The FIT Show 2016

Granada Secondary Glazing was delighted to take part in the 2016 Fabricator Installer Trade exhibition (aka the FIT Show) earlier month at the NEC, in Birmingham.

As well as being a superb forum for us to demonstrate the capabilities of secondary glazing, it also proved a very popular destination, breaking all previous visitor records, and attracting over 8,500 visitors across three days.

Organisers believe the event has signaled a massive change in the mood and outlook of the UK window, door and conservatory industry.

Exhibitors universally reported strong interest from visitors in sourcing new products and alternative suppliers, say the organisers. Many exhibitors had planned their product development programmes around this year’s FIT Show with strong pre-show publicity from many indicating a wealth of new product launches. Six Granada products in total were on show, demonstrating the different advantages, aesthetics and properties of secondary glazing.

Noise reduction is one of the key features that attracts customers to secondary glazing, complementing the cost and thermal insulation qualities that energy-efficient developers expect. The stringent noise and carbon emission legislation covering buildings such as schools and colleges brings the benefits into even greater focus, whilst the change of use of commercial property to residential, or expansion near airports, railway stations or roads is also bringing more attention to Granada’s expertise.

For installers, the emphasis was on practical demonstrations and how to troubleshoot common issues. Mark Rowe, Granada’s installations manager with over 20 years’ fitting experience was on hand, providing live product demonstrations, as well as imparting advice learned from his other role as Granada’s commercial team installation leader.

“We have one of the easiest products on the market to fit,” says Mark, “but there are many different options and permutations available and it is natural that some installers may have alignment issues or other problems from time to time. We were grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the best ways to install products both with a wooden sub-frame and without. Sizing is incredibly important and for that we rely upon the expertise and attention to detail of our many commercial partners.”

“We’ve come away with some valuable feedback,” adds Granada’s digital marketing executive, Robert Goulty. “There’s Great visuals and video for future use and a number of important leads too. The aim was to get out there and spread the word on the effectiveness of the range, particularly in terms of its noise reducing qualities. As great as our own marketing efforts are, there’s nothing quite like seeing it for yourself in person!”

As an industry-leader, Granada Secondary Glazing, has already helped to drive the sector forward through major contracts with national partners including hotel chains, housing associations, the NHS and other commercial bodies, whilst gaining a considerable reputation amongst heritage and residential customers. Established in 1992, the business specialises in discreet aluminium internal windows that radically improve acoustic and thermal performance, whilst remaining sympathetic to building aesthetics.