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Somerset based trade window and door supplier, Trade Frames, have announced that they have started fabricating the Advance 70 Window and Door System and become part of the Selecta ‘family’. Managing Director, Keith Matthews, and General Manager, Paul French, explain the reasons behind the move, future partnership plans and the enthusiasm to join the independently owned and fastest growing PVCu systems company.
With 30 years of trading under our belt, Trade Frames have grown in size and prominence over the years to become one of the South West’s leading trade window and door suppliers. Trade Frames reputation has been built on providing a range of quality products, complimented by a fast and reliable delivery system and unrivalled customer service.
To be able to continue to provide our high level of service and quality, we required a window and door profile system and systems supplier that meets ours and our customers’ expectations. Our previous system supplier of 16 years had been failing on all accounts, from product quality through to service and this was having a damaging effect on the business. It felt like we were just a number to them, passed from pillar to post with no personal touch to their approach. In the end we could not see a future with them.
With many issues not being resolved, we decided to look for an alternative window and door systems company and we were quite intrigued by what Selecta and the Advance 70 System had to offer. We were personally invited by Andy Green, Director at Selecta, to visit their Birmingham extrusion and distribution centre, meet the team and see the whole operation that would be servicing ourselves, first hand. Selecta opened their doors to us from day one and we were highly impressed with the warm welcome we received and the site tour was impressive.
The thing for ourselves was that, when you’ve been with a supplier for over 16 years, you are very apprehensive about change, but I must say it’s been a revelation and total breath of fresh air. So much so, it’s now something I wish we had done some time back!
The transition was smooth and very well organised, with very little or no disruption to our fabrication, something that we feared at first, but it was handled so well by all involved at Selecta and fitted in nicely with our own operations. Our fabricators have been impressed with the ease of fabricating the Advance 70 System, with our trade customers very complimentary in regards to the quality of the window and door solutions provided.
What has impressed my colleagues and myself the most is the personal relationships we have already been able to build with Selecta and the team, the proactive and down to earth approach to building up those relationships and the promptness of those responses. We get to speak directly to those who make the decisions, those that can help and don’t have to wait days or weeks for a reply! The longest I’ve waited is an hour, whereas I was lucky at times to get a response from my previous supplier! It’s very straightforward with Selecta, they will help and bend over backwards, if and when they can, but will be honest and upfront if they can’t. We like the honest approach, at least you can plan around that.
The whole ethos of Selecta is spot on and fits perfectly in to Trade Frames ethos and values. We are really looking forward to a bright and promising future with Selecta, the Advance 70 System and the range of window and door solutions we can offer our trade customers. The addition of flush sash windows is an exciting prospect in itself, for ourselves and our trade customers too, as our previous supplier did not have this as part of their suite of profiles. Our fully fabricated and glazed frames will also be able to benefit from Selecta’s new LINK70 Pre-Glazed Frame Connector System, which will provide a fast fix frame connection solution for installers when on site. We see the partnership with Selecta as one that can go from strength to strength, with expansion plans already well underway.
We are expanding our 23,000 sq/ft premises further, with the addition of new machinery, to set-up a composite and patio door fabrication shop, solely concentrating on manufacturing Selecta’s new composite door kits and MASTERslide patio doors. The composite door kits will provide ourselves with greater opportunities with our trade customers and allow ourselves to have full control over the product leaving our factory, maintain our high standards, whilst remaining competitive within the market.
All the new products will be added to our Trade Frames 24/7 online ordering system, which allows registered trade users to log in, browse through our extensive range of products on offer, choose the style, size and quantity they want – even if it’s a bespoke design – and then retrieve a quote and place on order. The system enables fast and simple tradesman’s access to a quick quote and ordering system, anytime of the day or night, on site or in the office. The new window and door solutions will only improve the system further.
All-in-all, Selecta have delivered on everything that they promised. We now have a relationship with our supplier, something we lost with our previous profile system supplier. We now have a window and door profile system and supplier that meets ours and our trade customer’s expectations. We are so pleased to have made the decision to ‘be part of the family’…
As a business, it’s become imperative to make use of the available advancements in online technology and stay in touch with digital innovations and developments. However, it’s just as significant not to lose the warmth that the personal touch brings and become a faceless, impersonal and almost robotic business. Selecta Systems Marketing Manager, Mark Walker, explains how Selecta have managed to remain connected with their customers and find the right balance between the two.
There have been considerable advancements in online and digital technology and the way we use it to go about our home and business life on a daily basis. It’s reported that 82% of consumers now use their smartphone to research a purchase they are about to make in a store, whilst the average business professional is sending and receiving 121 emails per day! Whether its B2B or B2C, we certainly can’t ignore the online and digital revolution and the need to be part of it. Websites with customer portals, apps, designers and ordering systems, product and social video, and of course social media, are now firmly amongst us and we cannot simply bury our heads in the sand and ignore any of them.
Connect is Selecta’s new online customer support portal, which we have launched to our customer base. Each customer has their own personal log in details, which allows them to access marketing, technical and general information, from brochures to an image library, through to technical test reports and product certifications, price lists and order forms. It is a comprehensive library of everything connected to the customer and Selecta, whilst also allowing them to order hard copy marketing brochures and flyers. Connect is simplistic and easy to navigate, with the intention to expand the support centre with designers and ordering systems.
Connect also features a customer specific news section, with latest news and information for customers and also a quick enquiry function for any requests or questions. A news or update alert system is planned to be introduced as and when any information is added, to ensure customers are informed as quickly as possible and kept up to date. Connect allows us to share and provide information to our customers 24/7, 365 days a year.
Although at Selecta we continue to embrace the technology available to us, with the introduction of online systems, product sales videos, social media etc. we still firmly believe in ensuring that the personal touch does not escape the customer, even when combining the two! For instance we provide our customers with the opportunity to have branded electronic brochures and product sales videos, whilst also giving them the facility to use our bespoke in-house design service.
The design service is used for a whole host of requirements, from helping a customer to rebrand, designing them a new logo, assisting with website and social media content, all the way through to bespoke flyers and adverts, to aid marketing and promotions. This is very popular with newly converted customers, who see the change to Selecta and the Advance 70 System as the ideal opportunity to rebrand and freshen up their approach. This is all done in-house as part of the package that Selecta provides, with customers dealing direct with people at the heart of company.
Life, in all its glory, has become very impersonal with more and more automated and computerised systems, which are introduced to improve efficiencies and speed up processes. Our lives seem to have become busier and more complicated, but with that comes impatience, wanting things quicker. Something that Selecta recognises is that many still prefer the comfort of being able to pick up the phone and speak directly to a person, and one that understands them and their business. They don’t want to call John in customer services one day, then Alice the next day, who have no idea of them or their business and have to go through endless channels to get a simple yes or no answer. It’s about creating relationships, speaking to the ‘doers’, that’s where Selecta excel and it’s what sets us apart from the competition. We want to, and continue to, connect with all of our customers across all channels, in whatever format suits them. It’s what we do.
Selecta Systems, are revelling in the success of being nominated as finalists in no less than five categories at the National Fenestration Awards. Sales Director Andy Green, talks about the nominations and why Selecta are beginning to win accolades and be firmly recognised as one of the fastest growing and most progressive PVCu window and door system houses.
“Firstly, we are absolutely thrilled to have been nominated as finalists in five categories at the National Fenestration Awards 2018. The great thing about the NFA’s is that all the awards are nominated for by your industry peers, which for me, there is no greater recognition than from those that work in the industry, day in day out, so thank you again.”
“Having been voted Systems Company 2017 at last year’s awards, we are delighted to be able to defend our crown at this year’s awards as well as being nominated for PVC Company, New Product of the Year, Social Networker and Fabricator / Manufacturer. The nominations epitomise and recognise the amount of hard work that the team have put in over the last couple of years, as Selecta goes from strength to strength” says Andy.
It is quite clear that Selecta’s presence and activity in the market has grown considerably over the last couple of years, as has the popularity of the Advance 70 Window and Door System and the service and support package of which Selecta provides. The NFA nominations endorse this, combined with perseverance, hard work and a positive swing in market perception.
The change in perception and positivity surrounding Selecta and the Advance 70 System, has not only resulted in Selecta being nominated finalists in five categories at the National Fenestration Awards, but it has also had a major impact on the number of fabricators now converting to the Advance 70 System and choosing to #bepartofthefamily, as Andy highlights.
“Over the last 18 months or so, over 80+ fabricators have been converted to our Advance 70 System. This is an amazing achievement when you consider that the industry as a whole is, reportedly, between 5 and 15% down over the year. We have really opened the industries eyes in to what Selecta has to offer whilst attracting a broad array of customers of all sizes. Having customers visit our site, meet and greet the Selecta ‘family’ and leave totally impressed with the state-of-the-art extrusion and distribution facilities has been immensely satisfying.”
“Being nominated finalists in five categories, on the back of converting a record number of fabricators, really demonstrates the progress we have made and puts Selecta and the Advance 70 System firmly in the spotlight. I would personally like to thank everyone involved in our recent achievements, which are already looking likely to continue in to the New Year with some exciting growth and expansion plans just around the corner.”
Selecta Systems certainly look in to the future with optimism and enthusiasm as they look to build further on one of the industry’s biggest success stories of the last couple of years. Fabricators, installers and specifiers, it’s time to #bepartofthewinningfamily
Within the window and door profile industry there seems to be a decline in service and support, but not in the case of Selecta, whom have, and continue to invest in these key areas. With 99.8% of deliveries on time and in full, Peter Lawrence, Warehouse and Logistics Manager, explains more on the key areas, investments and how the figures stack up.
Now in his 24th year at Selecta, Peter has come through the ranks and boasts a broad range of knowledge and experience, which he brings to his demanding role. Peter explains, “Making sure that customers receive their orders in full and on time is the key objective of the department and one we strive to achieve week in, week out. Our on time and in full delivery statistics stand at 99.8%, a statistic we are very proud of, whilst we are always looking at ways to continuously improve our operations.”
“One the most recent improvements has seen Selecta upgrade to a newer vehicle tracking system. The tracking system is fitted to all delivery, technical support and sales vehicles and so we can pinpoint their exact location at any point during the working day. The tracking also allows ourselves to work more efficiently and effectively, ensuring that customers receive the service they and their business requires. This has paid dividends in achieving the on time and in full statistics, owing to its visibility of delivery routes, hence the efficiency improvements.”
“Being able to pinpoint the exact location of our delivery fleet also enables ourselves to inform customers of the drivers ETA. The system was put to the test during the March ‘Beast from the East’ torrid weather conditions, where we ensured that every customer’s deliveries were completed. Customers were continually advised during the delivery process of the vehicles updated location and ETA. Our team of drivers and internal staff worked fantastically and tirelessly to ensure that our customers received their orders and that the whole journey was relayed to them. We were extremely proud to ensure that every customer received their delivery!”
Over the last few months, Selecta has also upgraded a number of vehicles both on and off the road. New HGV’s have been added to the fleet whilst two new multi-directional fork lift trucks have been added to the storage warehouse, improving efficiency, warehouse storage space and increased stock holding.
Peter continues, “These upgrades are part of our continual improvement programme within the warehouse and logistics department, with further expansions planned during 2018 and beyond, to manage the increase in the demand of our Advance 70 window and door system.”
“It is extremely important when you’re a fabricator that you have, not only the right window and door profile system, but also the right supplier that can service, support and deliver to you and you’re business. Our aim is to build a successful business partnership between ourselves and our customers and one that we can deliver on.”
With another 25 fabricators joining Selecta in the first six months of 2018, it seems that fabricators are firmly recognising the benefits of working with the fastest growing and award winning PVCu System House. The true versatility and quality of the Advance 70 window and door profile system is now even more prominent and recognised by fabricators and installers across the industry.
Over the course of the last ten years there has been a steady decline year-on-year in the number of PVCu window and door fabricators operating within the UK. Nevertheless, the number of window, door and conservatory installation businesses has increased over the last few years, with a surge in small installation businesses. Selecta Systems Sales Director, Andy Green, analyses the figures to see where opportunities lie and the potential hidden pitfalls.
I read with great interest the most recent and excellent Industry Report produced by Insight Data. The figures make thought-provoking reading and are certainly in line with what we’ve seen as a profile systems company. However, what is interesting, is that over the last twelve months, we have seen an increase in installers moving in to fabrication, with the clear reasoning being, to ‘take back control’ of their business.
Taking Back Control
The rationale behind this ‘taking back control’ spate has been clear and concise. Installers have recognised that ‘buying in’ manufactured products removes any control over the fabrication, quality and service provided and any supplier failings significantly affects their installation business. Failure to deliver on time, or poorly and incorrectly fabricated products are the main issues raised, with both causing installation headaches of which they have no control over. These have damaging knock on effects to their installation business, not only their reputation, but also on the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.
There’s nothing worse for installers than booking in a job, their customer having time off work and then having issues where the product hasn’t arrived or damaged during transit or when there are mechanical and fabrication problems, when fitting on site. The majority of these issues may not be able to be resolved by the installation company, whereas if they were fabricating, they could apply their own corrective actions and also have greater control what goes out the door and when. As for delivery timescales, why wait when you can fabricate?
I’m not saying this is the case everywhere for fabrication and installation companies, but there is certainly an increase in installers wanting to be in control of their own destiny, with a number starting to and showing increasing interest in the fabrication of our Advance 70 System of late. Selecta have a strong and successful history of setting up fabricators and fabrication facilities from scratch and assisting in all aspects of the process from layout and floor plan design to full blown training, with your own personal technician making the transition as smooth as possible.
The increase in installation companies represents further opportunities to fabricators, whom may not have considered supplying the trade previously. The prospect of diversifying and expanding your fabrication business to meet installation companies demands is appealing to many, with there now being over 9,000 installers fitting between 1 – 25 windows and doors per week, out of approximately 13,000 installation companies. Provide a quality range of products, backed up with a solid service and support package and this is where there are added business opportunities at your disposal.
Service and Support is Key
Whether you’re a fabricator or installer, our aim at Selecta is to provide a service and support package that suits everyone, from sales to delivery, technical to marketing. We have an extensive range of retail based marketing brochures, literature and sales videos, whilst providing a branding service on all electronic versions for use on your website and social media channels. A series of trade sales and technical information sheets are available to fabricators to provide product specification and promote the window and door range to trade customers and installers.
There is further back up from our four strong team of technical engineers, whom have a wealth of industry fabrication and installation experience, and provide a personal and first-rate technical support service for you and your business.
With the Advance 70 System now firmly recognised as one of the leading and most versatile window and door profile systems, whether you are fabricating, installing or both, you can be sure of a quality and comprehensive range of window and door solutions at your disposal.
It is vitally important whether you’re a fabricator, installer or both that you have, not only the right window and door profile system, but also the right supplier that can service and support you and you’re business. This I believe is essential in building a successful business partnership. Fabricators and installers are firmly recognising the benefits of working with the fastest growing and award winning PVCu System Houses and a versatile window and door profile system in the Advance 70 System.
With the emergence of a number of TV programmes, like Grand Designs, these have whet the appetite of the home improvement customer whilst enhancing the appeal of creating a grand entrance to their homes. Selecta Systems Sales Director, Andy Green, talks about how doors have evolved, from being just a door, as fabricators and installers take advantage and look forward to opening up new doors of opportunity.
The entrance to any home serves three main purposes; to act as a welcome to the homeowner, family and friends, to keep unwanted visitors out and also to protect the property from inclement weather. The latter two have improved considerably over the years, with PAS 24 and Secured by Design standards, whilst energy ratings have set the mould when it comes to thermal performance. Security, thermal performance and weather performance are now a given and are expected, but for the homeowner, expectations have grown as they look about enhancing kerb appeal and providing that wow factor.
Long gone are the days when a panelled PVCu door, available in White, Mahogany or Golden Oak, were suffice to satisfy the market. The number of door options and styles has grown considerably, thus giving the home owner greater choice. This has also created a line of new businesses offering just doors, such is the appeal and consumer demand, as the door market continues to grow.
One of the greatest appeals of modern doors is colour choice, as this now gives homeowners the opportunity to really create a bespoke and grand entrance to their home, their own personal touch, setting them apart from neighbouring properties. Combined with a comprehensive range of door styles, glass designs, hardware and furniture options, entrance doors have become more than just an add-on, they are an in demand commodity driven by the homeowners desire to create an entrance they are proud of and comfortable to live with.
To assist fabricators within this keenly fought market, Selecta have exclusively launched to our fabricators a composite door kit, comprising of a pre-routed slab, TriSys glazing cassette, choice of locks, hardware and furniture with glass options, all packaged up ready for the fabricator to hang in our own standard Advance 70 door frame. This improves delivery, cost effectiveness and stock holding, plus providing greater control over efficiencies and quality. This, we believe, provides fabricators with a far more effective solution to supply both the trade and retail customer and take advantage of a growth market.
The same can be said for panoramic sliding door solutions as homeowners look to create their own grand design. The opportunity to open up their living space and create large glazed walls is appealing, particularly when extending properties. The patio door is going through a renaissance period, whilst the introduction of swing and slide panoramic doors, like the EASi-FOLD Doors, have captured the imagination of the home improvers. The innovative and revolutionary EASi-FOLD Doors are an alternative to a bi-fold door and are appropriately named because of the simplicity of operation, with each sash sliding independently and folding in to place alongside the master door. It’s these kind of innovations that give the home improvement market a new and fresh approach to standard offerings as consumers look for the latest advancements in pioneering product design to improve their home and lifestyle.
Doors are no longer an add-on to a property. They’ve become more than just a door. A chic choice to fit in with their lifestyle. A security option to protect their family and home. A thermally efficient decision to reduce energy bills. They’re a product that the fashion and technical conscious consumer is ready to invest in and create that grand entrance to their home.
Selecta Systems have introduced an all new marketing support package that consists of a set of marketing brochures and literature, and Connect, a website based Selecta Support Centre for their ever growing fabricator and installer base. Marketing Manager, Mark Walker, explains what’s new and the idea behind the new marketing support materials.
“We launched a big and bold full product brochure just over 12 months ago, featuring 44 pages of stunning images and information relating to our full product range, titled ‘Your Home Made Beautiful’. The brochure has proved immensely popular and so following on from that success, we have now launched a series of supporting retail based 12 page mini-brochures, with one for each product. What this means is that the consumer now has more information and images from the product dedicated brochures, whilst our fabricators and installers have a professional and exquisite range of sales support materials to promote their products. This is important, as any marketing materials that we provide are a representation of not just Selecta and our products, but more notably, our customers business.”
Mark continues, “We have extended the marketing support brochures further by adding Sales & Technical Information Sheets to the range, which focus more on the trade and commercially minded customers’ requirements. So whether you are a fabricator who’s supplying the retail market or trade customers and commercial projects, our marketing brochure packs are fully complimented and support these markets.”
“The new marketing and sales support brochures are also available to customers as digital flip books and can be embedded in to their websites or used upon their social media channels, giving total flexibility in their use across all channels. Also new to Selecta customers is the ability to have the digital brochures branded with your logo and contact details, thus giving them the personal touch.”
Following on from the new marketing brochures and literature, a web based Selecta Support Centre, Connect, is due to be launched. Connect will initially provide customers with the complete range of marketing and technical support materials, which will be available 24/7 and 365 days a year through a dedicated online customer portal. Connect will also enable customers to interact with Selecta more freely and it has also been designed to expand and provide further sales and support tools, product designers and online ordering systems.
Mark explains, “Customers having direct and immediate access to the whole range of marketing and technical information is of importance and access will be fast and easy through their own personal login details. An asset library of imagery, brochures, marketing and technical information sheets, product videos, fabrication and installation guides, order forms and the like, will be easily accessible at any time. Connect will be an online portal full of the latest and most up to date information available at your fingertips, any time, day or night. Expansion plans are firmly in place to take Connect further forward and become the complete online support centre.”
“Although we are very excited about the launch of Connect and using the advancements in technology, we still firmly believe in providing the personal touch. Donna and Michele provide this internally by looking after more customer specific marketing and sales support requests, whilst also delivering that vital communication link between supplier and customer. This is further backed up by Steve and Dave, whom cover the length and breadth of the UK, supporting our increasing customer base.”
“We firmly recognise that it is important that we have a support package that can be accessed when required, compliment the full range of products on offer and also that it is of real value to the customer. We are totally focused on providing a support package that is not only suitable for every size of customer, but one that also has and continues to provide that personal touch. ”
Providing a first-rate personal and attentive service and support package is what Selecta, the only UK based independently and family owned PVCu systems house, are renowned for with further investments planned within this area during 2018. These exciting plans include retail based product videos, which customers can have branded and used on customers websites, social media channels and presentations.
For window and door fabricators to prosper in a very competitive market, it has now become far more critical for businesses to ensure that not only can they offer a complete range of window and door solutions, but also when doing so, that fabrication remains as efficient as possible. A vital cog in all of this, is making sure you have the right window and door profile supplier and more importantly the right window and door profile system as Selecta Systems Sales Director, Andy Green, explains.
I spend many long hours every week, driving the length and breadth of the UK, supporting our sales team and meeting with potential fabricators, discussing and providing solutions on how Selecta and the Advance 70 System can improve their business. I have noticed that there are a number of fabricators who now dual source, which is fine in some instances, but I would ask the question, is it the most efficient and effective solution and in doing so, does it sometimes become a productivity and logistical nightmare?
My interpretation of a possible reason why fabricators may dual source are that maybe a certain system house supplier does not supply or meet the full requirements of the fabricators needs, and by that I mean, through the lack of product range offerings or their service and/or support failures. Logistically running two or more profile systems, may require larger stock holding on profiles, ancillaries and hardware, require alternative machinery, tooling and software which can impact on the efficiency, effectiveness and cost of a businesses operation.
When dual sourcing profile systems, levels of service and support may also differ, from delivery through to technical and marketing support – with marketing support materials not giving a consistent representation of a business and in-house and site technical assistance not at an expected level because of relations. There are potentially a host of logistical and efficiency nightmares that a fabricator may endure, so the point I’m getting to is that surely ensuring that you have the right window and door profile system and supplier that ticks all those boxes would be far more advantageous?
Advance 70 – The Complete Window and Door System
Firstly, fabricators simply expect a quality and versatile PVCu window and door suite of profiles and one that delivers on all fronts. With the Advance 70 System, it is not only certified and tested with PAS 24 and Secured by Design options, but it also allows fabricators to provide a comprehensive range of quality, thermally efficient and stylish window and door solutions to the retail and commercial market. From casement, bay, bow, French, EASi-FOLD and tilt and turn windows through to the on trend flush sash window, which can be fabricated with the existing 70mm frame or encased within the all new 80mm 8 chamber traditional frame for that authentic timber look.
The Advance 70 System also allows you to fabricate a range of door options from a residential door, to French, bi-fold, patio, a new range of composite doors and the revolutionary EASi-FOLD doors. The Advance 70 Window and Door System is the complete suite, giving fabricators and installers a broad range of solutions within the retail and commercial market without the need to outsource other profile systems.
Don’t Become a Statistic
What is becoming more apparent is that service and support, or the lack of, has a major impact on fabricators decision making when selecting or moving profile system suppliers. When things are not going well, the first areas usually to suffer are the lighter areas of service and support and maybe this is the case with some suppliers. My other interpretation on this is that fabricators become a statistic and just another profile customer and those initial dreams of a glowing partnership turn in to a nightmare as the promised service and support dwindles. Maybe with large investment group led businesses it is just facts and figures and there is no other connection and tie in with a fabricator with faceless figures making decisions in the background. Providing a service and support package that fits the fabricators needs from day one and continues throughout the partnership is vitally important in building up a trusting and rewarding relationship.
Choose Selecta for Service, Support and Satisfaction
This is where Selecta are different and unique in the industry. Independent and family owned with an ethos and a set of core values that fabricators can relate to, which certainly bodes well with like-minded owners with similar business models and ethics as ourselves. Service, support and satisfaction are three core values that exude from within Selecta and back up the quality and versatility of the Advance 70 System. Service is key, with on time and in full deliveries backed up by a team who deliver when required by simply returning calls, emails and working together to build up a successful partnership.
Then there’s the support element from sales through to marketing and technical support. The support package Selecta provide is one of our great assets and one that continues to grow from strength-to-strength. For instance we have invested in a brand new range marketing support materials consisting of seven retail based individual product brochures to accompany the bold and sleek 44 page full product brochure. We’re also expanding our already strong in-house and on-site technical team, providing a full on service and support package that is the envy of larger rivals.
Investing in the Future
The recruitment of key staff is not the only investment planned within Selecta. With 50 new fabricators joining Selecta and fabricating Advance 70 over the course of 2017, expansion plans are well under way throughout all areas of the business. The growth plans will improve capacity, quality and services with which Selecta provide. Within the first couple of months of 2018 we have already improved productivity and quality within the extrusion through the investment and installation of new chillers with new tooling and more efficient machinery following in the second quarter. Transport, logistics and warehousing also form part of the continual improvement plan with new vehicles, fork lift trucks and an upgrade in our vehicle fleet tracking system, which will improve delivery efficiency and performance.
The future is looking very bright for Selecta and the Advance 70 System, at a time where a grey cloud of uncertainty is hanging around on the back of the industry last year being a reported 5-15% down. We had a fantastic 2017, which culminated in Selecta being voted Systems Company 2017 at the National Fenestration Awards with a massive 42.1% of the votes when up against a strong line up of competitors. It looks like last year’s success is already continuing in to 2018, with January and February again producing the goods in regards to the volume of fabricators converting to the Advance 70 System.
As I said earlier, it is vitally important that a fabricator does indeed make sure that they have, not only the right window and door profile system, but also the right window and door profile system supplier. This I believe is what is contributing to our success as fabricators recognise the benefits of working with the fastest growing and award winning PVCu System Houses and fabricating a versatile window and door profile system in the Advance 70 System.