Windows of opportunity, PVC-u windows with white woodgrain foil look less ‘plasticised'

We are led to believe that the super-fabricator is the way of the future, but the ‘chasing volume' approach has been shown up in the past year, and high tech machinery is now available for the smaller manufacturer. Perhaps these businesses, which are often more flexible, know what's best.

One company on to a good thing is Evolution Manufacturing Ltd, based in Biggleswade, Herts. The WHS Halo fabricator is striking out with white wood windows - frames with white woodgrain foil applied - which are accounting for a 35 per cent of production and growing. The Renolit foil finish results in a finish that is ‘less plasticised', says Surjit Singh, Managing Director of Evolution. ‘Put this product on a stand in a showroom and it sells itself', he proudly boasts.

Along with this attractive finish, Evolution windows feature Fab & Fix suited hardware. The company also scores points for using mechanical joints in some areas of manufacture for a more traditional look. Another interesting technique is the Georgian bar, which is adhesively bonded to the glass and frame, and for good reason - get it wrong and you've wiped out your profit and more when you recitify the fault.

‘I don't like to knock the super-fabricators because I'd like to supply them', says Surjit Singh. Evolution operates in an approximate 70 mile radius, with customers as far afield as Kent, the South Coast, West Midlands and Nottinghamshire. All of which is not bad for a manufacturer just two years old, having begun as a local installation business. Smaller housebuilders are among the satisfied customers.

Evolution also has an understanding with sash frame specialist Masterframe, and in fact Surjit Singh presented to Masterframe preferred installers last year at Cranfield Institute. You could say that Evolution is trying to do a similar thing to Masterframe, but with casement windows.

The factory is equipped with GTI Kombimatec machinery designed for its volumes. Some hand finishing is also employed, particularly in Georgian bar application. Automation with some of the old skills brought back is how the company looks at it. Lead times on windows are three to four weeks but the product is well worth waiting for, says the company.

Evolution is currently going through ISO 9001 accreditiation. Future plans include a larger factory which will include in-house insulated glass production. But for now, all eyes are on the rise of the ‘white wood' window.

‘If the market moves more towards white wood then at least we've started them off', concludes Surjit Singh of Evolution. We think he's on to something, don't you?