Kenrick: building on past. Kenrick md Steve Jones speaks exclusively to glass age

Since joining Archibald Kenrick & Sons Ltd as MD in 2003, Steve Jones has concentrated his efforts on improving the PVC-U window and door furniture side of the business.

It seemed to him to be the most achievable aim. Targeting larger fabricators is proving to be a successful venture: Crystal Windows, Future Products and Apollo are all recent converts to Kenrick hardware.

Steve's spell in automotive components manufacturing and long experience at Chubb, stand him in good stead. He hopes to use this experience to ensure Kenrick's excellent tradition can be perpetuated with modern standards of administration and after sales service. To this end, he has taken on a new Sales Director, PR representatives and made sure that the Kenrick range has national coverage.

In these lean times, there is an advantage for smaller companies to grow, he says, 'For a comparatively small company like Kenrick who have just a small share of the market, that share can always be increased. It is larger companies that feel the pinch: when the market shrinks, their big market share shrinks with it'.

A long history

Kenrick was founded in West Bromwich in 1791 and has occupied the same site ever since.

During the Industrial Revolution, the business became one of the country's foremost cast iron manufacturers, something that continued for over 150 years.

In the late 1940s, technological advances meant that Kenrick modernised rapidly, introducing new manufacturing techniques such as die-casting and injection moulding. Similar but evolved techniques are still used today.

In 1990, the company was bought out by the Spire Group and nowadays has a broad range of products that include PVC-U and architectural hardware, castors and furniture fittings and bespoke sub-contract manufacturing.

Kenrick has always had a tradition of researching and developing its own products in-house. The design and innovation is carried out by Kenrick's own experienced team who have research and development testing facilities. Having design and manufacturing facilities working together offers flexibility to customers. For example, larger fabricators are offered their own branding on the centre claw keep of the Excalibur and Easi Fit window locks.

Kenrick's over 300,000 sq. ft site also offers plenty of space for stock and they can offer turnaround times as short as just 24 hours from order to delivery. They are also distributors for Hoppe and Paddock products.

Kenrick remains committed to investing in research and development, modern production techniques, new product launches and plans significant expansion over the coming years.

Window locking systems

Steve Jones has tried to hone the Kenrick's range of window locks over recent years and now believes that they truly have an option for all requirements.

At the top end, is the Kenrick Excalibur - a BBA, BS7950 and Secured By Design licensed product. It offers: free insurance against break-in (when used with security friction stays); six component per window assembly; easy maintenance and durability, and no protruding parts when the window is open.

Whilst security is a crucial issue, cost is often a deciding factor. To that end, the Centurion shootbolt has been designed to meet the requirements of BS7950, whilst helping volume fabricators maintain higher profit margins.

For speedy assembly, Easi-Fit is very quick and simple to install due to the single piece mechanism that is fitted just like a standard Espagnolette. With three keeps, there are only 5 separate components for each window with no cropping required. This high security Espagnolette locking mechanism is designed to meet the exacting requirements of both BBA and BS7950 - where peace of mind performance, longevity and enhanced security are vital.

BBA licensed products

All four window-locking systems, including Kenricks own twin rail Espagnolette, have obtained approval at the BBA. Centurion and Easi-fit are going for BS7950 testing to help qualify for a SBD license before the end of the year, giving greater peace of mind to the end user and giving the fabricator an additional sales tool.

Most products are designed and manufactured in the UK and Steve says that Kenrick try to keep as much manufacturing here as possible, continuing to provide employment in the West Midlands.

With price slashing also commonplace, how does Steve plan to keep Kenrick competitive? 'Pricing remains very competitive. There is a crisis of confidence

in the market that has led to people trying to buy business. Kenrick offers a quality product with guaranteed service at very competitive prices'.

With over 200 years of history, 5 new products to be introduced over the next six months, and expansion and renovation plans for its site, Kenrick continues to build on its past.