Euro Clad Blog

It was with a teary eye and a smile on our faces that we said goodbye to Kelly Phillips last week. Kelly is leaving for a year's maternity leave and we took a few minutes out to wish her all the best with the birth of her second child.

Marc Blackie is stepping into the fray as Business Development Executive to cover Kelly's leave and whilst he has big shoes to fill (metaphorically speaking of course) Marc has a proven track record in the construction industry and has already formed good working relationships with colleagues.

Kelly has been a fulcrum which project tracking and customer contact has balanced on for the last eight years and all staff and directors would like to wish Kelly all the very best for the next twelve months.

Sir Steve Redgrave and Sam Ramsamy, Executive Member of the International Olympic Committee, opened the Mayesbrook Athletics Arena in Barking and Dagenham yesterday. The arena, which is an official London 2012 Games Time Training Venue, has been completely refurbished using £2m funding from the Olympic Delivery Authority. We were pleased to supply the entire building envelope for this important development and our very own Jon Dore went along to the official opening.

The LINEAR 4 rainscreen system was used as a Rainspan construction on the arena for its good looks and fast installation. LINEAR Rainspan is comprised of a rainscreen façade in aluminium composite material (ACM) that uses the Rainspan composite panel as a backing-wall. This eliminates the need for most secondary steelwork, saving both time and money by using a panel system spanning between the main columns. The LINEAR Rainscreen system is then fixed directly to the Rainspan panels. This type of construction minimises time onsite as well as providing a very cost effective solution to more traditional rainscreen assemblies. ACM is available in a huge range of colours and finishes and is even available in a range of natural metals such as stainless steel and titanium.

Also installed was a Euroclad Elite System 3 roof using the secret fix profile. This built up roof system uses a non-fragile liner, allowing the roof to be decked out early in the programme. The roof sheets were rolled onsite at eaves level in one continuous sheet from eaves to eaves, and were quickly and simply fitted together. Sir Steve Redgrave, said: "As we get closer and closer to the start of London 2012 you can really feel the momentum building. Here, today, viewing these superb facilities it just goes to prove what a fantastic lasting legacy the games will bring us all in the UK. This arena is multipurpose servicing the needs of top athletes as well as everyday fitness fans, everyone can enjoy this training venue and I am delighted to be present at it official opening."

Ecobuild is the World's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment and the UK's largest construction event of any kind. It generates 50,000 visitors, of which there are 8000 architects and 8000 Chief Executive Officers from the construction industry. The exhibition runs Tuesday 20th March to Thursday 22nd March and is held at Excel in London Docklands.

We have a full complement of staff manning the stand but if you feel that there would be a benefit in visiting Ecobuild you can register for a free ticket at www.ecobuild.co.uk.

I was chatting to Gareth Edwards CBE this morning about the great weekend of sport we've been treated to and Saturday's fantastic match between England and Wales in particular.  We agreed that it was a fantastic spectacle for rugby fans and a heroic defence by England that nearly derailed Wales' hopes of a Triple Crown and the potential Grand Slam.  The Triple Crown is a great achievement for the Welsh team and England can be proud to have put up such a stern test.  Gareth is a rugby legend, broadcaster and speaker.  He also helps our business development team as a consultant and whenever possible he shares his passion for sport with us.

John Dunnington, Marketing Executive.

The bi-annual Euroclad sales conference took place in Cardiff in January with the two day conference focussing on the total envelope solution and new product development.

The total envelope approach is enabled by the divisional structure of Euroclad, with autonomous manufacturing units responsible for rainscreen facades, architectural fabrications, rollformed roof and wall cladding and premium roof systems (Euroseam, SF500 and Vieo).  With two associated sales offices targeting specific needs in the cladding market and a regional design and sales office for rainscreen facades it's safe to say that if it's metal and it's on the outside of a building we can supply it.

The other focus of the sales conference was our commitment to innovation and new product development, especially in these difficult financial times.  Two new products are planned for launch in the first half of this year, demonstrating our commitment to improving and adding to our existing range of products.  Best practice encourages innovation through recession and some of the most innovative and successful products were developed during tough economic conditions.  Obvious examples are the launch of Fortune magazine in the shadow of the Great Depression and Apple's refusal to downsize in 2003, when the Dow was at historical lows - Apple continued to invest in product development.

We continue to innovate to remain relevant and stay at the forefront of the industry; providing you with greater choice, performance and cost-effectiveness.  Our commitment to innovation is a commitment to the future and is a sign of hope to employees and to customers, demonstrating that the company is valuable in their lives and that they are valuable to Euroclad.

We would all like to wish our Sales Office Manager Ian Bartley many happy returns on his 50^th Birthday.  Ian has spent the last 23 years working for Euroclad and he is valued by colleagues and customers as a go-to contact in the sales office.

Ian started work at Euroclad in the production office and his move to sales was made easy by his quick wit, rapport with customers and easygoing disposition.

Managing Director Phil Cook presented Ian with a card and several gifts from all of us.  Of the many comments Phil had received from fellow members of staff, one observation about Ian seemed to sum him up best:  "Ian always manages to make me smile, even when my face doesn't feel like it."

Ian is a fanatical Manchester City supporter and he was delighted to receive a Birthday card signed by England and Manchester City footballer Gareth Barry.  Football was a consistent theme for Ian today as he also received a Man City shirt, cake and mug.

Kelly Phillips in Business Development also celebrated her Birthday today and she was delighted that we got her some surprise gifts.  Our best wishes to Ian and Kelly for a fantastic Birthday.

It is easy to pigeon-hole modern metal roofing products as solutions for hulking great sports complexes or vast industrial warehouses; but Vieo is proving to be one metal roofing system that is less easily stereotyped. Since its launch in September 2010 the size and diversity of its application has been as wide as it gets - and it's just as popular fixed to the wall. The reason for this far-reaching appeal is a combination of attractive aesthetics - a flat pan and subtle seam with no visible fixings - with the well-documented performance benefits of contemporary metal roofing.

Examples of this assortment of applications include Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and Pipers Way, a huge housing development in Swindon. On a smaller scale Vieo's popularity is embodied by a number of meticulously installed developments including a show home at Taymouth in Scotland and a Community Church in Bristol. To see some of the diverse projects that Vieo is helping to realise go to our gallery or visit flickr and view our Vieo collection.

Scott Norris has recently joined us as Façade Systems Specification Manager.

Scott has skipped the fence from contractor to manufacturer and brings with him a unique understanding of customer needs.  He is fully immersed in the holistic and specific issues associated with façade construction.
Managing director of Euroclad Phil Cook commented "I am pleased to welcome Scott onboard. He will be a valuable addition to Euroclad Façades, benefitting customers with a breadth of experience and understanding of construction and specification." We are pleased to welcome Scott into the company as Façade Systems Specification Manager and look forward to the positive impact he is sure to make to the company and its customers across the UK, particularly in the South East of England.

Contact Scott - Mobile 07875 809 412 or email - scott.norris@euroclad.co.uk

Staff from across Euroclad, Euroclad Fabrications and Euroclad Facades came together yesterday to enjoy a glass of mulled wine (or orange juice for those operating machinery!) and a mince pie and watch the Christmas lights being switched on.

Whilst they're not quite Blackpool illuminations the lights symbolise the spirit of our fantastic staff who are the lifeblood of the business.  The lights adorn a tree that was planted 17 years ago by Phil Cook.  Over the years the tree has grown into a sturdy perennial that is a permanent part of the landscape; just like Euroclad.

Recent years have seen severe conditions in the UK, both in terms of the weather and the economy.  But like our Christmas tree we have our roots firmly planted and continue to provide the quality of products and levels of services that you expect and deserve.

Thanks to all of our staff for their contribution this year.  Without their efforts and commitment we would not be able to do what we do.

Thanks to some sterling work by our Technical department we've just been issued BBA certification for Vieo.  The BBA (British Board of Agrement) is the UK's major authority offering approval of construction products, systems and installers and as such achieving BBA certification is a significant achievement.  Vieo is the cost-effective alternative to traditional metal roofing and features the attractive combination of a flat pan with a small, folded seam.  The system is ideal for a range of applications but is particularly suited to timber constructions as it can be fixed to a timber deck or structural insulated panel.  Warm and cold roofs are possible and the warm system provides excellent thermal properties and a unique method of fixing that is easy to install whilst being high performance.

The investment in BBA certification is one of many ways we demonstrate our commitment to providing the best possible products to our customers, providing great value, technical support and customer service along the way.

Click here for information on our VIEO system