Opening doors for commercial fabrication

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jan 19, 2005

Euro manufacture K�mmerling's third-generation system, the classically-curved Connoisseur ovolo.

The choice of window system is absolutely crucial to a successful commercial fabricating operation, according to Keighley-based Euro Windows.

"Making the right decision about which window to manufacture - in terms of going for quality, rather than a system at the lower end of the price scale - has really opened doors for us in terms of gaining large commercial contracts with big name companies" says joint managing director Jasen Syms.

"We wouldn't be as successful as we are if we weren't using the right profile that commercial specifiers want.

They want the best, and always ask questions about energy efficiency and green issues.

Fabricators who are thinking of years of future business will only get their fingers burnt if they're not using the best products." Although Euro does manufacture a few windows from the K�mmerling GOLD 70mm chamfered system, most of its work now is with K�mmerling's third-generation system, the classically-curved Connoisseur ovolo.

As well as shopping centres, hotels and housebuilders, one of the biggest names to specify Euro's Connoisseur windows, is global medical giant Johnson and Johnson, for their factory at Gargrave, near Skipton.

"The original phase was for 22 windows in an office area, which we replaced with the 70mm chamfered system," says Jasen Syms.

"That's now snowballed with several more phases, all of which involve Connoisseur." The current phase is for around 60 large windows, each measuring 12 metres by 1500.

"At the Johnson and Johnson factory we're replacing both aluminium and timber - along with some existing PVC-U replacements which haven't been in all that long, specifiers want a more modern, energy-efficient PVC-U replacement." And he says it's not just Johnson and Johnson replacing older PVC-U - several recent orders, both from commercial and domestic customers, are to replace existing first-generation PVC-U replacement windows.

"We've replaced windows which have only been in for a couple of years, where it's been a cheap, poor quality profile.

It goes to show that going for the cheap ones is the biggest false economy.

"We feel much of the window industry is still in the dark ages, with a large number of windows still being manufactured from systems which are pretty much like the first generation of PVC-U." With capacity around 350 windows a week, and annual turnover running at around £1.5m, Euro's domestic and trade sales are currently ahead of commercial, but Jasen is aiming to have the commercial operation producing half the company's output within a year.

In order to handle the additional work, Jasen and his business partner, joint managing director Bob Hussein, are looking to expand the 7,000 square foot factory and 3,200 square foot showroom.

They are currently looking at neighbouring properties on the industrial estate in Keighley where Euro has been based since starting its manufacturing operation four years ago.

Jasen's last word on ensuring he uses the best possible profile to maintain his commercial operation: "If K�mmerling were ever to say to me 'we're not going to supply you any more,' Bob and I would simply pack up the business, because we wouldn't be able to produce windows as good as the ones we're making now - which would be a backwards step, and it would be unacceptable to our commercial customers.".