to trickle vents?’

You can view the full programme and register for these sessions via www.fitshow.co.uk/seminars.

You’ll be able to combine work and pleasure at FIT Show this May, with a mountain of exclusive show offers and discounts to take advantage of.

FIX Radio will be broadcasting live from the show and there will be competitions running when you’re on site.
Winkhaus will be offering up Virgin Experience Day vouchers as part of their on stand promotion.
Two visitors to ODL Europe’s stand will win £500 of holiday vouchers each.

Exhibitors will be offering genuine discounts on products and services that are exclusive to FIT Show - these are offers that you can only access if you attend this May.

Party Time! Did we mention, it’s our ten year anniversary event this May? Join us as we celebrate ten years of FIT Show and a decade of being the UK’s number one trade show for the window, door, glass, hardware and components industry.

To save you time off the tools, we’ll be opening late on Wednesday 24th May (10am to 8pm) so you can always join us after work.

And it wouldn’t be a late night at FIT Show without the PiG’s Party which is promising a BIG extravaganza with live music and an extra place to network after you’ve seen all of the latest products on the market.

There has never been a more important time to plan a trip to FIT. What are you waiting for? Down tools immediately and head to www.fitshow-2023.reg.buzz/door-industry-journal to register for your FREE ticket!

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Tuesday, 11 April 2023

Leading the way: Sentry Doors unveil new look Knowles.

Sentry Doors are never content to stand still. As the UK’s leading manufacturer of timber fire safety and security doors, they’re constantly innovating and improving their product range to ensure that they meet customer needs whilst remaining at the very forefront of the industry.

Sentry Doors’ recent acquisition of E. & S. W. Knowles Company Ltd is a case in point. The extensive Knowles product range now sits within the Sentry Doors catalogue of market-leading products, giving customers access to a complete range of fully certified fire doors, which are suitable for all markets.

Following the acquisition, Sentry Doors is pleased to announce the launch of a new look Knowles range, which sits perfectly within the Sentry family and reflects both brands shared vision for the future.

As a result of the brand transformation, E. & S. W. Knowles Company Ltd will now simply be known as Knowles.

The new branding uses familiar elements of the Sentry logo and encases them around the Knowles range. This cradling effect is symbolic of the safety and protection the company has built its reputation upon.

Bespoke, sector-specific solutions

As part of Sentry Doors, production of the Knowles range will take place at the 60,000 sq. ft facility in Birmingham, where the focus will be on manufacturing specialist timber internal doorsets with fire-rated, acoustic and PAS 24 security certification. The 100-strong team in Birmingham offers bespoke, sector-specific solutions that meet the exacting requirements of its commercial, healthcare, education and leisure customers.

The acquisition added many new, complementary products to Sentry Doors’ already well-established range of fully certified bespoke timber fire and security door sets, designed for the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets.

Sentry Doors’ reputation for quality and certification is what makes them a UK leader, and now that they can cater to all markets, the organisation is able to provide an even wider, bespoke range of products.

Largest UK fire door manufacturer

The newly expanded business continues to be headquartered in Doncaster, where Sentry Doors has an additional 40,000 sq. ft facility. This takes the company’s total footprint to 100,000 sq. ft across the Birmingham and Doncaster branches, both of which are fully equipped with the latest manufacturing equipment.

Sentry Doors also benefit from having all the skills and capabilities required to manufacture their products in-house, and since the acquisition, they have invested £1.2m to support the expansion of production capabilities in Birmingham. This gives the organisation complete quality control at every stage of production and demonstrates that they are truly a centre of excellence and expertise. It also enables them to offer a complete, end-to-end service, consistent lead and delivery times and a first-class customer experience.

Made in Britain

The expansion has provided Sentry Doors with the opportunity to pursue further innovation and growth, whilst maintaining their ongoing commitment to being the UK leader in timber fire and security doorsets, at the forefront of compliance and regulation. Sentry’s products are tested and certified to the highest industry standards, giving customers complete confidence and peace of mind.

In addition, Sentry Doors are proud to have obtained the official ‘Made in Britain’ stamp. As the only official, protected mark which certifies that a product is made in Britain, the mark gives confidence to customers that Sentry is a trusted and transparent manufacturer.

Known and trusted for over 130 years

The transformation of the brand also coincides with Knowles’ centenary year. This major milestone means that they now have over 130 years of collective experience in manufacturing specialist doorsets.

Sentry prides itself on their unique approach, which seamlessly blends traditional, time-honoured techniques with modern manufacturing methods. While Sentry is rightly proud of their combined history, heritage and reputation, this brand transformation and expansion provide an opportunity for them to look to the future.

Ty Aziz, Sentry’s Chief Executive, said:

‘Together, Sentry Doors and Knowles have an incredible manufacturing heritage, while our complementary products and skills make us a formidable company. We’re very happy to be marking this acquisition with a new look and a logo that reflects our shared vision and goals, while cementing our status as a known and trusted brand.

‘The rebrand marks a key milestone in the growth strategy for our businesses and advances our ambition to be UK leaders in this sector.'

The new look Knowles will be unveiled at the Fire Safety Event, at Birmingham NEC on 25-27 April. Showcasing the latest products, technology and solutions in fire safety, this event is dedicated to supporting industry practitioners, professionals and organisations in achieving and maintaining the very highest standards of fire safety management.

For further information:

Telephone: 01302 337 473

Email: enquiries@sentrydoors.co.uk

Website: sentrydoors.co.uk

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