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Sentry Doors celebrates company’s combined 130-year heritage

Leading fire safety and security door manufacturer, Sentry Doors, is celebrating a major milestone this year as its recent acquisition, Knowles, marks its 100th anniversary, giving Sentry a combined heritage of over 130 years.

As part of Sentry’s ambitious growth plans, the company acquired E. & S. W. Knowles in August 2022. Bringing the company under the Sentry banner and launching the Knowles product range has made Sentry the UK’s leader in fire safety and security doorsets.

Following the acquisition, Knowles, a renowned specialist door manufacturer, went on to celebrate its 100-year anniversary earlier this year. To celebrate this milestone event, Sentry Doors, which is part of the Cairngorm portfolio, hosted a special event for employees at its Birmingham site on 12th October.

The celebration day featured a pub quiz, and attendees were treated to catering from a host of local street food vans. The previous owners of Knowles were invited to take part and share their memories of the firm throughout the years. The event was also attended by members of the Sentry Executive Team and Chairman Jon Gatfield.

Established in Birmingham in 1923, by former miner William (Bill) Knowles, the company came from humble beginnings. Having observed piles of sawdust at his father’s workplace, Bill invested £4 in a cart to haul the sawdust around local engineering companies.

Following Bill’s death in 1942, the company was taken over by his stepson Horace Wright, who began to convert timber offcuts into skittle boxes, pram handles, mirror backs and fire surrounds. The business thrived, and eventually began producing custom-made doors in the 1980s.

Knowles grew into a highly successful company, before being acquired by Sentry Doors last year, and to this day, Sentry continues to build on its 100-year heritage and honour its family roots and manufacturing excellence.

The extensive Knowles product range now sits within the Sentry Doors catalogue of market-leading products, giving customers access to a complete range of fully certified, bespoke timber fire and security door sets, designed for the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets.

Production of the Knowles range still takes place at its 60,000sq ft facility in Birmingham, where the focus is on manufacturing specialist timber internal doorsets with fire rated, acoustic and PAS 24 security certification. The 100-strong team in Birmingham offers bespoke, sector-specific solutions that meet the exacting requirements of its customers.

Sentry Doors continues to be headquartered in Doncaster, where it has an additional 40,000sq ft facility. This takes the company’s total footprint to 100,000sq ft across the Birmingham and Doncaster branches, both of which are fully equipped with the latest manufacturing equipment.

Since the acquisition, Sentry has invested £1.2m to support the expansion of production capabilities in Birmingham. This enables Sentry to offer a complete, end-to-end service, consistent lead and delivery times and a first-class customer experience.

Ty Aziz, CEO at Sentry Doors, celebrated alongside staff at the event, and commented:

 

‘We’re delighted to be marking this incredibly special occasion with our Knowles colleagues. A trusted pair of hands for 100 years, Knowles has a rich history and a well-earned reputation for manufacturing the highest quality fire doors. This milestone gives Sentry Doors a remarkable, combined heritage of 130 years, and together, we look forward to many more successful years at the forefront of UK industry.’

 

Steve Horner, MD at Knowles and Sentry board member, also attended the centenary event, and added:

 

‘This was a wonderful event and a fitting tribute to the amazing staff, both past and present, who have helped to make Knowles so successful for 100 years. As part of Sentry Doors, we’re now looking forward to the next chapter, and with strong backing and investment, we’re confident that we will continue to grow and build on our many years of success.’

 

CLICK HERE for more information on Sentry Doors

including the Knowles range

 

 

 

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Turn a New leaf

GEZE has launched Revo.PRIME a new premium solution for revolving doors. The new operator boasts an exceptionally low canopy height, narrow profile systems and an improved running performance.

Providing maximum transparency the Revo.PRIME is perfect for creating beautiful entrances and is especially suited for hotels and offices or any building where a statement entrance is required. With its class leading canopy height of just 75mm which houses the automation it ensures the minimal aesthetic whilst achieving excellent technical functionality. In addition the narrow profiles of just 60mm on the door leaf and side panel create a visually appealing entrance and increased transparency creating a light and airy entrance.

 

The Revo.PRIME is environmentally friendly as well, the operator saves up to 30 per cent in energy compared with its predecessor models which is achieved through the drive unit’s reduced power consumption.

Another benefit of the Revo.PRIME is its improved running performance. The brushless direct current motor (BLDC) with 1,000 Nm torque and the enlarged diameter of the door system, up to 3,800mm, ensures ease of access and meets the demands of today’s architects and designers.

 

 

Available in 3 or 4 leaf versions and in a choice of gold, silver and black the Revo.PRIME can be networked to building automation systems via BACnet.

Andy Howland, Sales and Marketing Director of GEZE UK, said

“The Revo.PRIME is an impressive edition to our range of automatic operators and one that is sure to delight architects and specifiers giving them the freedom to design stunning entrances.”

To find out more about the Revo.PRIME visit the CLICK HERE

see it in action on

YouTube

or email

info.uk@geze.com

CLICK HERE

for more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range

of automatic and manual door closers

 

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Strand Hardware Makes its Mark

Strand Hardware has made its mark – completing UKCA compliancy more than a year ahead of the new deadline.

It completed certifications for all its Panic Hardware product ranges – 290 products in total – at the end of last year, in preparation for the original deadline.

The original deadline was intended to be 1 January 2023 but the Government announced an extension as many companies were simply not ready.

The new requirement is compulsory for products which fall within the scope of a ‘harmonised/designated standard’ being made available for sale in the UK. They can continue to be CE marked until 30 June 2025 under a ‘presumption of conformity’.

Strand Hardware Operations Director Jo Walls said that she was delighted that Strand was fully prepared and had made the transition ahead of schedule.

“We completed our requirements towards the end of last year. We are ready! and have everything in place for the new deadline and have begun to mark our products with the required UKCA markings. Our Declaration of Performance (DOPs), fitting instructions, labelling and certification have all been completed and the DoPs are available on our website for download.”

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL STRAND HARDWARE FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

or call: 01922 639111

 

or CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE STRAND HARDWARE WEBSITE

 

 

 

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 ADSA Joins TAF

ADSA – the Automatic Door Suppliers Association – has become a member of TAF – the Trade Association Forum which is the leading representative body for professional trade associations across the UK.

 

The move is intended to help ADSA become more involved in ‘bigger picture’ issues through TAF’s links with UK Government and industry leaders.

Said ADSA MD Ken Price:

 

“We are keen to be at the forefront of issues that affect the UK and the wider construction industry. TAF’s involvement with Government will help open doors and enable the voice of the automatic door industry be better heard by key decision makers and policy setters.”

 

TAF was founded in 1997, having been instigated by the then President of the Board of Trade, Michael Heseltine. It currently has around 130 members representing a diverse range of industries from railway and transport to jewellers and hairdressing. It recently joined forces with the Institute of Association Leadership to develop a leadership programme and resources for trade associations.

Added Ken:

 

“There have been a number of critical reports and legislative changes which have affected the wider construction industry in recent times:  the Hackett Report which led to the Building Safety Act, three PAS competency frameworks for principal designers and specifiers, principal contractors, and building safety and management. Being part of TAF, with access to key resources, will allow us to be more proactive and in turn, pass on benefits to our members by harnessing best practice.

 

Emily Wallace, TAF CEO, said:

 

“We are delighted to welcome ADSA as a member of the Trade Association Forum.  As the ‘association of associations’, we provide support and networking opportunities to trade associations across the UK, many of which face similar challenges in terms of operational activities.

“Our range of services and activities are designed to assist strategic development and day-to-day running of organisations and our close work with UK Government, partners and sponsors, help our associations deliver real value for their members.”

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ADSA

 

 

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Smart innovations in focus at Futurebuild

 

Futurebuild 2023: Stand D10

 

Smart Architectural Aluminium will be displaying a wide range of new products and systems at this year’s Futurebuild exhibition. With innovative solutions across its three core product areas, visitors will have chance to see both completely new products and product evolutions in each of the company’s Internal, External and Outdoor Living collections.

The impressive 170 square metre stand will also feature displays of many of the company’s established systems, including the proven Alitherm Heritage windows and doors, Visofold Heritage slide/fold doors, Designer Doors and Smart Wall framing systems.

Innovative new additions to Smart’s External collection will feature prominently on the stand, including the all new Signature Door range, a double Designer Door option, two new Visoglide patio doors, an opening vent for the Aliver roof light and additions to the Alitherm 400 window and door system. The Signature Door range brings a completely new collection of entrance and back doors to sit alongside the company’s Designer Door range, opening up an even broader audience for these high quality, high security doors. The Visoglide slide/fold door additions include a new bonded system, which will provide enhanced security and extremely slim profiles, as well as a highly energy efficient option which benefits from low u-values.

Smart’s AluSpace system will be the focus of the Internal collection display, which will showcase the system’s ability to elegantly divide or delineate interior spaces, while retaining a light and airy environment.

Finally, the display of the company’s expanding Outdoor Living range will feature previews of the new aluminium SolDeck decking and SolUmbra pergola systems. Developed to provide a slip-resistant and durable solution for gardens, balconies, terraces and patios, SolDeck is easy to instal and requires virtually no maintenance. Complementing this is the SolUmbra aluminium pergola system. Free-standing or attached to a façade, the stylish system is fully customisable, with a wide range of profile, roof, colour and glazing options.

Commenting on the company’s presence at the show, Managing Director Eddie Robinson, said:

“We are delighted to return to ExCeL for Futurebuild 2023, and particularly to be involved in the Innovation Trail, which provides a great opportunity to showcase the broad range of innovative new products that we have developed across our entire product range.

“We are looking forward to having the opportunity of discussing all these new products in more depth with visitors to the show and to once again welcome customers, colleagues and industry partners to our stand.”

 

 

For more details visit the company on Stand D10 of the exhibition

or CLICK HERE for the

Smart Architectural Aluminium Website

or call 01934 876 100

 

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Stay in Control with GEZE Cockpit

A smart hub that let’s you take control of door, window and safety systems is being launched by GEZE UK at the Smart Buildings Show, (7-8 November 2018) at the Barbican, London.

GEZE Cockpit acts as ‘a brain’ – intelligently integrating door, window and safety technology into building management systems – and giving building designers greater options to create the next generation of smart buildings.

The hi-tech system, which is the first of its kind, uses the latest technology with open interfaces, and can be seen in operation on the GEZE UK stand, in Hall 2, Stand F3.

Offering more efficiency, security and convenience, combined with intelligent smoke and heat extraction and dynamic fire protection to protect targeted escape routes, the GEZE Cockpit can be used as stand-alone solution or integrated into an over-arching building management system (BMS).

With its open BACnet standard integration, GEZE Cockpit can be managed remotely using a PC, tablet or smartphone, providing flexible control via an IO 420 interface.

It can monitor external and internal temperatures and provide CO2 management – automatically opening vents to dissipate stale air and allow fresh air into the building to improve conditions for those inside.

GEZE Cockpit also features a night time ventilation programme which can reduce internal temperatures and provide the ideal climate for those entering the building in the morning. The system works with any autonomous ventilation system that the building may have in place and can also work alongside any mechanical system.

In a fire situation, GEZE Cockpit can quite literally be a life saver. It enables the automatic release of escape routes, opening doors and clearing emergency exits to provide a faster escape for people in the building.

GEZE Cockpit can be fully integrated into any building management system using the BacNet protocol but also has its own application package which can be accesssed remotely using a range of devices.

For more information visit www.cockpit.geze.com or to see GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk
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GEZE UK ‘family’ celebrates 30th anniversary

2018 is a milestone year for GEZE UK, which celebrates 30 years in the business as a ‘go to’ manufacturer and supplier of innovative door and window solutions

GEZE UK, is part of the global GEZE GmbH, a family-run business where traditional values are combined with pioneering strategic vision.

So, it was entirely fitting that to mark three decades of business success, its UK workforce and their families should enjoy a fun-filled family day of celebrations, hosted at Rodbaston Hall, near Penkridge in Staffordshire.

Kaz Spiewakowski, GEZE UK’s managing director – who himself celebrates five years at the helm this year – said that “GEZE was most definitely “a family business” and this is reflected in how it treats its employees.

“There are family members engaged in the business at all levels and GEZE considers each and every member of our 250-strong team very much part of the extended ‘family’. Everyone contributes so it was wonderful to get together this September to enjoy some downtime, celebrate our achievements and toast our continuing success in the years ahead,” he said

2018 was also a milestone year for head of the GEZE family, Brigitte Vöster-Alber, chief executive officer of GEZE GmbH, based in Leonberg, Germany, who this summer celebrated 50 years with the company. Taking over in 1968 at the age of only 24 years, Brigitte asserted herself in a man’s world and has since developed corporate strategy, the product portfolio and international business whilst continuing to champion the visibility of females within the workplace.

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk
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Opening the door to contemporary colour

A new approach to creating beautiful designer doors with an original colour aesthetic is now possible thanks to the new W-Tec 3D+ hinge by SFS.

This ground-breaking hinge allows designers to rethink the visual impact of the hinge within the doorset, providing the option to colour contrast for bold aesthetics, or harmonise the hinge’s colour to complement the door and frame.

European designed and built, W-Tec 3D+ is a highly engineered premium quality hinge which offers unparalleled levels of stability and three-dimensional mechanical adjustability to enable precise installation and long-term reliability. It can also be used for fire doors with a rating of up to 60 minutes, subject to appropriate doorset testing.

It is the perfect solution for aesthetically-led heavyweight timber doors up to 200kg in weight which are fitted into timber or steel frames and are typically suited to high-end commercial, hospitality and residential applications. The scope of applications for doorsets built with W-Tec 3D+ hinges is expanding all the time, with luxury hotels in Mallorca and Turkey just two of the projects which are already benefiting.

SFS manufactures W-Tec 3D+ hinges in any RAL colour to deliver a visually stunning result in contrast or for colour match. Two versions are available for standard and slim doors, both providing reliable stability and durability through SFS’s unique patented 7-axis kinematic mechanism. This utilises three levers to handle the weight of the door in an innovative way which keeps the door straight and prevents elliptical movement when opening and closing. The result is minimum wear and tear, even when door closers are fitted, over a long service life.

W-Tec 3D+ is part of a range of high performance door hinges by SFS which provide solutions for every kind of door. This includes the Easy 3D hinge, a stainless steel hinge range that is popular amongst timber door manufacturers and installers across Europe because of the high degree of mechanically adjustability it offers in three dimensions whilst fitted in situ.

For PVC-U, aluminium and composite doors, SFS is renowned for its Dynamic hinge ranges which help create high performance rebated doorsets thanks to their profile-specific sash plates.

Find out more about the SFS door hinges range at www.sfsintec.co.uk.
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Brio UK strengthen sales team

With increased growth in sales, Brio, the leading global brand name in sliding and folding gear for interior and exterior door hardware, has recently appointed two experienced sales personnel to manage and support the company’s sales activity. The two new appointments – Daryl Curtis and Nigel Walsh – bring with them a wealth of knowledge and product expertise.

Brio’s two new Business Development Managers, Nigel and Daryl, share more than 65 years of building industry experience, with particular emphasis on door, sliding door systems, fixings, sliding door gear and architectural hardware.

Both have spent time with leading industry manufacturers at management level with Daryl experiencing time overseas in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The move to Brio for both of them was an easy decision as the company’s level of service and commitment to research and quality of product range would undoubtedly push forward the continued growth and success.

Brio’s General Manager, Dave Newton commented on the appointments: “Nigel and Daryl are a fantastic addition to the Brio team, with their practical experience and solid sales background, they will be an integral part of Brio UK’s future growth plans.”

For more information please visit http://briouk.com/
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Management restructure at Vicaima Limited

(Image: Frederico Capela (left) and Paul King)

Following five successful years at Vicaima, including three as Managing Director, Barry Waddell has decided to take early retirement from the company at the end of the year. Arlindo Leite, Vicaima Group CEO thanked Barry for his tireless contribution to Vicaima and wished him every happiness for the future.

As a result of this decision Frederico Capela will assume the position of Managing Director for Vicaima Limited effective 1 December 2017. Frederico has played an active role within the Vicaima Group for over 17 years, including two periods within the UK and four years as Executive Director of our operation in Brazil. Speaking about his appointment Mr Capela said, “I am really excited to take on this new challenge and I look forward to the continued growth of such a successful and well respected manufacturer within the interior joinery market”. He went on to say, “Vicaima have everything it takes to reach even greater heights; committed employees, great products and a real passion for innovation”.

The position of Commercial Director, currently held by Frederico, will now pass to Paul King, currently Head of UK Marketing. Paul has been part of the senior management team since joining Vicaima and has played an active role in shaping the strategy. He has a comprehensive understanding of the Vicaima product portfolio and its customers, in addition to which his construction industry knowledge, especially in relation to the doors sector spans more than 35 years.

As they look forward to 2018, Vicaima will continue its strategy of constant innovation, exacting performance and superior quality to which this new team are fully committed.

For more information please visit www.vicaima.com.
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