Door Industry Journal - Spring 2019

48 THE door industry journal spring 2019 Domestic Garage Doors Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk JD (UK) Visits Alutech Group HQ in Belarus Earlier this year, Alutech Group invited JD (UK) Ltd to visit their impressive 35,000 m 2 manufacturing facility in Minsk, Belarus, as part of JD’s continuous development programme. With the length of their service at the UK garage door supplier ranging from 14 months to 4 years, New Business & Sales Development Manager, Nichola Wardman, Sales Coordinator, Stuart Bailey and Order processor, Jordan Bentley spent an intensive 2 days enhancing their product knowledge and understanding of processes at one of the largest aluminium extruders in the world. The trip provided an opportunity for the JD (UK) team to meet their Belarusian counterparts and develop their working relationships face-to-face, as well gaining a greater understanding of how Alutech Group operates and the range of products it manufactures. Nichola Wardman explains: “We were taken through the process from order to delivery, which allowed us to see what happens once a door order is sent from the UK until it becomes a completed door with a truck number. Alutech explained how they deal with our queries for UK customers, such as door sizes and dispatch dates. We were particularly impressed by the efficiency of the order picking system that uses light and also creates a photographic record of each complete box.” The UK team received training on the features and benefits of an Alutech door and how it compares to rest of the industry. Nichola continues: “By the time the training was complete, we walked away wondering why anyone would consider any other door than an Alutech one. Seeing competitor products against Alutech’s helped to enhance our understanding of the differences and similarities that are out there in the market.” The team were taken on a tour of the Alutech factory to better understand how sectional doors are made, from the aluminium in its natural form and the process it goes through to be extruded, to how each part of the door is made and what process is involved in making a complete door. This was followed by a tour of the roller door factory to see the process from start to finish, from the lath being cut down and the machinery involved, to how the aluminium is coloured and the crossover with colours for sectional doors. In the showroom, the JD team were inspired by the product range and design possibilities available to the UK market, such as panoramic doors with no struts and sectionals with a wicket and a panoramic panel. For the evenings of their stay, Stuart, Nichola and Jordan enjoyed the generous hospitality of their Belarusian hosts, sampling some traditional cuisine and culture and learning about the Belarusian way of life and history of the country. For more information on Alutech garage doors, please call sole UK distributor, JD (UK) Ltd, on 01924 472924, email nichola@jdukltd.co.uk or visit facebook.com/Alutechgaragedoorsuk