According to CDW Systems’ Managing Director Jerry Webb, demand for higher value niche products such as aluminium vertical sliders and bi-folding doors have contributed to the positive figures:

“The last twelve months have been excellent for CDW Systems. We have won some lucrative commercial contracts, and niche products such as the SAPA vertical sliding sash windows and the Beaufort and Smarts bi-folding doors are selling well in both the domestic and commercial sector. These high-performance products are competitively priced and offer striking features and benefits that have been well-received by installers.”

Throughout the last twelve months CDW Systems’ has also invested right across the business, acquiring new CNC machinery, bead centres and punch tools in order to further improve production and increase capacity.

With 2012 its landmark 21^st year in business, Jerry is determined to see CDW Systems build on the positive sales figures and go from strength to strength: “Boosting sales by 15% is great news in our 21^st year. It’s interesting because when we formed the UK was in recession; and here we are in the midst of another one.

“That’s why we can really appreciate the significance of seeing sales go up by 15% in such difficult economic conditions. On behalf of everybody at CDW Systems we’d like to thank our customers, because our success is reliant on their success.”

To further add to the good news CDW Systems recently launched a new high performance commercial door into the market. The EasySecure door is an evolution of the tried and tested Sapa Stormframe Easyway door and is suitable for new build, refurbishment, residential, educational and light commercial applications alike.

Any hardware can be fitted to EasySecure – including Dorma, Axim and Adams Rite – offering extended customer choice and improving security credentials, while a co-extruded bead makes the glass more secure within the door leaf.  Another exciting development is the new one piece anti-finger trap stile designed to suit all types of exit devices without the need for a mid-rail.

CDW Systems Ltd manufactured and supplied 173 vertical sliders and a number of commercial doors to Guernsey Glass and Window Company who installed them as part of a renovation of the French owned SG Hambros bank. The installations were subject to the condition that all the windows and doors needed to be powder coated in a bronze finish.

In order to win the contract to supply the high-profile project, the highest standards had to be met, with the project organisers stressing that the supplier would need to have market leading products and offer excellent service, flexibility and a quick turnaround.

Managing Director Jerry Webb is delighted CDW Systems met stringent criteria once again: “We’re delighted that our aluminium vertical sliders and commercial doors have been used in another high-profile commercial project. Aluminium VS’s were specified at this project because of their superior looks, inherent strength, energy efficient qualities and slimmer sightlines which allow extra light to enter the room and improve the window’s solar gain.”

The project was successfully completed on budget and on-time and Guernsey Glass and Window Company’s Sales Manager Jason Hallet comments on another successful collaboration with CDW Systems: “We have worked with CDW for around twenty years on a number of high-profile commercial projects and have more in the pipeline over the coming year. They’re the ideal supplier to work with on a commercial project because they are so customer focused and the quality of product and wide colour choice they offer ensures we keep on winning high-profile contracts such as the SG Hambros renovation.”

CDW Systems manufacture a wide range of windows, doors, shop fronts and curtain walling using some of the leading aluminium profile systems on the market today including Smarts and SAPA.

The specialist aluminium fabricator recently marked its 21^st birthday with the launch of the EasySecure door, which is an evolution of one of their best-selling products, the Sapa Stormframe Easyway door. Developments to security and performance mean CDW Systems is the only fabricator in the country supplying EasySecure, giving their trade customers a stand-out product in what remains a competitive market place.

The EasySecure door is an evolution of one of CDW’s best-selling products, the Sapa Stormframe Easyway door. Developments to security and performance mean CDW Systems will be the only fabricator in the country to manufacture EasySecure, giving their trade customers a distinct advantage over the competition.

Jerry Webb, CDW System’s Managing Director comments: “To ensure our twenty-first year is one to remember we invested tens of thousands of pounds to evolve a great product into an even greater product, acquiring new machinery such as punch tools and CNC saw centres along the way. The EasySecure door is exclusive to our customers and will give them an added edge in the commercial market.”

CDW Systems have modified the Sapa Easyway door, in conjunction with Sapa, to make it even more secure and high-performing. Any hardware can be fitted to the new door in order to offer extended customer choice and improve its security credentials, while a co-extruded bead makes the glass more secure within the door leaf and dual weathering all the way around the perimeter of the door minimises air and water infiltration.

Another exciting development is the new one piece anti-finger trap stile designed to suit all types of exit devices without the need for a mid-rail.

CDW Systems have also re-branded the door by giving it a new logo and the initiative will be backed up by powerful marketing literature that their trade customers can use to win sales.

“We wanted to celebrate our 21^st year in business by giving our trade customers a product that is completely original and full of quality features and benefits – the EasySecure commercial door is just that product,” Jerry concludes.

CDW Systems’ order book has been boosted as more homeowners, local authorities and private sector firms choose to either replace their old timber vertical sliders or fit aluminium from new.

Managing Director Jerry Webb comments: “Niche products such as aluminium vertical sliders are growing in popularity and our trade customers are capitalising on this trend.

“Aluminium vertical sliders offer ultimate functionality and are incredibly durable and strong so they don’t warp, rot or twist like timber. Additionally, aluminium VS’s offer slimmer sightlines than PVCu, allowing extra light to enter the room and improving the windows solar gain.”

An example of a commercial project where CDW aluminium vertical sliders have been used is a recent renovation at SG Hambros Bank on the island of Guernsey. CDW Systems were commissioned to manufacture 173 vertical sliding sash windows for the high profile project, all of which needed to be powder coated in a bronze finish.

“Aluminium VS’s were specified at this project because of their incredible looks, unrivalled strength and energy efficient qualities.” Jerry adds.
According to Jerry aluminium vertical sliding sash windows are also starting to sell well in the domestic market:
“We have also noticed aluminium vertical sliders are increasing in popularity with homeowners because of their exceptional looks and durability. They are proving particularly popular with consumers at the higher end who are spending their money on quality home improvement products rather than leaving it sitting in the bank accruing little return.”

“One reason homeowners are choosing a CDW VS is because of the wide colour choice. White simply isn’t exciting any longer and can often fail to achieve the chic appearance that consumers want. Our VS’s can be powder coated in any RAL colour and also offer dual-colour capability.”

CDW Systems supply Sapa vertical sliders which offer a range of other features and benefits such as providing ventilation without projecting vents, the ability to be specified with anti-ligature hardware and an optional tilt in facility for easy cleaning.

The company also manufacture sliding folding doors, residential doors, commercial windows and doors, conservatory roofs and a whole range of specialist products.

Two high profile examples are Everest and Anglian. Once upon a time both were specialist window companies but now Everest advertises their kitchen range on TV while Anglian is at the forefront of solar energy for homeowners.

From a fabrication point of view, one of the most common examples of diversification is dual sourcing materials. Over the past few years the number of fabricators manufacturing both PVC-u and aluminium has significantly increased as companies try and maintain the same volumes they enjoyed pre-recession.

But while dual sourcing may enable the fabricator to increase sales, what impact does this have on a production line that has long been geared up to manufacturing one material, or indeed the installer customers?

Aluminium fabrication requires a completely different mind set to mass producing PVC-u frames and mixing the two can cause even the most experienced fabrication business certain problems. For instance, assembling a large sized commercial window is much more labour-intensive compared to the automated production of a PVC-u casement window, and this means some PVC-u fabricators diversifying into aluminium can be guilty of offering slow turnaround times and reduced quality products.

As a result, it’s no surprise some installers still prefer to source their aluminium frames from a specialist aluminium fabricator – one they know will not suffer the ‘teething problems’ a newcomer to aluminium production may experience. This type of installer is a good example of the trade customers Gloucester based aluminium fabricator CDW Systems supply on a daily basis.

20 years aluminium experience
CDW Systems have specialised in aluminium for 20 years and the company has built an extensive network of loyal installers throughout the UK. Installers choose CDW Systems not just for their products, but their experience and ability to provide superb service and valuable technical knowledge.

The company boasts a 30 strong fabrication team, some of whom who’ve worked there since CDW Systems formation and the majority for well over a decade. Unlike fabricators who manufacture multiple materials, CDW Systems production line is entirely geared up to aluminium and the result is a slick manufacturing unit that can adapt to the needs of their customers.

CDW Systems is headed up my managing director Jerry Webb and operations director Colin Urquhart. Both have long histories in the industry and between them have 50 years experience working with aluminium. Jerry spent many years with leading systems suppliers before setting up his own fabrication business, Hampshire Doors and Windows. Colin meanwhile was one of the original founders of CDW Systems and the two businesses merged in 2004 to make CDW Systems what it is today.

Wide product choice
Together Jerry and Colin have built CDW Systems from a niche manufacturer of commercial doors to a company that offers a multi-faceted product range encompassing commercial entrance doors; windows of all shapes, sizes and configurations; ground floor treatments; curtain walling and no less than three types of bi-folding doors. This extensive range continues to grow year on year – thanks to the CDW Systems policy of introducing a new product every twelve months.

Managing director Jerry Webb explains: “We pride ourselves on our ability to provide customers with a wide variety of products, whether through choice of profile and colour or the fact that we are able to fit any hardware that may be specified. We also aim to introduce at least one new product each year, 2011’s being Secur II, a specialist range of fire resistant screens and doors. When we introduce a new product, Colin and I personally get amongst the team on the factory floor and make the first samples. We then follow this up by going on site with our installer customers to ensure that we know the product inside out.”

Jerry and Colin’s thirst for knowledge and desire to continuously improve is embedded in the culture at CDW Systems, and nothing illustrates this better than the rigorous training programmes they insist all fabricators regularly undertake.

Jerry explains: “CDW Systems work closely with our key suppliers to devise regular training programmes for our fabricators to ensure total flexibility on the factory floor. As a result, all of our workers have equally detailed knowledge of every product in our range and can turn their hand to any stage of production. This means we have the versatility to cope with sudden changes in demand and more importantly, it means our customers aren’t let down and we don’t need to push back delivery lead times.”

Looking at how CDW Systems operates and the procedures they have in place, its plain to see how the fine art of aluminium fabrication is a world away from mass PVC-u production. With this in mind, it seems the specialist aluminium fabricator will never go out of fashion and CDW Systems will continue their success long into the future.

For more information call CDW Systems on 01452 414853 or browse our website

Jerry Webb, managing director of Gloucester based aluminium fabricator CDW Systems discusses the growth of aluminium windows in the domestic market

Unless you have been stranded on a desert island for the past year, you can’t have failed to notice the hype surrounding bi-folding doors.  Fuelled by the current ‘improve rather than move’ trend, sales of bi-folding doors have soared in the domestic market as homeowners aspire to ‘bring the outside in’ and create more space and light within their property.

In fact, Palmer Market research predict the 15,800 bi-fold installations in 2011 will increase to 28,600 by 2014, which is a significant jump and clearly highlights how the market is growing.

While there may be several PVC bi-folds available today, aluminium still accounts for the largest proportion of the bi-fold market. Aluminium is inherently stronger than PVC and is therefore more suited to bearing the heavy loads needed for a bi-fold installation. What’s more aluminium offers slimmer sight-lines, an almost unlimited colour choice and doesn’t expand in the heat, all factors that appeal to consumers.

An interesting by-product of the booming bi-fold market is the new-found popularity of aluminium windows in the domestic sector. Having invested in a new aluminium bi-fold, many homeowners want their new door to match the other frames in their house and are taking out their old PVC windows and replacing them with aluminium.

These homeowners would never have considered aluminium windows had it not been for their new door, but having seen the many benefits of aluminium for themselves they have been ‘converted’ to the material.

This trend is something we have noticed here at CDW Systems. Many of our trade customers have fitted bi-folds into a domestic property only to be called back a month or two later to replace the windows.

One CDW Systems trade customer had this to say: “We recently completed a domestic bi-folding door installation using CDW’s Beaufold^TM sliding door where the rest of the property had PVC windows. The homeowner was so impressed with the look of her new door; she immediately asked us to replace the PVC windows in the rest of the house with aluminium.”

The managing director of another CDW Systems customer echoed these comments: “We have upsold windows to numerous clients who initially only wanted a bi-fold door. We have found that a bi-folding door will grab the consumer’s attention initially and once you are in discussions you can showcase your range of windows and make another sale.”

Selling windows and entrance doors ‘off the back’ of bi-folding doors is a big opportunity for installers and one that CDW Systems is well placed to supply. We manufacture no less than three aluminium bi-folding doors and offer a wide choice of window styles to match including casement, pivot, tilt and turn, sliding and reversible.

Each of our bi-folding doors has its own individual features to suit the varying needs of our customers. For instance, the Beaufold^TM sliding folding door has a concealed T-handle for a stylish look while the Smart door has a lever handle favoured by clients wanting more traditional aesthetics. Our Sapa door has a pull hinge handle option, providing an easy grip position for operating opening outwards doors

Meanwhile windows are available in a choice of ‘A’ to ‘C’ WER options, enabling our customers to benefit from the marketing clout of the energy rating label. Consumers are becoming ever more familiar with energy ratings and many of our customers have found particular success selling ‘A’ rated windows.

Extended colour choice is another big plus for aluminium windows. Consumer tastes are changing and for many a white window simply isn’t ‘exciting’ enough. Our windows and doors can be powder coated in any RAL colour, giving the customer almost unlimited choice. Furthermore our products have dual colour capability, an option that suits the more adventurous consumers who want to really stand out from the crowd.

Another benefit of aluminium is the slim sightlines. Homeowners are often impressed with this feature on their new bi-folding door and want to re-create the look with their windows. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, the large glass area allows extra light to flood into the home, which is a big selling point.

In conclusion if I could offer installers one piece of advice it would be this – next time you carry out an aluminium bi-folding door installation, make sure you take your aluminium window brochure with you. Chances are they will be so impressed with their new door you can upsell your services and win more business as a result.

For more information call CDW Systems on 01452 414853 

CDW supplied 375 windows and 95 dual frame aluminium doors to Aspect Windows who fitted out over 50 homes at the Wain Homes site in St Austell. The installations were subject to a condition set by Cornwall Council that specified the use of grey aluminium for windows and doors at the Foundry Park development.

CDW’s operations director Colin Urquhart sees the requirements set by the council as the emergence of a possible trend towards many more house building projects having aluminium as the material of choice.

Colin explains: “Cornwall Council’s decision to use aluminium on a housing project was a bold move and may encourage other councils to specify the material ahead of PVC. Aluminium is a sound choice for housing developments because it is virtually zero maintenance, doesn’t need to be reinforced, has high structural integrity and will not warp or twist. It also offers aesthetically pleasing sightlines perfect for a new build and offers good thermal performance thanks to the emergence of the polyamide thermal break.”

Aspect Windows are a long standing CDW customer and Liz Williams, their Commercial Estimator, explains why they chose the Gloucester based fabricator as their supplier for this project. “CDW are a very customer focused company and the service they provide is always exceptional. What’s more they introduce a new product into the market every year, enabling us to differentiate ourselves from our competition and win big contracts such as the Wain Homes project.”

CDW manufacture a wide range of windows, doors, shop fronts and curtain walling using some of the leading aluminium profile systems on the market today including Smarts, SAPA and Beaufort.

for more information call 01452 414853

The school gates closing for summer traditionally brings about a spike in installations as institutions take advantage of the six week break to upgrade their premises.

Operations Director Colin Urquhart comments: “The school summer holidays are on the horizon and we have a range of top-selling doors ready and waiting for installers. All three are manufactured to our usual unbeatably high standards and are the ideal addition to any educational establishment.”

First of the trio and perfect for any busy school entrance is the SAPA Easyway door. Available in a wide range of colours and hardware, this solid traditional looking door is manufactured using Sapa aluminium and is perfect for a high usage entrance where a wide range of hardware might be specified.

Second up is the Stormframe ST door. Manufactured using SAPA aluminium, this door has been tested in line with BS6375 Part 1:2004 and has achieved the highest classification for doors. A polyamide thermal break helps the door achieve a U- value of 2.2 with a centre pane U-value of 1.2, making it one of the most energy efficient aluminium doors on the market. Available in dual colour options

Last but not least is the Beaufort commercial door. Equally ideal for commercial purposes, this door has the option of a dual-colour frame and has a record of use in schools, colleges and universities.

All doors are available with anti finger trap stiles (a must in public buildings nowadays), auto door options and can accommodate a wide range of hardware; including amongst others Adams Rite, Axim, Dorma, Assa Abloy and Alpro. With the demand for commercial doors set to explode, Operations Director Colin Urquhart is confident these doors will be utilised for another summer and last for many years to come.

For more information or call 01452 414853

Originally set up to supply unglazed shopfronts and entrance doors using their own design of aluminium profile, CDW Systems has rapidly developed into the UK’s leading authority on commercial entrance doors of all sizes, styles and specifications. As managing director Jerry Webb explains, the company’s expertise is in high demand at all levels of the supply chain.

“Our installing customers often ask us to help at an early stage of the design process, as ‘similar or approved’ will often be written into the specification. We can advise on the best product to match or beat the performance requested. In addition we can also advise on what glazing is required, determine the most appropriate hardware and confirm how to achieve standards such as the newly launched LPS1175.

Choice is the byword for CDW Systems’ customers, aptly demonstrated by the company manufacturing three different commercial door, window and sliding folding door systems using Blyweert Beaufort, Sapa and Smarts profile and, according to Jerry, this choice enables installers to offer their customers a wider choice in the current market.

“Aside from being extremely popular in the residential market, bi-folding doors are also being increasingly used in applications such as restaurants and pubs and our breadth of product range gives our customers every opportunity to enter these growing markets” Jerry comments. “We manufacture no less than three systems and each bi-fold has its own individual features and benefits which installers can use to capture the interest of a wide variety of customers. For instance, the Beaufold sliding folding door has a concealed locking T-handle for a stylish look while the Smart door has a lever handle favoured by clients wanting more traditional aesthetics. Meanwhile the Sapa door has a pull hinge handle option, providing an easy grip position for operating opening outwards doors.”

CDW Systems’ bi-folds may have their differences but as Jerry explains, they also share common characteristics. “Each door incorporates a polyamide thermal break for superior thermal performance and they are all available powder coated in a full range of RAL colours. Security is also a major feature and all accommodate high quality locking systems as well as a wide range of glazing options, allowing sealed units with integral blinds to be utilised if required.”

Enabling customers to deal with any specification is all well and good, but manufacturing quality is also a critical success factor. “Before we launch a new product, we make sure that our production team is thoroughly prepared and know the system inside out. We will even go to site to ensure that the first installation goes smoothly and that the door is operating as it should” Jerry adds.

This attention to detail has resulted in CDW Systems providing sliding folding doors and hinged doors for one of their key suppliers’ stands at the recent BSEC and Ecobuild exhibitions. “We were delighted to be entrusted with manufacturing the samples, as it is a testament to the quality of our finished product. We made a three-pane bi-folding door with a special woodgrain sublimated finish which attracted a high level of interest from visitors to both shows. The same supplier also asked us to prepare the pivot doors for their LPS 1175 test samples which, I am delighted to say, passed with flying colours, enabling them to become the first systems company to offer this demanding specification as part of their commercial door product offering.”

With this attention to detail, it’s no surprise that CDW Systems is planning for further growth. “We have just been granted planning permission to extend our production facility, which is great news as we have seen a sustained increase both in volumes and also the sizes of products that our customers are asking us to make. The new extension will enable us to keep pace with demand and maintain our service levels – another factor that is vital for installers in the present market”, Jerry concludes.

With its recyclability, versatility and longevity, plus its ability to meet all of the latest building regulations requirements, it’s no surprise really that aluminium is the material of choice for all commercial applications.

What is interesting, however, is the recent revival of aluminium in the domestic replacement market that we have observed here at CDW, as installers look for ways to differentiate themselves and increase their product offering to the householder.

At CDW, our focus has always been aluminium. Operations Director Colin Urquhart and I both have long histories in the industry having spent over 40 years between us working with aluminium. I myself spent many years with leading systems suppliers before setting up my own aluminium fabrication businesses. This experience really makes a difference, as we both completely understand the pressures our customers face day to day.

Together we have built CDW from a niche manufacturer of commercial doors to a company that now offers a multi-faceted product range. Having always specialised in aluminium, we understand our customers’ needs inside out and really listen to what they expect from us as a quality aluminium trade manufacturer.

The fine art of aluminium fabrication

Both Colin and I know first-hand that aluminium fabrication demands a completely different mindset to mass producing PVC-u frames, and we have invested in our fair share of capital equipment over the years to increase manufacturing efficiencies. In fact we were one of the first aluminium fabricators in the UK to install CNC machine centres and punch presses.

But, while our cutting, routing and punching operations are all mechanized, we know that assembling large sized commercial windows commands a much more labour-intensive approach to ensure the quality of the finished article – it requires a certain craftsmanship that only develops with years of practice.

Fortunately for our customers, CDW now has a 40 strong team, the majority of whom have been with us for years. We insist that each member of our fabrication team undergoes regular training programmes, which we have devised in conjunction with our key suppliers and are tailor made to our specific product ranges.

As a result, all of our fabricators have equally detailed knowledge of every product in our range and can turn their hand to any stage of production. This means we can flex our manufacturing to cope with sudden changes in demand and more importantly, it means our customers aren’t let down and we don’t need to push back delivery lead times.

Whatever you want, whenever you need it

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide customers with a wide variety of products, be it through choice of profile, colour or the fact that we are able to fit any hardware that may be specified. Our range has enhanced dramatically and now includes commercial entrance doors, windows of all shapes, sizes and configurations, ground floor treatments, curtain walling and no less than three types of bi-folding doors.

But of course it doesn’t end there. We aim to introduce at least one new product a year as part of our ongoing growth strategy. This year we have launched specialist product Secur II fire resistant screens and doors in response to the growing need for better protection systems in at-risk installations across the UK.

When we bring onboard a new product, Colin and I personally get amongst the team on the factory floor and make the first samples. We then follow this up by going on site with our customer installers so that we can make sure that we have the answers to any question that may come up. This care and attention to detail has been recognised by one of our systems suppliers, who actually asked us to manufacture one of their samples for security testing to LPS 1175 – the products passed with flying colours, by the way!

CDW has built strong relationships with our key suppliers and when we stock a new suite we take the time to analyse the implications and test the strengths so that when we are ready to launch the product, we know exactly how to help our customers bring it to market.

Reports suggest that the industry is in for a rough ride in 2011, but I for one am confident that CDW Systems Ltd have the products, services and skills to help our customers meet these challenges head on. Others may see aluminium as a novelty, or even some kind of a saviour, but by focusing on it and becoming acknowledged as experts in our field, we believe we have created a tangible edge for our growing customer base.