Door Industry Journal - Summer 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 16 THE door industry journal summer 2013 industry news NEW DoP’s AVAILABLE FROM ARGE In the build up to its conference in Budapest this September, ARGE has introduced a series of new Declaration of Performance examples for a variety of lock and hardware products. Available to download from the ARGE website the new Declarations of Performance (DoPs) are a key concept in the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), for which ARGE is working hard to increase awareness and accessibility amongst its members. The DoP examples for lock and hardware products, which have been issued by ARGE along with correct guidelines for their usage following recommendations from CEN and ARGE, can be used by any manufacturer to deliver the information needed and increasingly required about the essential characteristics of any CE-marked product intended for the market. Since July 2013 DoPs are required when a product covered by a harmonised standard (hEN) or a European Technical Assessment (ETA) is placed on the market, the provision of new examples by ARGE are crucial in helping members remain competitive and access lucrative specifications. By drawing up a DoP, the manufacturer or provider of the DoP assumes the responsibility for the conformity of the construction product with the declared performance. The general DoPs issued by ARGE are designed to assist manufacturers in achieving this, as well as helping the specification process, as increasingly end users and specifiers will select products based on the information contained in the DoP. The relevance of DoPs is further enforced through their involvement in the CE marking system, which follows the DoP and certifies that the manufacturer has strictly followed all the applicable procedures for drawing up the DoP and producing an accurate and reliable declaration. Commenting on the new material available from ARGE Joachim Kieker, General Secretary of ARGE, said: “The new DoPs have been uploaded to the ARGE website making them accessible for all national associations and their manufacturing members - allowing them to add their own logos. The provision of these examples is very much inline with what ARGE is trying to achieve with EPDs - generating entry level material to support our members and associates in an increasingly competitive and global market - something which ARGE is well placed to deliver. “The new examples have been issued ahead of the conference in September, which will serve to reignite the importance of the sustainability agenda and explain why documents, such as DoPs are becoming mandatory in many building specs.” There is still time to register for the ARGE conference, which, as well as many social highlights will also include presentations from the chairman of CEN TC350 and information on how ARGE is providing a commercial advantage to its members through the production of entry level EPDs. Registration documents can be found at http://arge.org/events/2013-budapest. Alternatively you can engage with ARGE on its website forum at http://arge.org/forum. HÖRMANN ACQUIRES BRITISH ENTRANCE DOOR MANUFACTURER IG DOORS With the acquisition of the British door manufacturer IG Doors, German door manufacturer Hörmann hopes to continue growing in the British market within the area of entrance doors. According to Hörmann, the acquisition of the door manufacturer IG Doors, headquartered in Cwmbran, South Wales, United Kingdom, took place on Thursday, 6 June 2013. In the British market, IG Doors is the leading supplier of composite entrance doorsets to both the new build and social sector markets. With 180 employees, the door manufacturer has an annual turnover of approx. £27 million. “IG Doors is an established and well respected brand in the British market,” said Christoph Hörmann, partner of Hörmann. “With the combination of a strong brand such as IG Doors and a sales structure such as Hörmann’s which has gradually grown over the years, we would like to further expand our British market share in the door sector.” As before with German acquisitions, the company will continue to operate independently in the market in the future, maintaining its strategic direction. “We are relying on continuity and are delighted that the present managing director Mark Pulman together with Stewart Griffin as sales & marketing director and Anthony Thomas as finance & commercial Director will continue to head the company,” adds Christoph Hörmann. Picture shows, from left to right: Mark Pullman, managing director IG Doors, Christoph Hörmann, partner of the Hörmann group, Anthony Thomas, finance & commercial director IG Doors