Wealth & Finance International - Business Awards 2015

Business Awards 2015 34 Best Windows Systems Manufacturer - UK Founded in 1980, Synseal is the UK’s fastest growing and most dynamic window and conservatory systems manufacturer. Company: Mark Schlotel Name: [email protected] Web Address: www.synseal.com Address: Common Road, Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire NG17 6AD Telephone: 01623 446207 Synseal remains fully independent and is owned by the people who run the company on a day-to-day basis, following a successful MBO in February 2010 and is ably led by Chief Executive David Leng. The man- agement team drive Synseal’s commitment to provide the best products, at competitive prices, with unrivalled support and interaction with its fabrication customers. David Leng is passionate about the company’s mission statement: “Our business vision is to be the UK’s first choice supplier for window, door and conservatory roof fabricators; providing good value, good quality products and services that meet the needs of their businesses, ensuring that all our customer partners can be winners in today’s competitive marketplace.” Company staff numbers have grown from 450 people in 2012, to in ex- cess of 1,200 employees which includes a specialist team to implement business improvement initiatives. The team is headed by Business Improvement Director Andy Killick, who is continually seeking ways in which customer services might be improved, including the all-important OTIF (On Time In Full) complete consignment delivery measure, with smooth integration of both new- ly-acquired and existing business operations to optimise efficiency and working practices. The Nottinghamshire-based business is noted for its innovative engineer- ing, effective marketing, and excellent customer service and satisfaction. Synseal regularly achieves top ratings in benchmark surveys of fabrica- tors’ views of their suppliers’ product quality and service performance. Numerous industry awards testify to Synseal’s commitment to be the best in all areas of its business. The firm believes that this is the most effective way of remaining a market leader and recent accolades for sustainable environmental efficiency as well as their B2B ventures prove that not only are they earnest in their attempts to remain the best, they are also committed to making a positive impact on global society. Delivering dynamic sales growth and operating profit in excess of 10% each year while operating in a highly competitive market is a major achievement for this highly focussed home improvement systems technology provider. Synseal is successful because all key operations are completely managed under the company’s control, from processing of the raw materials that are mixed to formulate the extruded PVC-U profiles which form the core of the business to the fleet of 40 logistics vehicles that now deliver an ever-expanding range of innovative products to their fabricator business partners – all of which offer margin-rich opportunities and impressive “affordable style” benefits along the entire value chain: from fabricators to professional installers and ultimately the purchasing UK homeowners. Core Synseal products include three 70mm PVC-U window suites: Leg- end, Shield and SynerJy, an Evolve range of specialist fabricated and CE marked products which includes vertical sliding sash, patio doors and bi- fold doors, and market-leading conservatory roof systems in both PVC-U and aluminium including the best-selling Global roof which for sizeable wide-spanning projects can be supported by SkySpace portal frames. Recent trading years have seen sales turnover increase steadily by both organic growth and prudent acquisition. The timeline shows a progres- sive sequence of business development initiatives: • In November 2011 Synseal acquired a large regional insulated glass unit (IGU) producer to create Global Glass and further extend customer choice, in addition to joint-developing glass and frame solutions to optimise energy efficiency and performance. Global Glass Huthwaite now specialises in production of high quality sealed units for windows and doors. • In May 2012 Synseal added again to its brand portfolio with the ac- quisition of K2 Conservatories including Celsius performance glass. Global Glass Blackburn was subsequently established as a centre of excellence for roof glass sealed unit manufacture. • In April 2013 Synseal Registered Installer (SRI) business support was launched in association with sponsoring fabricators to assist verified installers to retail Synseal products to UK homeowners. • In July 2014 Synseal acquired the business and assets of Prospect Inc. Ltd, trading as Systems Glass, to create Global Glass Wigan and add a third IGU manufacturing facility to expand and strength- en glass supply operations serving northern regions of the UK. • In November 2014 Synseal acquired the trade and operating assets of the Litchfield Group’s UK window & trade extrusion and door businesses, formerly known as LB Plastics Ltd and Manse Masterdor Ltd, and established the renamed Sheerframe Ltd and Masterdor Ltd as wholly-owned subsidiaries of Synseal. • In November 2014 Synseal also launched WarmCore aluminium folding sliding doors, featuring innovative “warm aluminium” framing technology, which signals an exciting new chapter in the company’s dynamic 35-year history. • In April 2015 Synseal launched Celsius solid roof, ideal for both ret- ro-fit or new applications to create modern and thermally-efficient building extensions that can be used 24/7, 365 days a year. • In June 2015 Synseal launched a range of Masterdor Benchmark GRP composite residential doors, designed to appeal to UK homeown- ers and be easy for Trade retailers to sell and install with confidence. Synseal is a member of the Glass & Glazing Federation incorporating the Conservatory Association and an associate member of the Home Builders Federation. Looking to the future the firm intends to continue improving upon its impressive success.