As fabricators face mounting pressures, Graham Colls and Andy Stafford from aluplast UK’s technical team discuss how their hands-on expertise and partnership approach is helping customers navigate these challenges to achieve the best results.
Graham Colls, Head of Technical and Head of operations, aluplast (GC): Andy, you joined the aluplast technical team about 18 months ago, but you’ve been in the industry for a long time. You’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, but what do you think are the key challenges facing fabricators today?
Andy Stafford, External Technical Engineer, aluplast (AS): Like you, Graham, I’ve been around for quite a while, and I think the real issue lies in the complexity of modern windows. It’s no longer just about replacing single glazing with double glazing. Today’s homeowners want products that add that curb appeal, perform at the highest level, and look exactly right. That places a significant burden on fabricators to deliver scrupulous quality and precision in every product they manufacture.
GC: That’s very true. The range of choices has also expanded massively — different foils, window styles, configurations. I think it can all be a bit overwhelming, not just for fabricators but also installers and consumers, would you agree?
AS: Definitely. The market demands more choice, but that can be confusing for everyone. It’s not always obvious which system, configuration, hardware, or finish will be the best fit for a particular project. We’re here to provide that guidance, if and when required, to help our customers make the right decisions.
GC: Absolutely. At aluplast we see ourselves as more of a partner, rather than just a supplier. We’re in in together. How do you think fabricators benefit from this approach?
AS: They benefit in so many ways. Confidence is key and in my experience fabricators really value having someone to call on if there’s a problem, or if they need technical advice. That can be about system choice, production, hardware integration, or meeting performance requirements. With more than 100 years of window and door industry experience between us on the aluplast technical team, there’s no problem too big, or too small!
GC: And ultimately, that combination of approachability, technical expertise and hands-on support that we offer, combined with a next-generation product range, is the secret of our collective success.
AS: Exactly. And when you see the results – products that meet the high expectations of today’s clients and consumers, in terms of looks, performance, and quality – it’s clear why that support makes such a difference.
GC: Talking of products, which ones stand out for you at the moment, and what are the benefits for fabricators?
AS: aluplast offers so many great products. I think flexibility is a big thing for fabricators today, because it cuts down on stockholding and waste for a start. Our Ideal 70 and Ideal 4000 systems are fully interchangeable, allowing for shared sashes, frames, and beading. That’s a game-changer for fabricators in terms of efficiency. Our woodec and aludec foils are also something special. They offer the appearance and feel of wood or aluminium respectively, at a fraction of the cost, and again, they’re compatible with aluplast’s entire PVC-U product range for maximum flexibility. It’s a key feature of a product and service proposition that’s hard to beat.”
For more information call 01684 273401 email info@aluplast.co.uk or visit www.aluplast.co.uklast.co.uk