Clearview National April 2018 - Issue 197 | Page 60

CONSERVATORIES&SOLIDROOFS Specialised celebrates 20 years of know-how Preston-based Ultraframe roof fabricator Specialised Conservatory Systems Limited has reached a 20-year milestone. Founder Dave Thomas says offering technical support has been key to the company’s success. » » THE BUSINESS WAS SET up by Dave in 1997. He has a strong joinery background with a hands-on approach, looks after the factory and visits sites to resolve issues and help where necessary. Dave is ex Ultraframe so knows the system inside out. When he first started out, he had been subcontracting to Ultraframe and set up on his own with the company’s technical support as well as financial expertise from his wife Denise. Dave went from fabricating two or three roofs a week from a 1,000 sq ft unit to ten roofs a week within a year. Before long, the company was in a 15,000 sq ft unit making 40 roofs a week and just before the recession, Specialised was fabricating 70 roofs a week. The experience that Specialised has with Ultraframe’s range of roofing solutions is second to none. Dave and his fellow directors Simon Bartlett and Karl Beard have a long history of working directly for Ultraframe. Simon splits his time between the office and out on the road doing sales and technical visits to the customer base. He is the first contact for any new business enquiries. Karl has vast experience and was with Ultraframe for many years in a commercial management role. At Specialised he turns his hand to most aspects of the business from dealing with orders to dealing with suppliers and has excellent technical knowledge. Vital to Specialised’s success over the last 20 years are the free surveys and on-site assistance it offers all customers. Dave says: “Karl, Simon and myself can offer a comprehensive technical support function and this has underpinned the business from its conception 20 years ago. We have built on this and today offer installers an unrivalled product and customer service.” Dave says that ten years ago the company saw a shift from polycarbonate roofs to glass roofs, and now there is another shift as customers seek out solid roof alternatives. “We are meeting this trend thanks to Ultraframe, this time 60 » A PR 2018 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M supplying Ultraroof 380 and LivinRoof.” The company now employs 15- 20 people and offers an extensive range of conservatory roofs and orangery solutions nationwide. Dave said: “As well as producing a really good quality roof, we pride ourselves on being competitive with short lead times.” The innovative and complex roof designs have opened up the conservatory market for Specialised, as well as the chance to offer a true extension solution via conservatory-based products. The company buys in from Ultraframe Livin Roof Pelmet, Cornice, Foiled roofs and Aluminium roofs. Livin Roofs are manufactured in-house with the same quality and attention to detail as the classic roofs. The company is currently building each one and fitting the panes to make sure they are correct. Orangeries are manufactured via the company’s own flat deck orangery system made from engineered timber cassettes which are put together on the shop floor and packed up as a kit for easy assembly on-site. This is then teamed with the Ultraframe Usky lantern and a fascia and cornice detail to create a beautiful orangery; the installer just needs to GRP or rubber coat the deck and it’s job done. Bi Fold Doors & Sliding Doors are currently bought in as various different brands of doors to complement roof offerings (Ultraline / Smarts / Deutmann / Origin). There are plans in place for the business to manufacture one or two of these systems this year. Usky lanterns are manufactured in-house with the Usky orangery system being bought in from Ultraframe and loggia columns are supplied to complement the roof systems. The company can provide complete conservatories if required, partnering with one of its many contacts who manufacture various systems in PVCu and aluminium. [email protected] www.specialisedltd.co.uk