Door Industry Journal - Summer 2012

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 6 THE door industry journal summer 2012 industry news WILL YOU MEET THE CE MARKING CHALLENGE AND MAKE IT WORK TO YOUR ADVANTAGE? DHF leads the way on CE marking The relentless march of legislation concerns all manufacturers and suppliers in the door sector. But as well as raising fears, new legislation can also bring with it new opportunity within the market place. From July 2013, when the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) comes into being, CE marking will start to become compulsory. A product such as an industrial door cannot be placed on the market without a CE mark if it is covered by a harmonised standard. Where the harmonised standard has not yet been published, CE marking will still become compulsory, but at a later date. Is CE marking yet another onerous burden ... or can manufacturers and suppliers gain benefit from it? Before companies can find out the answers to those questions, it is vital they learn as much as possible about CE marking and what they must do to prepare for it. With that in mind, the DHF is hosting two seminars on CE marking for its members. At the first, which took place recently for producers of industrial doors and shutters, DHF general manager and secretary Michael Skelding gave a detailed overview of CE marking and the CPR which underpins the new legislation. DHF technical officer Ray Nowell gave a presentation on standards and testing. Paul Duggan of Exova Warringtonapt answered members’ questions about notified bodies. DHF executive chairman Bob Perry said that the DHF was becoming more assertive in its support for members and in particular was providing more practical help to members in terms of marketing, compliance and technical support. CE marking encompassed all three of those factors, he said. He then described what the DHF is doing already to help its members meet the CE marking challenge. As part of the DHF’s drive to generate more influence over the marketplace for the benefit of its members, it has recently become a member of the National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC), and that organisation’s chief executive, Suzannah Nichol, also gave a presentation at the seminar. As we go to press, a second seminar on CE marking is being held for manufacturers and suppliers of doorsets and door hardware. Delegates will be learning that recent initiatives undertaken by the DHF include the production of a DHF guide to CE marking aimed at building professionals; a RIBA Continuous Professional Development programme on CE marking aimed at architects and specifiers; and the encouragement of the metal doorset and timber doorset members to work closer together to ensure a more joined-up approach to gaining market advantage from CE marking. In total more than 50 people, representing a large number of DHF member companies, attended the first CE marking seminar and it is expected that the second seminar will prove equally popular. Certainly, judging from their comments afterward after the first seminar, members gained considerable benefit from attending. Mel Lovatt, managing director of DHF garage door group member Sommer UK, commented: “It’s vital for me to have a clear knowledge and understanding of all the changes and improvements in legislation that impact on the market, including CE marking, and the seminar certainly provided that. “As our parent company is German, CE marking has been applied to all our products for a long time. We understand and appreciate that we can tell the market that our products are fully compliant and are of high quality, this then enables us to provide a higher standard of service and hopefully a better price in the market place. The seminar helped our DHF member colleagues to appreciate that correct compliance with CE marking does provide market advantage.” And he drew parallels between the development of the door industry with that of the gas boiler installation industry. There, the increase of legislation governing installation led to the demise of less professional installers and gave market advantage to installers who embraced legislation at the earliest opportunity. NVQ APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME Sparesmaster Ltd together with Capital Garage Doors Ltd recognises the importance of the future success of our younger generation from the opportunities of work based training program through their Apprenticeship scheme. As a result they have successfully recruited Joshua Seeley and David Brooks on to their Apprenticeship program. Both work closely with Warehouse Manager Andy Taylor for most of their on-the-job training. Joshua: “I think apprenticeships are a good way for young people to work and still get useful qualifications to use in the future. The scheme has given me opportunities to progress and find new skills which I never had before.” David: “I am really happy that I started on the apprenticeship scheme and that I have got another qualification under my belt, I was also pleased that I was getting more experience in different lines of work.” Both Joshua and David have now received their NVQ qualification and will both take further training to gain their forklift truck driving licence. Sparesmaster Ltd and Capital Garage Doors Ltd wish Joshua and David success with their future career with the company. (From left to right) Andy Taylor - Warehouse Manager, David Brooks, Joshua Seeley