HARDWA R E & S E C U R I T Y The sleeping giant awakes Stewart Lamb, newly appointed managing director of Vita Hardware, takes time out to remind GGP readers who Vita is, what it has been up to over recent years in the UK and abroad, and most importantly, where it plans to go in 2015 Traditionally, outside of our established network of distributor and fabricator customers, Vita has not necessarily been top of people’s minds when it comes to hardware brands in the UK. However, while the name may have conservatively stayed under the radar, Vita’s focus on product development, quality standards and innovation has been far from moderate. Growing awareness and understanding of what we have to offer and the benefits of working with us is something which I intend to focus on in the coming months and years ahead. With a comprehensive and value-for-money product range that is relevant and offers added value to today’s market place, I want more companies to have access to the Vita offering. Fitted To Last With more than three decades of global experience in hardware design and manufacture – including in the UK for 15 years – our wholly owned ISO9001 certified production plants in Taiwan and China, which supply to distribution and sales facilities in the UK and US, make for an enviable fully-integrated supply chain. Founded on our ‘All Under One Roof’ principle, all products are designed and manufactured in-house at Vita owned facilities, so we have total control over what is developed. Because of this, we are able to reflect the ever changing needs of the market and meet increasingly stringent standards with fast and relevant product development. Supplying pertinent, affordable products for windows and doors that deliver on quality and aesthetic appeal is key. Thanks also to substantial investment in our in-house testing facilities including endurance test rigs, neutral salt spray testing, durability and UV testing, customers can rely on products guaranteed for superior resistance to corrosion, scratch and static electricity. These products include window and door handles, door hinges, door accessories and a stunning range of complementary products for composite doors, and door and window locking systems including multi-points and cylinders. Testament to our commitment to quality and innovation, we have 450 global patents including our unique PorcelTM coat, as well as the exclusive UK rights for the distribution of the Schüring range of German hardware. Fit for the Future No-one in our sector needs reminding that recent years have been tough, with the double whammy of global recession and the general decline of a saturated door and window market. As tough as it can be while you’re living it, I believe shake-outs and shake-ups in an industry are a good thing, and now, against a more positive economic backdrop, the companies and brands that have come through are those more likely to stay the course in a fitter and leaner shape. Interestingly in the last year or so, new market entrants have also emerged, bringing fresh window and door companies hungry to play a role in the next generation of our industry. From a marketing perspective, Vita may be viewed as the new kid on the block, but commercially we’ve stood the test of time for almost three decades and can offer experience and stability. There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline for Vita and I am looking forward to taking the company into new areas while continuing to build on the long heritage with further investment in new products and service initiatives. Watch this space! 71 www.ggp.com January 2015 Stewart Lamb
GGP January 2015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above