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Selecta Systems Technical Manager Cliff Prosser and Marketing Manager Mark Walker, look in to the details regarding the recent building regulation changes to Part L and the marketing opportunities that this brings to fabricators and installers.
The technical performance and specification of window and door systems has evolved dramatically over the last few years, as window and door solutions have developed on the back of media pressure in regards to climate control. The introduction of greater industry statutory and regulatory requirements, combined with consumer demand in relation to the ever-increasing costs of energy supply, have been defining factors in driving window and door system innovation and design. With the recent and future changes to Part L, coupled with further calls for action on climate control and sustainability, pressure remains on further product energy efficiency innovation and sustainability.
Cliff comments, “These changes to Part L of the building regulations have seen Selecta provide further investment in our research and development programme. Our existing five chambered ADVANCE 70 system already meets the 1.2W/m²k U value requirements with either 24mm or 28mm double glazing and 1.0W/m²k with a 40mm triple glazed unit. Our R&D programme is looking at product, ancillary and glazing solutions and capabilities to improve this further.”
“For instance, I have recently completed a training course to become a WER / U Value approved simulator, one of only around 40 in the country. Selecta are able to provide a comprehensive technical, WER and U Value support service to our customer base, whilst enabling us to accelerate the energy efficiency product development and innovation process.”
“This in-turn supports us further in working towards the proposed 2025 Document L changes as we invest more resources in to developing our range of window and door solutions. The final intended 0.8 U value requirement will pose a challenge for many in our industry. With these planned tighter regulations, this may mean that some products on the market may have already or be close to reaching their design limits as companies look at future proofing their product range. However, our company ethos will remain the same. Any new developments and enhancements shall continue to be fabricator and installer friendly, whilst also being as cost effective as is possible.” says Cliff.
These recent and future changes to Part L paired with the ever-increasing cost of energy, do nevertheless provide fabricators and installers with a marketing opportunity, as Mark explains.
“At the moment we have an ever-growing problem. Rising energy costs. With many looking at ways of reducing their energy consumption and improving their homes energy efficiency levels, we have a range of products that provide a long-term solution to their problem – increasing their necessity to the consumer. Windows and doors are often seen as a ‘distress purchase’. A purchase made out of necessity rather than pleasure.”
“When you consider that replacing windows and doors within a home is amongst one of the largest investment renovations that a consumer will undertake on their property, energy efficiency will now very likely feature top of their requirements when choosing replacement windows and doors, closely followed by security and aesthetics.”
“What this means is that window and door companies have the ideal opportunity to promote the energy efficiency of their products as one of the main USP’s. Replacing ageing and tired windows and doors with new are a necessity to improve their homes thermal efficiency and reduce their energy bills. The latest and future revisions to Part L also provides companies with a legislative platform for promoting the thermal performance of windows and doors within the home.” Mark concludes, “Having touched on the regulation changes and marketing opportunities, it’s vitally important that fabricators and installers partner with the right window and door system and supplier. One that can provide future proofed window and door solutions. One that is looking at long-term innovation and development of its products and services. One that can provide that range of support tools and services. Selecta are that window and door system supplier and the ADVANCE 70 System is that window and door profile system.”
Over the course of the last five issues, we’ve provided you with a ‘Behind the Scenes’ insight in to PVCu window and door systems company Selecta Systems. In our final behind the scenes feature, Sales Director Andy Green takes us through some key staff and areas within the business, ones that continue to provide an invaluable and vital service to the business and customers.
In our previous features we’ve looked at many aspects of Selecta, the PVCu window and door systems extrusion and production inner workings, servicing and support mechanisms. We started with the mixing plant and extrusion process, going from powder to plastic and that it’s not just a piece of plastic, but a precision engineered product.
The second instalment saw us talk about the rigors and brutality of PAS 24 testing and the ruthless process windows and doors undergo to gain certification for enhanced security performance. This was followed by the fascination of lamination, a very insightful look in to how colour has changed the market and the process behind turning your standard plastic base colours in to both modern and traditional on-trend shades and grained effects.
We’ve also looked at the marketing support area and how Selecta supports their growing loyal customer base, as well as newly converted customers. This led to technical support and the transition process of converting customers to Selecta and the personal technical support package that this provided.
These previous five ‘Behind the Scenes’ features have provided you with an in depth understanding of the workings and complexities of an extrusion company, from providing fabricators with a piece of plastic to supporting the customer during their journey with the business. But it doesn’t stop there and so we look at some of the team behind the scenes…
As Sales Director, the customer facing sales development team report to myself, where I’m responsible for looking after the growth of existing and new business, providing support from within the office and face-to-face. With over 32 years of service at Selecta I have held a number of roles with different responsibilities.
I originally started life at Selecta as a field sales representative before moving into the technical department. After becoming the technical manager, I was then appointed UK business manager, before finally being promoted to my current role as sales director in 2016.
In fact, I was already part of the ‘family’ before I joined Selecta, as I was a customer with Adapta Windows. Indeed, Adapta was also a family run business, which was owned by my father and so there has always been this strong family connection with myself.
Out on the road, we have three Sales Representatives / Business Development Managers, who have their dedicated postcode areas across the country. Dave Nelson, who previously worked for a customer of Selecta, has been with us since 2016 and has a very comprehensive range of fabrication knowledge and experience of our ADVANCE 70 System. A popular character amongst our customers, Dave mainly covers the London, Midlands and North West.
Richard Reeves joined Selecta in 2018 from a window and door machinery and consumables supplier, again bringing a wealth of knowledge of customers and the industry to Selecta. Covering mainly Wales, Midlands and eastern side of the UK.
New to the business is Matt Blake, who joined the Selecta family in the middle of this year. Matt has previous experience within the industry and a background in sales. Matt not only covers Scotland and the North East, but also the South West and South Coast.
Sales and accounts are managed by Maria Lawrence, who is one of the longest serving member of the team. Upon joining Selecta, Maria was one of only 7 or 8 employees at the time and has worked her way up from an Order Processor and Accounts Manager to her current role.
Long serving employees Marie Astley and Gayle Stephens co-ordinate, manage and process all customer orders, with Credit Control Manager Lorraine Hammond, supported by Maureen Taylor, managing customers’ accounts. Marie, Gayle and Lorraine all have 22+ years’ service each, gaining a wealth of experience and knowledge of the business and our customers during this time.
Transport and warehouse logistics are managed by Lee Davey. Lee is in his second spell at Selecta, after finding out that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side! In the eleven years since his return to the business Lee has managed the trade counter and worked within purchasing, stock control, transport and logistics. He was recently appointed Warehouse & Logistics Manager and has already had a big influence on the development of the department.
Lee’s role sees him coordinating and managing all processes relating to customer order picking, packing and delivery. Customer orders are meticulously picked and packed by the warehouse team, ready for despatch across the length and breadth of the UK.
Management of the delivery vehicles and drivers is also undertaken by Lee. Selecta own their own fleet of trucks and delivery vehicles, which operate on a daily basis. An in-house garage and repair shop maintains the delivery fleet, ensuring that they remain in tip-top condition, serving our customers during the working week.
What these features have allowed ourselves to do is open up Selecta to you, the fabricator, providing you with an insight in to our window and door system extrusion and distribution operations. We’ve had the satisfaction of explaining how certain areas of the business work, the intrinsic nature of extrusion and product testing, whilst also having the opportunity to introduce you to the strong team that makes Selecta who we are today. The next time you receive a six-metre length of profile, fabricate a beautiful window or French door, you can appreciate it for exactly what it is. To some, it will just be another window or a door. To a few, it will just be a piece of plastic. To Selecta Systems, it will always be that precision engineered product!