Green leader
Dean Walton, marketing director of the Alumet Group, has been named a Green Leader by Sustainability West Midlands (SWM).
[Read the Rest Here]

Museum partner
Architectural aluminium facade company, Technal, has been announced as a corporate partner of the Guggenheim Museum Foundation in Bilbao.
[Read the Rest Here]

Refurb advancement
Schueco UK has launched the Schueco ERC 50 Renovation Facade, which allows an office building to be given a complete external facelift, including the installation of ProSol TF thin-film PV modules if required, without the need for the occupants to move out.
[Read the Rest Here]

Supplier of the year
Total Glass won the Supplier of the Year Award in the Builder & Engineer Awards 2011.
[Read the Rest Here]

New tilt and turn window
Kawneer has enhanced its AA540 window range with a tilturn variant.
[Read the Rest Here]

Passivhaus levels achieved
With a whole window U-value of 0.8W/m2K, the new AWS 90.SI aluminium window system from Schueco UK, achieves PassivHaus levels of insulation – previously only obtainable using PVCU or timber – in a frame depth of just 90mm.
[Read the Rest Here]

Security in focus
Adams Rite’s high security Sentinel 6 package has been used to secure innovative office spaces in the heart of Manchester.
[Read the Rest Here]

New door furniture
Four new door handles in different designs have been added to Eurospec’s Contract Stainless Collection.
[Read the Rest Here]

Glass advancement
Pilkington has launched K Glass S – a new soft coated glass product.
[Read the Rest Here]

Independent inspectorate
Qualicoat is the world’s largest quality management label for architectural powder coating. Being specified on projects around the globe, the quality label is now 25 years old and celebrates its Jubilee year with a world congress in Munich this October.
[Read the Rest Here]

Software update
Business Micros (Aluminium) has launched a new update for its LogiKal software system.
[Read the Rest Here]

One of a kind
Saint-Gobain Glass has launched Planitherm One and Planitherm One II which boast an optimum centre-pane U-value of just 1.0W/m2K.
[Read the Rest Here]

Software success
The number of aluminium fabricators using First Degree Systems’ (FDS) newly launched manufacturing and business management software programme has sharply increased over the last month according to sales and marketing director Alan Bark.
[Read the Rest Here]

Green balconies
Clear glass balconies from Balcony Systems are now even ‘greener’ thanks to the innovative self-cleaning glass coating that eliminates the use of strong chemicals to keep them clean.
[Read the Rest Here]

Personal touch
Powdertech, the Northants based powder coating company, has confirmed yet again that building strong customer relationships is the key to business success; customers appreciate a helpful, informative approach and an honest and open relationship.
[Read the Rest Here]

SE Controls at the M&E Exhibition
SE Controls will be launching its Tamperproof Manual Control Point (MCP) and its Shevtec Extended Travel Distance smoke ventilation system at the M&E Exhibition, Olympia, London, 11th & 12th October, on stand C113.
[Read the Rest Here]

Why you should pay attention to the Green Deal

This month the Energy Act became law, paving the way for the Green Deal’s launch this time next year.

You would have done well if you have managed to avoid talk of the Green Deal. Despite criticism from many quarters that the financial and marketing aspects of the scheme lack any real substance, the government has driven the Act forward, presumably to support its ‘greenest ever government’ mantra.

Many people reading this will assume the Green Deal will affect little or none of their business. It is, after all, directed at homeowners who live in energy inefficient homes, and you probably don’t get involved in domestic installations.

Admittedly, I am not convinced the Green Deal will be the success that the government would wish for (although I will happily be proved wrong), and we have discussed the sustainable features of aluminium that could help you improve your bottom line, without reference to government gimmicks.

However, there is something ‘thin end of the wedge’ about the Green Deal which is driving its way into our sector, and which, I believe, could have long-term benefits.

For a start, this month CAB reported that its membership continues to grow, underpinned by window fabricators and installers who, CAB said, see value in the technical and marketing support, as well as the links with other companies. In a separate story CAB explained that is CPD seminars – with a ‘strong sustainable theme’ – are proving popular with architects.

In these two stories, we get a snapshot of the supply chain, and how CAB is using sustainability as a thread to pull its members together. I would suspect that many installers and fabricators joining CAB have their roots in the PVCU and/or timber markets, and that they do, indeed, see how the a) the sustainable message and b) the marketing support can help them win business. These are companies that have been inundated with information about the Green Deal (arguably targeting the PVCU window market) yet they are investing in aluminium products.

We could also see a positive drive to improve the quality of window installation, thanks to the Green Deal. This month, ConstructionSkills published a video detailing the launch of its new training centre. While its aim may be to improve the skills needed to implement the Green Deal across a range of sectors, it’s impact will almost certainly be felt in the aluminium sector.

There is self-fulfilling nature to this. As CAB’s membership increases (thanks in part to the Green Deal and wider interest in sustainability) so does its sphere of influence, which means that while you may be avoiding all talk of the Energy Act, the aluminium sector is no doubt benefiting from it.

Nathan Bushell

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

CHIEF EXEC'S COMMENT Chief Executive’s comments – Justin Ratcliffe State of the market – more questions than answers The question that I am most frequently asked at present is what I see happening to our sector next year and the answer is not a simple one. There are a number of key differences depending on whether you are looking at the private sector which has shown some signs recently of picking up (according to Glenigan and ONS) or the public sector where there are both huge regional variations and the massive unknown as to when we will hit the bottom of the market. A case of more questions than answers. The difference between the private and public sectors is highlighted by some of the most recent statistics available from the Construction Products Association (CPA). It is now anticipated that we will see round 95,000 housing starts in 2011, a modest increase of 2% on 2010 but only rising to 114,000 starts by 2015. In the office sector which had been forecast to grow by 3.5%, there is now a predicted 2% decline for 2011 followed by a 5% increase in 2012. But make no mistake it is London activity that is driving this market. It has been estimated that over the last three recessions it took 16 quarters to get from peak to bottom. Perish the thought that I would ever term myself an experienced pundit, but this could suggest that we reach the bottom by Q2, 2012. Read the Rest Here: THIS MONTH'S NEWS Energy Act becomes law The Energy Act has become law setting in stone the legal framework for the Green Deal, which will be launched in the autumn next year. [Read the Rest Here] Record year The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is predicting a record membership year in 2011. [Read the Rest Here] BBA inputs to new PAS 24 The introduction of the harmonised European Security Standards EN1627-30 for the security testing requirements of windows, shutters and doors has caused much controversy in the UK, due in part to the concerns over the lack of specific directional loading case tests and lock cylinder attack tests. [Read the Rest Here] Fairer payment rules New rules governing payment processes and adjudication for the construction industry should help to reduce the number of claims for non-payment of bills by creating a level playing field for both contractors and their employers, law firm Tods Murray has said. [Read the Rest Here] CPD growth CAB’s suite of seven Riba-approved CPD seminars ranging from ‘Aluminium Fabrication’ to ‘Design Considerations’ to ‘Economic and Environmental Concerns’ are proving increasingly popular with architects throughout the UK. [Read the Rest Here] Support for VAT cut The Labour Party’s announcement to support a VAT cut to 5% on domestic Repair Maintenance and Improvement (RM&I) works is welcome news to the building industry, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said. [Read the Rest Here] Green Deal consultation Construction firms are being urged to give their views in a consultation on the Green Deal to ensure they can get to grips with and shape the qualifications and standards that will be required of installers. [Read the Rest Here] Building industry in nose dive The building industry is heading towards a nose dive with workloads now falling for the 15th consecutive quarter. This is the warning from the latest survey of small building companies from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). [Read the Rest Here] Businesses on the line Business owners in the UK construction industry are spreading themselves too thinly by taking on so many different roles within their own company, according to new research by Bibby Financial Services. [Read the Rest Here] Housing boost crucial In a speech to the CBI North-East Annual Dinner, CBI director-general, John Cridland, said that boosting activity in the housing market and construction sector could be a major “game-changer” for growth. [Read the Rest Here] A bank that will lend The Forum of Private Business has given a cautious welcome to a new bank launched this week promising to lend £250 million per year exclusively to small businesses. [Read the Rest Here] New metals alliance Metals For Buildings is the recently launched European metals alliance for recyclable and sustainable buildings. [Read the Rest Here] Eco-friendly first AGC Glass Europe has claimed to have become the first glass maker to obtain the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ eco-certification, achieving the silver level for its float glass and magnetron-coated glass products. [Read the Rest Here] Green Deal pilot BM Trada Certification has been selected to be part of a UKAS pilot programme to determine the requirements certification bodies will have to meet to become accredited to certify installers to eventual Green Deal scheme requirements. [Read the Rest Here]

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CAB Diary 2011

Full details of all CAB's 2011 events can be found at www.c-a-b.org.uk under 'news and events'.
We are delighted to announce our next event which is:
Date: Tuesday 6 December 2011
Time: 7.30 am – 10.30 am
Event: CAB ‘Breakfast Network’ Meeting
Venue: Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Details: enquiries@c-a-b.org.uk
For further details contact Justin Ratcliffe, Chief Executive or Julie Harley, Office Manager at the CAB office on 01453 828851.

Museum piece?
Two Schueco SU 90 unitised facade systems form an important structural element in Glasgow's new £74 million Riverside Museum of Transport, a stunning building designed by the much-admired international practice of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA).
[Read the Rest Here]

Emergency service
Adams Rite, part of Assa Abloy Security Solutions, has supplied its Sentinel 6 security package to the new Sandyford Community Fire Station.
[Read the Rest Here]

Window shopping
The highly-anticipated Westfield Stratford City shopping centre was ready to open its doors to the public on Tuesday 13th September after lifting solutions company GGR Group assisted with the shop front glazing installation for retailers hoping to draw in the crowds.
[Read the Rest Here]

Dual tone finish
Hunter Douglas has supplied a dual tone version of its high-performance QuadroClad ventilated facade system to complete a striking finish for the Caja Rural bank in Mengibar, Spain.
[Read the Rest Here]

Supply contract awarded
Bowater Building Products has been awarded a supply contract for its System10 Aluminium products by the LHC (formerly the London Housing Consortium) under the recent Aluminium Windows and Doors (A5) ‘framework agreement’ round.
[Read the Rest Here]

Colourful facade
Aluminium and Trespa faced panels from Panel Systems have been chosen to enhance the aesthetics of a new environmentally friendly Merseyside primary school, which is part of the Primary Capital Programme.
[Read the Rest Here]

Speedy fabrication
Schueco fabricator, Sunsquare Ltd chose Elumatec as its supplier of machinery.
[Read the Rest Here]

Aluminium investment
Total Glass has invested in another multi-axis aluminium CNC machining centre to match rising production levels of aluminium windows and doors for its trade, commercial and public sector markets.
[Read the Rest Here]