Profile e-Newsletter - November 2011
Eurocell opens UK’s largest PVC-U recycling facility
Wednesday 30th November will be a momentous day for the enlarged Eurocell post-consumer PVC-U recycling plant when it is officially opened by an array of VIPs and dignitaries.
Amongst customers and industry figures from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), will be Frank Coenen, Chief Executive Officer of Eurocell parent company Tessenderlo Group.
The opening ceremony marks the completion of a £2.5m investment in post-consumer PVC-U recycling by Eurocell that increases capacity to 20,000 end-of-life frames per week – making it the largest PVC-U recycling operation in the UK.
“The official opening marks the beginning of a new era for our company in terms of sustainable manufacturing and offering an unbeatable ‘green’ solution,” said Patrick Bateman, Eurocell Chief Executive Officer. “As a company we are unique in using the recycled material to manufacture innovative new products that help customers meet ever more stringent building performance requirements.”
Patrick added: “The fact that it is all done here in the UK is yet another example of our commitment to creating a sustainable, low carbon business.”
The investment in post-consumer recycling firmly places Eurocell at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing. The facility is already providing an effective route for fabricators, installers and specifiers looking for a solution for dealing with their end-of-life PVC-U.
The Eurocell recycling facility is a unique example of the seismic shift that is occurring in the construction sector and is part of our strategy of making our customers’ businesses greener and better placed to deal with modern building requirements.
‘A’-rated VS for the price of a C-rated
Homeowners and specifiers can now combine stunning looks with unbeatable energy efficiency, thanks to the development of the Eurocell Charisma ‘A-rated’ specification Vertical Sliding Sash product.
What’s more, customers can offer the Eurocell A-rated vertical slider for the same cost as a C-rated* - an unbeatable way of winning new business with a higher performance, more cost-effective product.
This value-for-money A-rated specification has been achieved through the use of PVC-U Thermal Inserts, combined with Eurocell expertise in energy ratings.
The A-rated specification profiles will be available to order from 1st December, at which time there will be another major improvement with White Ash and Foiled Cream (both sides) being introduced as a standard product.
“Introducing an A-rated specification Vertical Sliding Sash on our Eurocell Charisma system means that all our ranges are now capable of meeting the highest Window Energy Rating,” said Chris Coxon, Eurocell Marketing Manager.
We will be helping fabricators and installers communicate the benefits of Eurocell Charisma to customers with updated trade literature and new homeowner brochures. These feature new lifestyle photographs and focus on end user benefits, such as aesthetics, energy efficiency and security.
* Glass specification: 24mm unit – 4mm SG Diamant / 90% Argon / 4mm SG Planitherm Plus / Swisspacer V
Plastmo rationalisation
Difficult conditions in the window profiles market has led to consolidation within the industry for a number of years now. Plastmo has not been immune to this, causing increasing reliance on a small number of customers. The result is that it will no longer be economic to produce Plastmo products after 2011. Therefore we have also decided to discontinue the Plastmo brand at this time which, along with the re-branding campaign that began in May, will strengthen the Eurocell brand further moving forward. Plastmo fabricators have been informed and plans put in place to manage the rationalisation. Details of the changes are summarised below - all will be effective from 1 January 2012, unless stated otherwise:
- Cills – Plastmo discontinued, Eurocell available
- Reversible windows – Plastmo Rollex discontinued, Eurocell reversible window system available
- Patio door systems – Plastmo Slidex discontinued, Eurocell Euroslide kits & bar length available
- Vertical slider system – Plastmo Charisma becomes Eurocell Charisma - ‘A’-rated specification and two new stock colours – White Ash & Woodgrain Cream introduced (Profiles available to order by fabricators from 1 December)
- Vogue 62mm Ovolo system – Discontinued due to very weak demand
- Index 62 Chamfered system – Becomes Eurocell Unilogik62 system
All will be ‘soft’ changes to use up existing stocks of Plastmo products and minimise disruption to customers.
G11 for second year running
Congratulations to Nationwide Windows which has just been shortlisted in the prestigious G11 awards for the work it is doing in North Wales.
This is the second year running that it has been recognised in the Public Sector Project of the Year category – the company was outright winner last year and we watch this year’s announcement on 25th November with anticipation!
The Rugby-based Eurocell fabricator was commended for its direct investment in the Gwynedd community – the project in which it was shortlisted.
Nationwide was also shortlisted for the work it had done in exceeding the original brief set by Cartefri Cymendol Gwynedd (CCG), the client, for a C-rated window by developing an A-rated version, still within the original budget.
It was able to do this by using end-of-life frames from site to improve the thermal performance of the new windows as part of a 360 degree, closed loop PVC-U window recycling solution. The frames were returned to Eurocell for recycling and subsequently made into PVC-U Thermal Inserts, which were used by Nationwide during fabrication of the new Eurologik windows to achieve the A-rating.
Bridging the gap with new structural closer & window strap
Cavalok has launched an innovative new structural cavity closer and window strap suitable for use on buildings with wider cavities.
The new structural cavity closer, based on Cavalok’s market leading BigBlok system, allows windows to be positioned over wider cavities, which is needed to maximise thermal performances. The structural element means that it is capable of supporting triple-glazed 0.8W/m_K U-value windows.
The new cavity closer overcomes this weight loading issue by use of innovative new thermal materials.
Alongside this is a new 250mm window strap (with 200mm break off) which, in combination with the new structural cavity closer, creates a complete solution for wider cavities required on low carbon build programmes.
The new structural cavity closer and window strap are compatible with all major profile systems and features a quick ‘rotate and lock’ fixing method.
Green Deal update
It will be a while before we know if energy efficient windows are included as part of the Green Deal, however, there was a significant announcement by the Government on 19th October that makes it tantalisingly close:
Greg Barker, DECC Minister
Much work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that Energy Efficient Windows are included as part of the Green Deal. The fact that the Government announced the Green Deal was going ahead is positive and indications as to whether windows will be included are favourable - although we won’t know for definite until early next year.
Watch this space for further updates...