Product category:
Window Systems
News Release from: Profine
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 June 2004
Passing Quality Down The Line
Window-Spec is now manufacturing an average of 500 frames a week in its new 20,000 square foot factory -- that is 100 more than the capacity of the old 5,000 square foot premises.
"Everyone is a Quality Inspector" "The window spec has changed for the better." It may be a play on words by the Managing Director of Birmingham-based trade fabricator Window-Spec, but with new premises four times the size of the old factory, a new profile supplier and exciting new window system, it certainly rings true
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 9 Jul 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Energy Savings Paramount For Islington
Energy-saving was the top priority for the London Borough of Islington when it was looking to replace windows at almost 1,000 apartments on two estates.
Housing Association Inspires PVC-U Breakthrough
For the first time, the PVC-U industry has attempted, and succeeded in meeting, indicative PAS023 and 024 test results on outward opening double entrance doors.
"Window-Spec's rebirth in this way means we're ready for sustained growth to take advantage of the current opportunities in the market place," says John Whateley.
Window-Spec is now manufacturing an average of 500 frames a week in its new 20,000 square foot factory -- that is 100 more than the capacity of the old 5,000 square foot premises.
And there is plenty of room for the growth that switching to Kommerling's 70mm chamfered and classically-curved Connoisseur systems is expected to bring.
Further reading
Regeneration Programme Creates Employment
Partnering in 'Sustainable Communities' programme does not simply involve the successful completion of a project, but deliberately puts something sustainable into the community.
Taking Care With The Windows
Conroy Brook's latest £500,000 homes in Halifax have all been fitted with the classically-curved Kommerling Connoisseur.
Ovolo For The Oval
Spire was given the £387,000 contract to supply and fit Kommerling's classically-curved Ovolo Connoisseur windows for South Hylton and Albany.
"With our planned automation and computerisation programme, we will be able to manufacture 1,200 windows a week here comfortably, and the potential could go as high as 1,500," says John Whateley.
The total investment for the move, with new machinery including state-of-the-art saws for increased cutting capacity, welders, and a fully-automated top-of-the-range corner cleaner, was £200,000.
"Many fabricators don't realise that in order to manufacture a fully sculptured system, a large investment is required to make it a presentable product.
Our old premises just weren't suitable for fabricating sculptured windows, so we needed to invest, in order to bring a high quality finished sculptured window to the market." As a trade-only fabricator, potential new customers often ask Window-Spec about its quality control.
While it is a BSI-registered company, and ISO management registered, John says their approach to quality is different to that adopted by most fabricators -- especially of their size.
It is a practice they have constantly adopted throughout their growth from a small start-up company eight years ago.
"The way we work means we don't need an overall quality inspector.
With a total workforce of 42, including around 30 semi-skilled fabricators, every individual is responsible for checking the quality of their particular part of the operation.
"Our reputation has been built on the fact that we don't pass anything but quality down the line.
Everyone is a quality inspector, and it means we drastically reduce in-house waste, and drastically reduce sending problems of our making into the market." Window-Spec is looking for the product range, quality and service from its new relationship with Kommerling, to propel it into a leading position to take advantage of market changes which Sales and Marketing Manager Andrew Wheeler says are currently taking place.
"While our customer base has always been a mixture of domestic and commercial installers, the more established domestic installation companies are now getting more opportunity to move into commercial contractual work on a regional basis.
Manufacturing two Kommerling systems gives us a good market edge." However, he says that changing systems should not to be undertaken lightly.
"The industry is renowned for fabricators frequently changing entire systems to save a few pounds here and there -- but it's usually at the expense of quality.
We wanted a long-term relationship with a company that was well known and well respected within the trade, so we had discussions with a number of what we perceived to be reliable, good quality profile extruders, before making the decision to switch." Andrew and John agree that many installers are turning away from "off-the-shelf" windows, in favour of those which can be tailor-made for their own customers' requirements.
"Window-Spec is less automated than what we'd call the large super-fabricators," says John.
"Because our fabricators are semi-skilled, instead of just being machine-minders, we pride ourselves on maintaining that all-important flexibility to meet installers' individual demands." Andrew says many of his customers have started replacing existing PVC-U replacement windows, which were originally fitted in the early 1980s.
"Today's modern window is so much better looking than its earlier PVC-U counterpart, and has many more security features.
People replacing existing replacement windows in their homes are often those who've recently moved into the property, and the windows in their previous home were better than those in their new one.
They've seen the difference at first hand.".
• Profine: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
