40 years since founding of the Epwin Group and still going strong
Managing Director of Epwin Window Systems Division, Clare O’Hara has been describing the company’s plans for the future, after describing its products as already being ‘the most innovative and comprehensive product range on the market’ but with ‘a great deal more to come’. Clare was speaking to a group of the window and door industry’s press during celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Epwin Group and to offer a view of where the company is heading in the next period. The company’s brands including Profile 22, Spectus, Swish, PatioMaster and Safeware are all thriving with major product and customer support initiatives brought to market or planned for each. With reference to Profile 22 Optima, one of the largest investments in Epwin’s history, Clare described the launch as being ‘a great way to celebrate the company’s birthday’. She also revealed that the new system has been adopted by all of Profile 22’s fabricators.
The company’s people are the most important asset, stressed Clare, as she introduced a number of new faces to the business, with customers being its greatest focus for which investment continues with new support systems and infrastructure. Of these, Epwin’s new foiling plant anticipated the growing demand for coloured profiles with the company’s brands all showing increasing market share as a result. Across all brands, foiled profiles now account for in excess of 22% of extruded output.
Part of the investment in Optima included the installation of the most advanced extrusion lines available, which are making significant returns in respect of product quality, production efficiency and environmental impact. In addition to the launch of Optima, a range of new ancillaries has been launched for Spectus with new flush tilt and turn windows being introduced under Spectus and Profile 22. Swish and Spectus customers are now utilising new marketing portals through which they may order support materials and services. PatioMaster has benefited from an extended range of colours with products now improved through the use of new profiles introduced for Optima.
Investment will continue at a pace confirmed Clare with each brand benefiting from new products, marketing support and infrastructure: “The 40th year of the company’s existence has been exciting with so much change taking place to the company’s infrastructure. We now look forward to refining what we do and how we do it with our customers reaping the benefits as we put customer experience at the heart of the business. Driving growth and profitability for our customers is now at the top of our agenda, equipping them with the best products and service available in the marketplace.”
The significant investments over the last 18 months are testament to the company’s commitment to its market-leading brands, and with more in the pipeline, customers can be rest assured of a committed supplier.
