Team strengthened
SE Controls has made six key new appointments recently.
[Read the Rest Here]

Sustainably best
The stunning new headquarters building for KfW Bank in Frankfurt, which features extensive use of Wicona unitised curtain walling, has won a major global architectural award.
[Read the Rest Here]

Aluminium popularity
CDW Systems has seen demand for its aluminium vertical sliding sash window increase, which the company has put down to popularity in the domestic and commercial sector.
[Read the Rest Here]

Passiv Haus range
Internorm claims to be the only window manufacturer in Europe with nine Passive House certified components.
[Read the Rest Here]

Window boost
KAluminium sash window manufacturer Clearview Windows has seen sales rise by a 200% in 2011 compared to the previous year.
[Read the Rest Here]

Secure housing
Adams Rite has been working with New Charter Homes in supplying locking hardware for its homes across Tameside.
[Read the Rest Here]

Hardware Agrément certificates launched
The BBA has launched a new BBA approval scheme for window and door hardware products, in a bid to improve the robustness of the approval process.
[Read the Rest Here]

Future proof?
A premium range of windows and doors that is future-proof to 2019 has been launched in the UK by Kawneer.
[Read the Rest Here]

‘Eco’ infill panels
Panel Systems has released an environmentally friendly window infill panel – the Aluglaze eco.
[Read the Rest Here]

Looking ahead to prosperity

A typical feature among the news stories we publish is the expert organisation telling us how bad things are. This month is no exception, with the CBI announcing that the results of its survey show that nine out of 10 construction firms expect the cut in public funding to affect operating conditions [Read Story Here ].

We have had similar stories every month this year. I know that it is important to keep abreast of developments, and how they affect the economic landscape, which in turn impact on our industry. (I have to say that my nine-year-old son could have knocked together a press release that said something along the lines of “the government has stopped spending... private firms can’t get the credit to fill the gap... construction is likely to suffer...”.) However, we need context.

As usual, there is other news to counter the disheartening stuff. The fact that the government plans to overhaul the public procurement system [Read Story Here ] will please many, as will news that the government plans to slash health and safety red tape [Read Story Here ] for small businesses.

It is important not to make knee-jerk decisions that only give you short-term gain, which is why my attention was particularly drawn to the advice given to employers this month not to cancel Christmas [Read Story Here ]. Conditions may be tight, but would cancelling the company’s Christmas party be a good idea in the long run?

Despite the fact that the investment banks brought this country to its knees, the government is scared to tighten their collars too much in case bankers will move abroad to take advantage of more lenient regulations that allow them to make more money, leaving us with a talent vacuum in this country.

But what about the construction industry? History has shown us that construction workers will happily move to where there is work (more so, I believe, than bankers). What happens when working conditions get too tough here, or there is more work abroad, and our top talent leaves the UK? That cancelled Christmas party may be the icing on the cake, and we could be left without the skills to rebuild our industry once the economy begins to recover!

Southam-based Alumet obviously thinks that looking after its workforce is a good idea [Read Story Here ]– I bet they had a proper knees up before the offices closed for the festive break!

Merry Christmas from us all at Aluminium In Architecture, and (with fingers crossed) we hope you have a prosperous New Year.

Nathan Bushell

Missed last month's Aluminium in Architecture Ezine? It's here

CHIEF EXEC'S COMMENT Chief Executive’s comments – Justin Ratcliffe Determination going forward As it is the final month of the year, it is nice to start with a positive note and the G11 Awards held at the London Hilton Hotel in late November certainly provided it. Over 500 members of the fenestration supply chain applauded some excellent winners (with CAB members picking up one award and several shortlist nominations) but more than anything was the air of sheer determination to succeed in the face of the likelihood of a further 24-36 months of challenging times. The organisers and winners are all to be congratulated. If the Governor of the Bank of England has difficultly in predicting tomorrow, I think you will excuse me making rash predictions. It is clear from discussions though with a number of members recently that business is still out there, surprisingly the schools sector is considered ‘steady’ – perhaps we have forgotten just how many projects managed to get over the line before the end of BSF as we knew it. There are other good news stories around about companies moving to larger premises and expanding their export markets to record levels of turnover. Away from CAB, and in the wider marketplace, there have sadly been casualties and the brutal reality is that there are more to come. In this context, support from the Chancellor cannot come soon enough. Read the Rest Here: Technical Consultant’s comments – Patrick England Making things happen in the UK and Europe The astronaut James Lovell once said: “There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.” The CAB technical team are people who ‘make things happen’, with support and feedback from a growing membership of companies throughout the aluminium in building supply chain in the UK. Read the Rest Here: THIS MONTH'S NEWS ‘Big deal’ for SMEs News that the Government will implement ‘radical reform’ to the public procurement system – essentially how it does business with UK firms – has been welcomed by the Forum of Private Business. [Read the Rest Here] Key roles The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) and the Glass and Glazing Fenestration (GGF) were recently elected to key roles within the Federation of European Window and Curtain Walling Manufacturers’ Associations (FAECF). [Read the Rest Here] ‘Tough’ – survey Nearly nine out of 10 UK construction firms expect public spending cuts to act as a drag on operating conditions, the CBI said recently. [Read the Rest Here] H&S cull welcomed News the Government is planning to slash health and safety red tape for small business as early as January has been welcomed by the Forum of Private Business. [Read the Rest Here] Green Deal pilot selection UKAS has selected Certass to be one of the few organisations to be on the initial Green Deal pilot scheme. UKAS will accredit Certass to certify window installers against the relevant standards for Green Deal certification. [Read the Rest Here] Don’t cancel Christmas! Desperate times call for desperate measures – but do not ditch the all important Christmas party this year for the sake of a few pounds and a bit of thought, the Forum of Private Business has warned. [Read the Rest Here] Commended CMS Enviro Systems has been commended at a top environmental awards ceremony in the ‘Waste & Resource’ category of the Vibes (Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland) awards, at an event held in Edinburgh. [Read the Rest Here] Romanian gifts and ‘taches Staff at Southam based construction specialists Alumet have been collecting Christmas gifts for disadvantages families. [Read the Rest Here] Good green employer The Alumet Group has been listed in Building magazine's Good Employers Guide for a second year running. [Read the Rest Here] Award wins MRA Marketing picked up three awards at this year’s Construction Marketing Awards, while facade and renewable energy specialists The Alumet Group won one. [Read the Rest Here]

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CAB Diary 2012

Full details of all CAB's 2012 events can be found at www.c-a-b.org.uk under 'news and events'

We are delighted to announce our first event of 2012 which is entitled ‘The Changing face of specification’

Date: Thursday 23 February 2012
Event: CAB Regional Meeting & Mini-Conference
Start Time: 4.00 pm
Meeting Venue: Marriott Hollins Hall Hotel BD17 7QW
Dinner Venue: Salts Mill, nr Bradford BD18 3LA
Details: enquiries@c-a-b.org.uk
Alternatively contact Justin Ratcliffe, Chief Executive or Julie Harley, Office Manager at the CAB office on 01453 828851

Facade facelift
The £multi-million pound redevelopment of Sheffield’s Grade II listed Park Hill housing estate includes high performance Everseal insulating glass units from Float Glass Industries as part of a vibrant new facade featuring brightly coloured anodised aluminium panels and large glazed sections.
[Read the Rest Here]

College piece
LouvreSol Specialist Projects has completed a stepped solar shading installation on a new project for the West Cheshire College.
[Read the Rest Here]

Comfort and safety
A combined smoke and natural ventilation solution from SE Controls is helping create a comfortable and safe environment for patients, visitors and staff at Salford Royal Hospital’s new £90 million Hope Building.
[Read the Rest Here]

Low carbon footprint
LouvreSol SP provided and installed the extensive brise soleil array around the South Cheshire college, constructed in the form of a crescent around a mature copse of oak trees.
[Read the Rest Here]

Company move
Machinery supplier Haffner GB has moved premises.
[Read the Rest Here]

Emergency service provided
Kombimatec sprung into action and got window fabricator, Prizma Windows, up and running within a week following a massive fire on August 13th that wiped out its factory, including all machinery and stock.
[Read the Rest Here]