You may have seen in recent blog posts, e-communications or social media posts that we’ve been working on something very exciting. Over the past year we have been developing a new personnel block and we’re delighted to announce we’ve officially moved in!
Based on site at our processing facility in Gateshead, our personnel block was adapted from one of our storage units into a fit for purpose office space.
We felt it was time to reassess the space we have here at Donwood and create a new personnel block, making better use of the areas we have on site while providing us with the opportunity to maintain these levels of growth in the future.
This personnel unit will provide a positive working environment for the Donwood team, supporting our ambitions to keep delivering outstanding customer service and high-quality glass products, as we have always strived to do. Of course, the Donwood logo is featured throughout, as are our brand colours – purple and blue. It’s great that we now have a place where our customers and visitors are able to get a good idea of who we are and what we’re all about when they visit us.
Last year we invested in the technology on site and this new IT equipment is up and running in the personnel block now too. With these refreshed systems and updated working environment, our team will be able to work even more efficiently and effectively to support sustained high levels of service.
Whether it’s IGUs (Insulated Glass Units), architectural glass or domestic glass – for commercial or domestic projects – our team prides themselves on offering products which meet the highest standards with friendly, expert and personal service to match. We’re so committed to this that we even created the Donwood Service Pledge, which you can read more about here. We are confident our new personnel block will help us to carry on providing this superior service level our customers know us for.
We look forward to welcoming you to our personnel block soon but in the meantime we’re enjoying settling in to the new space, and are eager to see what the rest of 2018 has in store.
We hope 2018 has got off to a great start for you and we wish you all the best for the months ahead.
It’s been a busy 2017 and we’d like to say thanks to all our customers and suppliers for helping to make it such a great year for the team here at Donwood Glass, allowing us to build on the successes of 2016.
With less than a month to go until Christmas closure, we thought we’d take a quick look back at the past year and share some of our exciting plans for 2018 with you.
Throughout the last 12 months, we’ve strived to continue providing our customers with high quality products and outstanding customer service – whether it’s IGUs (Insulated Glass Units), architectural glass or domestic glass, we pride ourselves on offering products which meet the highest standards.
So, what have we been up to this year? We’ve invested in technology and our team and recently, we have introduced an ongoing refurbishment program on our storage trolleys within the factory. This will ensure that the quality of our IGUs are maintained at a high standard and this refurbishment will continue into the new year.
There’s also been ongoing work on our new personnel block which we’re excited to move into in the New Year. This new space will provide a positive working environment for the team, helping us to keep delivering our guarantee of top customer service and we hope to welcome you there soon.
In our next blog, we’ll be outlining our plans for the next 12 months which we look forward to sharing with you.
This year, our shutdown is from 1pm on 21st December 2017 until 8am 5th January 2018 so should you require anything please get in touch before then and our team will be happy to help – otherwise we look forward to working with you in new year.
Lastly, from all of us at Donwood Glass, we’d like to wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2018.
Recent events have encouraged a number of industries to reflect on the importance of health and safety. Rules should be seen as positive action as opposed to nuisance red tape. Having and abiding by strict health and safety processes saves lives, prevents injuries and ensures workplaces are not putting anyone at risk.
In 2015/16, 621,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey and a total of 30.4 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury. It is statistics like this which illustrate just how important health and safety is.
Donwood is committed to the pursuit of excellence in all we do – whether it’s our products, the quality of services offered to customers, or the standard of health and safety provisions we make. We pride ourselves on our proactive attitude and value on health and safety for our employees and visitors. Of course, working with glass means we have a lot of risks to bear in mind so following strict procedures ensures our team stays safe and risks are minimised.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and its associated legislation created a legal obligation to maintain a safe working environment – our aim is always to exceed those standards.
From day one, our employees are expected to buy in to our health and safety protocols to keep standards high throughout our glass processing plant and delivery areas. New starters are shown the importance of health and safety as part of their induction and introduced to our health and safety policy. We expect the whole team to maintain a vested interest in keeping themselves and their colleagues safe.
Our staff also benefit from health and safety courses, on-the-job training, plus personal protective equipment (PPE) such as ear plugs, glasses, gloves and other cut resistant clothing. Formal contracted training is offered to the team too where there are particular risks associated with a role such as manual handling, forklift training and banksman training – after all, workplace transport can pose a major risk to staff health if not taken seriously.
We proactively work hard to think of ways to reduce risk. Regular risk assessments are carried out where we involve all staff and consult them on ways to lower risk as part of their roles. Whether it’s specific tasks or machinery, they have the best knowledge of potential day-to-day risks so we’re keen to have all staff contribute to risk assessments and help us to make Donwood a safer place to work. This is combined with regular safety tours and audits throughout the day where our team checks for and resolves deviations from our policy to keep standards high and our team safe.
Everyone should always be thoughtful and aware when it comes to health and safety – and it should never be seen as a challenge or a burden. We don’t believe in turning a blind eye to any risks – no matter how small they may seem. The health and safety of our staff or anyone visiting our site is paramount.
Our attitude to health and safety reflects our approach to all the different elements of what we do; we’re committed to quality – whether it’s our products, our services, or ensuring Donwood is a safe place to work.
We started 2017 from an optimistic viewpoint, inspired by good news from The Office of National Statistics (ONS), Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index (PMI) and conversations with our clients. As we reach the halfway point of 2017, we’re pleased to be celebrating a successful six months for Donwood Glass and the UK manufacturing industry as a whole.
There has been some uncertainty in the political and international climate over the last six months but we’re delighted to see our sector maintaining focus and working hard to drive business and the regional economy forward.
Since the start of the year, the Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has been adjusted and it shows a three-year high of 57.3 in April, up from March’s four-month low of 54.2. Add to this the fact that UK manufacturing has been boosted by a surge in demand for British goods and 2017 is looking like a great year for manufacturing.
More good news comes from the Northern Powerhouse initiative which has opened up new opportunities for manufacturers which should re-adjust the economic imbalance and attract investment into northern cities and towns.
As long-established manufacturing company with more than 30-years under our belts, we’re glad to see that the industry still on the up. It’s really encouraging to see that trends are increasing; it will certainly give manufacturing companies the boost to continue through the latter half of 2017 with confidence.
Here at Donwood, we’ve heard great news stories from many of our customers and have noticed a growing demand for glass products. We’ve been putting our new technology and equipment to the test and will soon be looking to grow our team to meet increasing demand. We’re particularly pleased with the progress on our personnel block which is really shaping up and we hope to welcome you there soon.
We’re looking forward to the second half of 2017 and hope to see continued growth across the manufacturing industry – and particularly we hope it’s a successful few months for you too.
You may already know us for our high-quality double glazed units (find out more on our blog all about our BSI Kitemark), but did you know we offer our customers a wide range of flat glass products too?
Whether you’re looking for triple glazed units or something more bespoke, our skilled production team are able to create a varied range of glass products – all to the superior quality levels that we pride ourselves on and constantly strive to improve.
Domestic Glass
There’s a whole range of domestic glass products that our customers come back to us time and time again for. Whether it’s splashbacks, counter tops, table tops, shelving, or breakfast bars, our team’s design-led approach lets us create stunning glass for your projects. Crafted to suit your requirements, our domestic glass can create a bespoke, flawless finish for kitchens, bathrooms or in fact, any room in the house.
Architectural Glass
We want to make sure your design isn’t compromised and that your projects and materials work seamlessly together. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating architectural glass that works with your designs and specifications as required. Whether it’s ensuring glass can fit around hinges or allow room for sockets, our technology allows us to cut, edge, drill, etch and engrave glass to fit your project and other elements within it. We’re experts in creating glass that is fit for purpose for doors, balustrades, shop fittings, room dividers and much more.
Commercial Glass
Bigger, commercial projects can involve such a wide-ranging number of elements – that’s why we’re committed to ensuring you get a simple, straightforward and reliable service when it comes to ordering glass for larger commercial jobs. With state of the art production lines, we’re able to create glass to meet your requirements without compromising on turnaround times and delivery estimates. If you’re working to a deadline, and need flat glass products including any of the products mentioned above, we’ll be happy to see how we can support you.
Something a little different
Recently, we’ve seen increasing popularity of river tables. Whether it’s for a corporate board room or for an impressive centrepiece to a home, these stylish tables really are extraordinary. If you want to find out more about creating the particular tinted glass needed to make these stunning tables so striking, we can help.
Have something different in mind altogether? Simply make an enquiry and our friendly team will see how they can help.
Browse our website to discover the huge variety of products we manufacture. If there’s a kind of glass product you require, please do get in touch with our experts – we’re used to creating bespoke, tailored glass products so chat to us!
Something that we’re proud of here at Donwood, is having the BSI Kitemark. You’ll have seen the Kitemark in a whole variety of places and on many different products. You may have a general idea about what the icon stands for, but it’s hugely important for you as a customer so that you can make safer and better choices when purchasing.
What does having the BSI Kitemark mean?
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the business standards company which focuses on supporting best practice and promoting excellence, and here’s what they have to say about their Kitemark:
“A BSI Kitemark gives a product or service immediate status – hard earned through rigorous tests at a BSI centre of excellence, or through rigorous assessments.”
The BSI Kitemark stands for quality, safety and trust. It’s a small, yet hugely important symbol that assures us all as consumers that the products and services we’re spending money on have been independently tested. Products which carry the standard have been assessed on a regular basis, consistently perform and meet quality standards.
Unsurprisingly, the Kitemark has been considered Great Britain’s premier mark of product quality for many years. Having this Kitemark shows which companies are committed and dedicated to improving their products and ensuring they have the customer’s best interests at the heart of what they do – helping to boost customer satisfaction.
Donwood Glass and the BSI Kitemark
When purchasing glass products from Donwood, you can rest assured that you’re receiving superior products that you and your customers can rely on to do the best job. That’s why we’re keen to make sure our customers know all about the BSI Kitemark, why we have it on our Insulated Glass Units and its meaning.
The BSI Kitemark means a lot to us and to you, our valued customer, demonstrating the high quality and service we always strive for. We strive for these accreditations as it helps us to demonstrate the commitment to excellence that we are always looking to maintain. It helps act as a guide for us to continually improve and make sure each and every flat glass product we create is first-rate.
Our double glazed units for instance meet the BSI’s EN 1279 quality regulations, which test for markers of quality and safety, such as heat retention and radiation, operation and strength performance, weathertightness and durability. Each unit is also guaranteed for 10 years. This way, when you’re looking for double glazed units, you can be confident that our glass products will help you to do a job you can be proud of and that will live up to and exceed expectations.
For over three decades, Donwood has been committed to delivering the highest quality products and services so you don’t have to compromise on the finish and delivery of your project – and this continue to be the case today with our BSI Kitemark.
If you want to know more about Donwood and our quality-assured products, please get in touch.
From 1st April 2018, all properties which are rented out in the private sector will require a minimum energy rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). With a civil penalty of up to £4,000 for those whose properties breach the regulations, we thought we’d tell you everything you need to know about the changes and how something as simple as changing the windows within a property can ensure regulations are met.
What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a little bit like the energy rating stickers you get on new appliances – it tells you how energy efficient a building is, giving it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). The documents summarise the energy performance related features of a property such as the walls, roof, floor and windows and estimates the energy costs of a property.
EPCs also state what the energy-efficiency rating of a property could be if improvements are made, highlighting cost-effective methods which will allow to property to achieve a better rating. These suggestions range from switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs to increasing loft insulation or replacing windows with Low-E triple or double glazing.
Who will be affected by the changes?
The new regulations will apply to domestic private rented sector properties in England and Wales and mean landlords will have to ensure their properties meet the minimum energy performance rating of E on an EPC.
From April 1st 2018, the regulations will apply to new tenancies with new tenants, and new tenancies to existing tenants. From April 1st 2020, the regulations will apply to almost all privately rented properties with the exception of listed buildings, temporary buildings, residential buildings which are intended to be used for less than four months of the year and stand alone buildings with a total usable floor area of less than 50 square metres.
Low-E Glass
Here at Donwood Glass, we offer market leading Low-E Glass(low emissivity softcoat glass) which can add much needed thermal insulation to a property.
Suitable for both commercial and domestic properties, Low-E Glass has a microscopically thin, transparent coating which reflects heat and helps increase the energy efficiency of a property with energy ratings from C to A+.
It does this by reducing heat loss from a room to the outside, and it also reflects infrared rays from the sun to maintain a comfortable internal temperature without any impact on light in hotter months. So not only will your property be more energy efficient in-line with new regulations but you’ll be able to save money on bills in the long-term too.
If you want to make sure the glass used in your property meets the new regulations, or if you want to ensure your property has the windows which meet your energy efficiency requirements, get in touch with our expert team team who will happily supply you with details or recommended firms and installers that use our products.
While toughened glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass, there are instances when spontaneous glass breakage occurs. While this phenomenon is uncommon, we thought we would tell you a little bit more about what it is, why it happens can be done to limit the chances of it happening.
What is spontaneous glass breakage?
Spontaneous glass breakage is when a unit of glass seems to crack or break seemingly without any cause or force being applied. It appears to happen suddenly and without warning but spontaneous glass breakage is more complicated that it first appears.
How does spontaneous glass breakage occur?
One of the most common causes of spontaneous glass breakage is installation damage. While glass is being moved or installed, glaziers can accidentally chip the edges of the glass with various tools or fasteners. Items such as nails or screws used to attach glass stops can catch on the edge of the glass. These small nicks or chips may not look like much if they are even spotted at all and they may not cause immediate damage. Problems can arise however when the glass expands and contracts overtime and areas of stress can develop around the chips leading to breakage.
Thermal stress can occur in glass where there is a temperature differentiation across the surface of the glass. This happens where a large part of the glass is covered from the sun (known as static shadows) or internal and external heating sources raise the glass temperature and cause internal stresses to the unit.
As glass expands and contracts with changes in temperature it is important that when fitted, the glass has enough room to move. If the space surrounding the glass is inadequate, the glass will bind against the frame and cause pressure within the unit which may lead to a breakage.
During the manufacturing process is possible for small impurities to find their way into the glass. Small nickel sulphide stones can form randomly during the production of glass and, while typically benign, these small metal shavings can change structure over time and grow, creating internal stresses within the glass. If these stresses exceed the strength of the glass, it will cause it to break or shatter, often characterised by a distinctive figure of eight pattern.
While uncommon, breakage by nickel sulphide inclusions normally happens within our processing facility, prior to the delivery of the product.
What we do to prevent it
Here at Donwood, all of our toughened glass is manufactured to EN 12150-1:2000. This specifies the tolerances, flatness, edgework and fragmentation performance as well as physical and mechanical characteristics of monolithic flat thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass for use in buildings, ensuring that quality is paramount.
If you would like to know more about spontaneous glass breakage or whether toughened glass is the right type of glass for your project, get in touch with our expert team who will recommend the best glass products for you.
After a relaxing break over the Christmas period, the team here at Donwood Glass are hitting the ground running in 2017.
We’re finding that after the well-deserved downtime, January is, as always, a good opportunity for us to look to the year ahead and assess the outlook for the next 12 months. How the industry is set to perform is something we all need to seriously consider, as this is something that will affect us all.
More generally, the UK and North East manufacturing industry is looking strong which is fantastic. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said manufacturing output increased by 1.3pc month-on-month in November 2016, indicating upwards trends.
Plus, the Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector rose to 56.1 in December from 53.6 the month before. This means it reached a two year high as a figure above 50 indicates expansion.
It’s great to be starting 2017 on such a strong footing with trends going in the right direction, hopefully this will give organisations the boost they need to start the year with an upbeat attitude that will help drive business success.
Talking with customers, clients and suppliers we’re also finding people closer to home are taking an optimistic mind-set to 2017. In the glass trade press too, we’ve also seen a lot of businesses continuing to grow, expand and even mergers and acquisitions to aid further development. Considering the political landscape of the previous year, it’s very uplifting to read these good news stories.
Having confidence in the industry and approaching the year with a positive standpoint can count for a lot. Henry Ford even said “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right”. As an industry, we all have a responsibility for driving growth and output in order to benefit the wider sector, as well as ourselves, employees, suppliers and customers. Taking a bullish approach is better for business for everyone.
For us at Donwood, we have a lot of activity in the pipeline for 2017 and we hope it will allow us to build on the success of the last 12 months. With the addition of new technology and equipment, growth within the team and our new personnel block, we’re proud to say we’re in a strong position to continue have a positive impact and support the North East and UK economy.
Christmas is almost here and the end of 2016 is fast approaching!
We’ve had a very busy 12 months and we’d like to thank our customers and suppliers for helping to make it such an exciting year for us all here at Donwood Glass…
In the first half of the year we were able to acquire a brand new CNC machining centre to help us to improve the wide-range of quality glass products we can offer. Not only that but throughout the year we’ve also been able to create a dozen new jobs!
This fantastic news and growth of Donwood meant that we had to expand and develop a personnel block which has been a great change for the team – this way we can make sure our team has a positive working environment, so we can keep delivering on our guarantee of top customer service.
As December has drawn in, we’ve been looking ahead to the New Year and we have some exciting developments and improvements in the pipeline. We hope these will benefit you and every one of our customers. After all, we wouldn’t be true to our origins of a second generation family-run business if we didn’t keep investing in Donwood, to continue boosting standards of service and products.
Finally, and most importantly, we would like to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thank you to all of our customers from the past year, and we hope you have merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Donwood will be closing over the Christmas period, from 1pm 21st December and re-opening at 8am Thursday 5th January 2017.