Door Industry Journal - Winter 2015

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal winter 2015 OPEN DOORS In October we held our second Gate Safety Week campaign. It was a tremendous success and we owe grateful thanks to all those who actively supported this year’s initiative. At its very heart is the DHF’s Powered Gate Group whose members work tirelessly to raise safety standards and address the current failings in the industry. Many months of effort culminated in a number of significant influencers providing message of support for the website and a particularly pro- active press and social media campaign and the launch of an important petition. The Gate Safety Conference was a highlight of the week. It brought together key players across the industry, with a series of presentations addressing the ongoing issue of gate safety awareness and how this can be achieved. Gate Safety Week isn’t just about one week of the year. You can help us make it an on-going campaign that is active all year round. You can continue to spread the word via your own social media platforms (FB: DoorandHardwareFederation; TW: @gatesafetyweek; @dhfonline). And, of course, please sign our petition. This is one of the most significant initiatives to have come out of this year’s Gate Safety Week campaign. It is a petition to get the law changed. The petition, to “make it a legal requirement for all powered gates near public areas to be safe” is live and waiting for you to sign! Existing criminal law does not extend to domestic owners, despite their gates frequently being on or near the public highway. This means that such gates are frequently not maintained in a safe condition, creating danger to users and passers-by, especially children. We need 10,000 signatures to ensure the government responds to our petition. You can find out more about the petition - and sign it - here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/109917 . Bob Perry, DHF CEO A regular comment column, brought to you by Bob Perry, CEO, Door and Hardware Federation For more information, please visit www.dhfonline.org.uk NEW STARTERS JD UK Ltd is pleased to Welcome Melanie Varley as a new member of our team working in the position of Financial Controller. Melanie has had over 20 years’ experience in the finance and credit control professions, predominantly in the manufacturing industry. We would like you to join us in welcoming Melanie to JD UK Ltd Sean Martin joins JD (UK) Ltd as Operations Manager. Sean comes with over 30 years of experience in the Garage door industry and can name Steeline doors, WM Shutters and more recently Alluguard as past employers. He will strengthen the existing JD (UK) Ltd team by using his knowledge of manufacturing roller garage doors to help those clients looking to gain first hand expertise in roller door manufacturing. Sean is available to both existing and new clients looking to make the first steps into manufacturing. As sales of the Alutech sectional door continue to grow, Sean’s experience of managing on time deliveries will be vital to cement the Alutech Sectional door in the UK market. Sean and Melanie can be contacted on 01924 472 924 Melanie Varley Sean Martin