Full Speed Ahead in 2016 for
Aluminium and CAB!
December 2015

There is ongoing confidence that 2016 will be positive for the aluminium in building sector. Not only is our own Q3, 2015 State of the Market Survey showing that 75% net balance of members see sales increasing over the next 12 months but this confidence is backed up by other research and surveys. The Construction Products Association forecast around 20% output growth in construction to 2019. The latest Palmer Report on Commercial Glazing highlighted that aluminium’s market share increased to 81% between 2012 and 2014. Palmer is now forecasting that the commercial aluminium window market will reach an all-time high in 2019 of 1.74m frames.

If any further evidence was needed of the positive vibes that exist, it is clear that the order books for aluminium fabricators are extremely encouraging going into the New Year. Many specialist contractors have full or close to full order books for 2016. This continued upturn means training and education in the sector is more important than ever and CAB has reacted by increasing its free seminar programme for members in areas such as Contractual Awareness, Health & Safety and specialist Marketing Forums.

Our first contracts seminar in the new year is entitled ‘Top Contractual Nightmares’and will again be presented by Geraldine Fleming, Executive Director, Knowles. The seminar will be held at the Mercure Leicester - The Grand Hotel on Thursday 25 February 2016. Geraldine will cover a number of topics such as: Tender issues; Liquidated damages; Defects; Variations and Payments; Damage; Collateral warranties; Claims and Insolvency.

The specialist seminar takes place before the first CAB Regional Members’ Meeting of the year to be held very close by at Athena, a refurbished 1930’s cinema. Robert Palmer, Palmer Market Research will be outlining the key findings of his Commercial Glazing Market report 2015 and his recent Press Release, which is included in this edition of Aluminium in Architecture, details some of the headlines. In addition to Geraldine Fleming outlining the 2016 Contracts Seminar programme, we will be welcoming Kevin Smyth, Project Management who will discuss ‘Health & safety risk mitigation through knowledge’. This will include:

• Explanation of Legal duties and what these entail.
• Designer, Supplier, Employer, Employee, Managers and supervisors
• What is training and competency and where do "cards" fit in
• Employee's roles in method statements and risk assessment
• Employee roles in safe systems of work & operation of equipment.

Kevin will also outline some planned CAB Health & Safety seminars for 2016.

We are extremely grateful to our generous sponsors for the event:
Platinum Sponsors: AluK (GB), Sapa Building Systems and Technal
Gold Sponsors: Dutemänn UK and Yale Door and Windows Solutions
Support Sponsor: Technoform BAUTEC                     
For more details of our events programme, please go to:

http://www.c-a-b.org.uk/news-events/cab-events-programme-2016/        

Finally, best wishes for the season to all our readers and we wish you a very prosperous 2016!