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