Everglade partners with Winmac for machinery
When Everglade Windows was looking to upgrade its PVC-U production, Winmac was on-hand to deliver the latest Schirmer machine
Premium PVC-U manufacturing machinery supplied by Winmac is helping a leading fabricator of windows and doors make the most of the surge in demand for the latest designs of PVC-U fenestration products. Long-established Everglade Windows has gained an impressive reputation from over 40 years manufacturing windows and doors for a varied customer base. The PVC-U sector has been a mainstay of business for Everglade Windows. Having partnered with Deceuninck over three years ago, the company has seen its sales of PVC-U products continue to grow. The creation of new products such as flush sash windows is energising the sector and boosting demand for PVC-U products. As a result, Everglade Windows has made significant investments in its production facility with the help of machinery partner Winmac.
Dominance of PVC-U
Yogesh Gopal, Director at Everglade Windows, heralds the continuing dominance of PVC-U in the fenestration sector: “Our move to Deceuninck as our PVC-U system supplier three years ago has coincided with demand for PVC-U windows and doors being stronger than ever. This is very much down to the product variations we are now able to offer which centre around coloured products and flush sash options. Products that are substitutes for aluminium are really gaining in popularity, this is contributing to our PVC-U sales going through the roof. We see offering more choice to customers as very important in today’s market. This has been part of the driver behind the investment in new PVC-U machinery.”
Winmac specialise in the supply of marketing-leading PVC-U fabrication machinery and are the sole supplier of the exclusive range of Schirmer machines in the UK. They were the perfect choice for Everglade Windows, as Yogesh explains: “Selecting the right machinery to support this growth has been paramount to the success of the business. It is important for us to have good working relationships with our suppliers, and in the case of machinery, we have formed a good long-term one with Winmac. Their Joint Managing Director Kevin Noray is well respected in the industry and well known to us at Everglade Windows. He understands our business and has been instrumental in helping us make the right decisions regarding our machinery needs. The machinery is very important but we also place a high degree of importance on the ongoing support we receive. This is key in manufacturing, as you will always need after sales service on an ongoing basis.”
The support provided by Winmac is something Yogesh is keen to emphasise: “Like in all fabrication businesses, the machinery is worked hard on a daily basis and needs expert attention. The Schirmer we use on our PVC-U production line is a complex machine so it is essential we can have an expert support team on-hand when we need them. This machine is the beating heart of our PVC-U manufacturing and any downtime really does impact the business. Being able to call on the services of Winmac’s team of knowledgable service engineers really does give peace of mind.”
Hit the ground running
“As soon as we installed the new Schirmer we hit the ground running and everything in the set-up phase went really well. Winmac were really professional and as soon as the engineers were off-site we were full steam ahead with production. The benefits of the new machinery investment was instantaneous, easy to say considering the machine it replaced was 20 years old, but in all honesty it was superior in every-way especially in terms of the technology, efficiency and speed. The new Schirmer also helped with productivity further down the production line. Previously there was more pressure on manual operations after sawing as the old Schirmer wasn’t capable of carrying out extra preparation processes – such as door hinge holes which were being done manually. This added labour, time and cost. Now this is all incorporated in the process carried out by the new Schirmer machine.”
“The operators have also found the new machine much easier to use as well. The previous machine was DOS based and was prone to errors which led to more things being done manually. The advances in technology and links with Window Designer on the new Schirmer are impressive. It is all set-up to make the operators life as easy as possible. We have a planned investment strategy for our machinery which aligns itself to our efforts to maximise the full use out of existing machines. We don’t wait for them to ‘fall over’ before we replace them. In fact, the Schirmer we replaced was purchased by another fabricator who is using it today. We are very mindful of any technological advances that can benefit the products we manufacture. For this reason it is important we have a close relationship with Winmac who are able to share with us any machinery innovations we should be aware of.”
Long standing customer
Joint MD of Winmac Kevin Noray pays testament to the relationship Winmac has with Everglade Windows: “The company has been a long standing customer of Winmac and our relationship perfectly illustrates how we work closely with our customers. By listening to their needs we have been able to provide machinery that enhances their production process. The latest Schirmer we supplied is a fine example of the advances that have been made in PVC-U manufacturing machinery. We are incredibly proud of the machinery we supply customers, but it doesn’t stop there. The support we provide is all part of the package. Our team of engineers add immense value to our offering. By working closely with Yogesh and his team, we are able to support Everglade with its delivery of high quality products to its customers.”
Winmac: 01865 730888
Everglade Windows: 020 8998 8775