Door Industry Journal - Spring 2013

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER TO DRIVE SALES FOR HÖRMANN Michael Schumacher is the new brand ambassador for the Hörmann Group. The most successful Formula 1 driver of all time and Europe’s no.1 for doors and hinged doors have now agreed on a long-term cooperative partnership. Michael Schumacher will seek to make the Hörmann brand even more popular as the representative of the family-owned company. “We are delighted to have Michael Schumacher, a world- renowned and well-regarded figure, as a Hörmann brand ambassador,” says Martin Hörmann, Director of the Hörmann Group. “For years, Michael Schumacher has stood for success, ambition, experience, enthusiasm for technology and family values - and therefore goes perfectly with a family-run company such as Hörmann. “Michael Schumacher embodies everything that makes Hörmann a powerful brand - dedication, reliability, continuous progress and uncompromising quality. “Given this background, I am confident that Michael Schumacher will give additional impetus to the business activities of our partners around the globe,” says Martin Hörmann. Michael Schumacher is also confident in the new partnership: “I have known the Hörmann brand since the start of my motorsport career. Even the industrial sectional doors at our go-kart track in Kerpen are from Hörmann”. As Hörmann continues to grow the involvement of Michael Schumacher will help to accelerate awareness of the Hörmann brand and its high quality values. Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 13 THE door industry journal spring 2013 industry news GATE-A-MATION IS ALIVE AND KICKING! Rumours abound, as they always will in any industry, about what happened to Gate-A-Mation at the turn of the New Year in January. So, the purpose of this article is to put the record straight and let the industry know that Gate- A-Mation is alive and kicking! Last year ended and the New Year started somewhat badly, to say the least, for everyone at Woking based, Gate-A-Mation, as the company both entered and exited administration. For some time, the company had been running on a very tight cash flow and towards the end of 2012 one of the main shareholding directors decided he wanted to leave. At this time arrangements had been underway to invest a sizeable cash injection in the business. Needless to say, this injection fell through and the business was put up for sale. Three to four months of negotiations took place and unfortunately little or no agreement could be reached. Finally, with no other options on the table, the company was put into the hands of an administrator just before Christmas, with a view to sell over the holiday period. As things turned out, everything took longer than expected, but the deal finally completed over the second weekend of January, some two weeks later than was hoped. The very good and exciting news is that a long standing ally and business partner in many large installation projects, DS Systems of South London, took over the name, business and assets of Gate-A-Mation Ltd. The agreement of sale is for DS Systems to honour all customer agreements, work-in-progress and deposit contracts already in place with the original company. To that end, the team is currently and has been working on all projects across the business platform and has assured customers that each will be completed as agreed, albeit later than expected. DS Systems are working to build the business and continue to grow its customer base and services. With their own products and service skills added to the original, even more options are available to every Gate-A-Mation customer. The legendary attention to detail, quality of all products and services provided will continue as before, as this new era for Gate-A-Mation evolves. The company welcomes any feedback or questions from the trade, which should be directed to Alan Smith at Gate-A-Mation on 01483 747373 or via the contact form on their website www.gate-a-mation.com/contact-us .