Author: Sophia Carnelley

Aluminium extrusion manufacturer Garnalex has appointed Greg Grabski, a highly experienced Production Manager, to help the company introduce a state-of-the-art powder coating plant at its existing UK manufacturing facility, all part of its ambitious growth plans.

Greg is well-versed in working in fast-paced production environments, having previously worked for a global automotive company in a similar role. Greg will be responsible for overseeing and managing the execution of the new aluminium paint machinery, day-to-day operations and employing the right skilled workers to optimise the efficiency of the new facility.

Greg commented: “I am not from a fenestration background, but it is clearly evident that Garnalex has impressive plans to grow Sheerline’s range of products and support the company’s overall strategy to ensure customers gain competitive advantage by dealing with a British supplier.”

Garnalex began manufacturing its Sheerline aluminium products in 2020, after investing over £15m in energy-efficient machinery at its site in Derbyshire. Since then, the business has seen unprecedent growth of its Classic and Prestige systems, Prestige Bi-fold Doors, and the S1 Roof Lantern. A key contributing factor to this exceptional growth has been Garnalex’s high level of vertical integration, sourcing material from within the UK to produce all major components from a single production site. This provides customers with reduced lead times, and lower carbon emissions.

Greg continues, “Even though we manufacture all major components for Sheerline on site, we currently subcontract the painting. With this investment, we will gain greater control over how the products are finished and supplied. In the coming months, I will be tasked with providing customers with a smooth, seamless shift in supply, supervising the installation of the new paint facility and contribute to reducing customer lead-times on a long-term basis.”

Garnalex Production Director Ross Hartshorn adds, “Greg was the ideal candidate for this position, having spent 15 years in a similar environment, acquiring a deep understanding of quality management systems, recruiting, and training staff, and working at senior management levels. As a result of Greg’s previous knowledge, he will no-doubt provide Garnalex with the expertise we need to ensure our customers continue to receive quality products, in the timeframe they need. We are extremely pleased to have him on board.”

Direct Roofing Systems, one of the first fabricators to partner with Garnalex and choose its Sheerline aluminium window and door systems, says, the Classic system is a “game changer” when it comes to offering homeowners a more modern, slimline alternative to traditional aluminium offerings.

Direct Roofing was established in 2017 and supplies aluminium bi-folds, patios, French doors, and roof lanterns across the UK. According to Managing Director Jimmy Cardno, they were looking for an aluminium supplier with a good reputation coupled with exceptional product performance, and Sheerline, with its innovative product design, ease of fabrication and excellent service was the ideal solution.

“Demand from our customers has been growing for a full suite of aluminium products.” Jimmy explains, “We recognised from the many features Sheerline has to offer how this would benefit our existing product portfolio. The Classic system with beadless and flush finishes presents something different to that in the current market. You can make any size you want and lots of parts are interchangeable. It is a nice-looking innovative product giving an attractive slimline, seamless look, and is easy to fabricate using the corner construction, making fabrication quicker. So far, service and delivery times have also been very good.”

Garnalex CEO, Roger Hartshorn, adds, “The desire to offer something different voiced by Direct Roofing Systems, will sound familiar to many in the industry, which is why we designed Sheerline with clever innovations to make fabricators and installers’ lives easier. As Jimmy highlighted, Sheerline’s stand-out product innovation is matched with outstanding service – all Classic profiles and components are available on industry-leading lead-times in twelve stocked colours, including three anodised finishes. Dual colour combinations from this stocked range are also available on the same lead-times, with bespoke colours available quickly too.”

Continuing to reinvent the way in which the market perceives traditional aluminium systems, Sheerline’s two distinct systems – Classic, an ultra-secure beadless aluminium window system that is ideal for replacing traditional steel-framed windows or for modern, minimalist builds, and Prestige, a versatile and thermally efficient system, offering U-values as low as 0.9 W/(m2K) for triple glazing, and 1.3 W/(m2K) for double glazing – help match homeowners needs’ perfectly. Sheerline also offers the Prestige Bifold and S1 Roof Lantern. Available in a range of styles and finishes, both incorporate Sheerline’s patented corner jointing method which delivers a fast, and easy way to fabricate products whist giving perfectly aligned corners, time after time.

Derby-based aluminium systems company, Sheerline Aluminium Windows and Doors has experienced exponential growth over the past two years through the introduction of its Classic, Prestige and S1 lantern range of products, and to strengthen customer support three new technical roles have been created.

Sheerline welcomes Robert Bell, Stephen Thomas and Aaron Housley to its team. No strangers to the fenestration industry or aluminium products, each brings with them a wealth of industry experience having worked closely with fabricators and installers for many years. These new roles will deliver technical support, training, and advice on a variety of window, door, and roof lantern related matters.

Robert Bell is an expert in his field. He started out as a PVCu window fitter in the 1980’s and gained experience as a surveyor, contract manager and production manager, before joining Sheerline to provide technical training and support to fabricators based in Ireland.  

Upon his appointment as Technical Manager covering the South-West region, Stephen Thomas stated, “I have worked nearly 40 years in similar roles, supporting fabricators and installers, but Sheerline strikes me as being different than other system companies. The pace of innovation and growth in the business is clear. Sheerline develops products that are suited for both the trade and for end-users. It’s incredibly forward thinking and ambitious, and everyone I’ve met are committed to delivering the best service and products possible.”

Additionally, Aaron Housley joins to provide first line support for manufacturing software enquiries from Sheerline customers, being appointed as Manufacturing Software Support Engineer. Having previously served in similar roles at Synseal and Guardian, Aaron has extensive experience in the fenestration industry. He will also be key to keeping customer’s software up to date with Sheerline’s expanding product portfolio.

Andy Russell, Technical Services[ST1]  Director for Garnalex, says, “Technical support is pivotal to our success. As a proactive company, we consistently ensure our customers’ needs are met, even before a problem arises. The new appointments are just the first of many planned over forthcoming months, and with our anticipated growth I’m expecting to see more colleagues joining us in our manufacturing facilities and internal departments during 2022.”

Sheerline aluminium windows and doors is the top choice for one Bedfordshire homeowner, who is thrilled with how these intelligently designed aluminium windows have transformed his home.

Tyrone Spence recently converted three rooms in his stunning Leighton Buzzard detached property to create a large, open-plan kitchen. He chose Sheerline Classic aluminium windows to create a beautiful, light-filled area, selecting a bespoke colour – RAL 7039 Quartz Grey to match his newly installed kitchen and create a cohesive, sophisticated look throughout his home.  

Like many other homeowners looking for new home improvements, Tyrone decided he would research online prior to deciding and discovered Sheerline aluminium windows and door system via an aluminium trade supply website. Tyrone was bowled over with the range of innovate designs offered by Sheerline making it the perfect choice for him. 

He commented, “I discovered Sheerline aluminium windows and doors by chance, but after delving deeper into the product specification I was pleased to discover how many unique features set it apart from other aluminium systems. The patented design technologies incorporated across Sheerline Classic gave me the confidence that choosing the system would be a good decision, and I was not disappointed.”

Tyrone, even drove to see how the aluminium window and door system looked in Donald Trump’s golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, where they’re also installed. He saw for himself how the installed windows worked to create a stylish and contemporary look. Tyrone’s windows were supplied by trade fabricator, Garrard Windows, after they put him in touch with one of its Vevo Select Installers, County Glass & Glazing in Aylesbury, a local installer.

Perfectly tailored, Sheerline’s window and door systems incorporate a patented corner fixing method, which reduces unsightly misaligned corner joints, leaving windows looking crisp and elegant. Tyrone chose a clean flush look for his Classic windows, with their run through internal mitres, to create the desired look he was after. 

“We were after something that matched the features of the house and something a bit different, and we’re absolutely thrilled with the result,” Tyrone said, “the aesthetics, and the way the windows sit cleanly against the brickwork have transformed the entire house.” 

Tyrone reveals, the finished result has left him feeling absolutely delighted. Being able to colour match throughout his home feels more inviting and with Sheerline’s Thermlock® technology built into every window, he can look forward to benefiting from improved thermal performance throughout his home.     

“I’m glad we didn’t do it years ago, because if we had, it wouldn’t have been Sheerline. I’m glad we waited! I never thought I’d get excited by windows: maybe a Ferrari or a nice watch, but I’m passionate about windows now!”

Roger Hartshorn, CEO of Sheerline, says: “It’s fantastic to hear from happy homeowners. We designed Sheerline with fabricators, installers, and homeowners in mind. So, we’re delighted to know that Sheerline windows have had such a positive impact on Tyrone’s home, with their game-changing thermal efficiency, enhanced security, and spectacular aesthetics.