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End of the holiday season and for once I wouldn’t mind a bit of
rain, considering that we have a very good chance of reclaiming the
Ashes in the final test match this week. If you think someone in
your organisation may benefit from this newsletter please use the
forward tool at the bottom of the page.
| Profix Constructionline Approved |
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As part of Profix’s ongoing development we believed it was
important to add constructionline registration to our existing
quality standards. Constructionline is the UK’s largest
register of local and national pre- qualified construction and
construction-related services. It offers commercial gains to
the construction industry as a whole by supplying public and
private sector procurers with a single national
pre-qualification scheme, improving efficiency and
streamlining procedures for all. Profix have been pre-
qualified for contracts up to £700K
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| Profix High Performance Pivot
Window |
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Profix can offer a high performance horizontal pivot window
for high rise and locations where external cleaning is a
concern. Made from the Deceuninck family of profiles this
product gives a sustainable solution to difficult installation
circumstances. Internally glazed as standard the window will
accept enhanced security options. Safety restrictors are
fitted as standard and the window open through 180º for safe
cleaning from inside.
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| New handle for the elderly &
disabled |
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Profix now offer a window handle called Sure-Grip, from
Winlock thus making life easier for elderly and disabled
people Originally developed between Hanover in Hackney and
Winlock following extensive consultation with tenants on how
to improve the ease of opening windows in 20 Sheltered Housing
Schemes, four key criteria emerged on residents’ wish list.
The features were: A cranked handle design incorporating
greater knuckle clearance, a ‘turn to lock’ facility (no push
button), a considerably longer stock for easier leverage and a
large key incorporating a plastic ‘over-moulded’ design.
Winlock’s sales and marketing director Philip Swann said:
“Sure-Grip is the first handle of its type. Opening windows is
something many able-bodied people take for granted but for
some it has been a difficult if not impossible task. Sure-Grip
will make its users less dependent on others and more in
control of their own living environment.
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| Wedding Day Wind Up |
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Des Butler is one of Profix’s senior fabricators and
recently got married to Gemma, Des asked his colleague Tony
Brothwood to be his best man but little did he know that Tony
had a little surprise up his sleeve. Tony decided to make Des
the star of local radio station’s BRMB phone tap, which is a
telephone wind up. The DJ host Elliot Webb called Des at work
and started the prank implying that the monies that was used
to pay for his wedding reception was traced to a bank robbery.
Des took the bait and let rip, after a short time Elliot came
clean leaving Des a little red faced and gunning for his best
man.
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| New 70mm System |
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 Profix have a new state of the art 70mm window and door
suite, known as 3000 Series, is one of the most technically
advanced, high performing systems available and demonstrates
the considerable research and design undertaken by the
company. The system has been designed with a whole host of
innovative benefits, including a revolutionary pre- inserted
weatherseal which is far less intrusive thanks to the improved
position and new ‘invisible’ grey colour, giving more glass
appearance. Furthermore, the design of the system allows for
personalisation of the window style with a choice of three
glazing bead options; standard, contemporary and decorative.
In a further significant move, the company has decided to make
the new suite available in a warmer white, RAL Reference 9016
(Deceuninck colour 03). Also known as Traffic White. The new
system gave Profix the opportunity to select a white colour,
warm in appearance, which perfectly matches accessories such
as handles, door hinges and letterboxes etc. The 3000 Series
is available in a full choice of finishes including both
Golden Oak and Rosewood foils. The new system embraces
Deceuninck’s policy to offer multi-product solutions.
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A huge Gamble for 50p |
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To maintain supply chain stability and sustain local
economies Profix source nearly all their raw materials from UK
manufacturers. Following the attack on the UK market from
cheap Far East alternative we asked our handle supply partner
Winlock for their comments, Philip Swann Sales Director at
Winlock responds. Prices for window handles in the UK today
are on average 50 per cent less than five years ago. We have a
shrinking window market driven principally by price. Whilst
price is clearly important, using this as the only selection
criterion is dangerous. An apparent modest saving on a handle
or espag rod from, say China or from other Pacific Rim
manufacturers, might initially seem attractive; but unless you
do your homework, the potential savings may well turn out to
be false economy. There are other considerations to bear in
mind. Will costs rise through currency variation? What about
rising raw material costs? What might happen to Import Duties?
When Far East economies improve, will prices increase? Are all
the import costs included in the price? Can you guarantee that
customs' duty will remain the same for each consignment?
Specification Clauses Commercial customers as
well as Local Authorities, Housing Associations and New Build
are realising that buying cheap products can be costly.
Increasingly they are raising their demands for certification
processes. British made products, under ISO9001 standards, are
fully BBA tested, have components made to BSI top
specifications and have stringent internal test standards. In
looking to save the 50p, you lose these benefits and
consequently you cannot sell to all potential customers. Nor
do you get the comfort factor of knowing you’ve fitted the
best product for the job. Quality The most
fundamental question however is; Are imported hardware
products as good as the “equivalent” UK-made products? Price
pressure is on all of us but while considering a cost saving
of say, 50p on cheap Far Eastern hardware, spare a thought
about how much it will cost you in the future? Latest
estimates put the cost of a remedial call at over £50. The
maths are simple, one product faulty in a batch of 100, and
any perceived savings are gone. The “Berry 2000 Report”
compiled by Simon Berry analysed the causes of 548
window-related remedial call outs by one local authority.
Nearly a third of these related to sub-standard hardware,
often caused by inadequate quality control. This factor cost
the authority £58 per visit. Mr Berry’s conclusion was
“Improved specification of hardware could also reduce the
maintenance costs by up to 33 percent.” Are the uncertainties
of continuity of supply, doubtful quality and remedial costs
worth the risk? Isn’t the answer to UK fabricators to pay the
small extra premium for quality, reliability and service from
a UK manufacturer leaving themselves the time to concentrate
on the real issues of how best to grow their businesses? Mr
Berry also contends in his report that “In many cases, the
initial purchase cost is almost irrelevant in relation to the
long term cost.” Good sense would suggest buying a product
that meets the exact specification for the fabrication
process. Don’t accept the longer spindle length offered by
“cheap” imported products and then spend more than you save in
cutting it down. Better Support A UK factory is
on hand if help is needed and are at most just two or three
hours drive away. Buying from the Far East involves a distance
of 6000 miles and incorporates an eight hours time zone
change. These are only the initial hazards and if there is a
problem with one product, the whole container is suspect.
Request more info ..........
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