The Long Read
Colour choice plays a key role for fabricators
Michael Gromett, MD of HS Trade Windows, reveals how colour choice is a positive driving force for his business
Seventy percent of HS Trade’s production focuses on colour, reflecting the growing impact of modern foils on the business. In recent years, demand for coloured products has surged, as many view it as an investment in their properties. For instance, house builders are increasingly willing to spend more on colour to differentiate themselves from other developers.
Michael explains that the underlying trend for coloured windows is not new, and the UK window industry has a rich heritage of rosewoods, mahoganies, and light oaks.
“But that is changing,” Michael says. “We’re seeing more flat colours enter the market, which is giving new life to PVC-U.”
HS Trade focuses on the premium end of the market, which is supported by its partnership with aluplast and the supply of profile foiled with the next-generation woodec and aludec foils, which closely replicate the look and feel of timber and aluminium.
“Thanks to modern foils, we are seeing PVC-U take on aluminium a lot more with stunning aesthetics,” Michael says. “Profile foiled with Jet Black aludec for instance, looks exactly the same as aluminium, but it’s got all the benefits of PVC-U, including its excellent thermal performance.”
Almost half of aluplast windows have a foil of some description, and the company is supporting this with continued investment in foiling lines and product design.
aluplast’s unique aludec and woodec ranges are exceptionally popular, especially on high-end designs, and the company has recently added three new woodec options. This has brought the number of premium foils up to 10, within an overall colour range of 40+ foils, and the ability to have different colours on the inside and the outside.
As HS Trade develops new routes to market and expands its product offering, it continues to push its colour offer front and centre. For example, it used this strategy when it broadened its entrance door offer.
If used strategically, Michael argues, colour can help you to win profitable high-value projects.
“It’s very hard to find a door that actually looks like a premium door,” he says. “And with PVC panel doors, we have been limited because we’ve not previously been able to match the panel with the profile.
“Now, with the launch of the Engineered Door from RegaLead – in partnership with aluplast – we can now foil the panel in the same high-end woodec and aludec foils as the aluplast profile. Plus, with the decorative beads and trims, we have flexibility to design and manufacture high-end aspirational doors.
“And because we are manufacturing the doors ourselves, we have complete control over the quality and the timeframes.”
This, Michael says, creates significant advantages for HS Trade’s customers, because they have access to premium products that are manufactured and supplied by their main product supplier, controlling costs and maximising efficiencies in the process.
This includes new pricing software that gives the installer full control over the quoting process, while simplifying the route from quote to order to delivery.
“It’s very close in look and feel to a retail sales tool,” Michael says. “This puts our customers on the front foot when they talk to their customers, and it reduces the chance of error while speeding up the whole ordering process.”
Michael says having premium products to offer is a key part of that winning formula, but having the support of aluplast as a premium supplier is also key.
“We get full technical support from aluplast,” Michael says. “This includes Building Regulation compliance and manufacturing support. But we can also rely on the basics, such as regular complete deliveries – even during Covid when many suppliers had supply chain issues. All in all, a perfect relationship.”
Tel: 01684 273401
E: info@aluplast.co.uk
