Clearview National May 2017 - Issue 186 | Page 116
GLASS&SEALEDUNITS
Glass turns a corner
» » BOHLE GROUP SAYS
homeowners are embracing glass in
the mainstream of UK house design
- and this is driving innovation
in the glass processing sector and
associated technologies.
Bohle is one of Europe’s leading
manufacturers and wholesalers of
tools, machinery and accessories
for glass processing and glass
finishing. The business remains at
the forefront of global innovation
in UV bonding technology and
has developed a complete range of
cleaning agents, pre-treatments and
curing adhesives to UVA lamps,
bonding tables, rigid fixing and
clamping devices.
But while the application of
UV bonding is established in the
manufacture of everything from
glass furniture to shop fit-outs, its
use in external applications is only
now beginning to establish itself.
Alex Simpson is managing
director and owner of The Glass
Man, which manufactured its
first 90-degree seamless Infinity
Corner IGU in 2009. The
business works closely with Bohle.
Alex said: “The concept was
simple – develop a glazing unit
that turns a corner to maximize
the view outside. It was doing it
that was the hard part, because I
was developing the unit alongside
running a business and because it
took a lot of investment to get the
process right.”
The patented Infinity IGU
is suitable for use with timber,
aluminium, composites and
PVCu frames, in either double
or triple-glazed, argon-filled
options. These are manufactured
from 8mm toughened external
glass and 6mm Pilkington K
toughened internally.
“These units are invariably
going out to somewhere sitting on
top of a sea cliff or half way up a
mountain so you need to factor in
wind loadings,” added Alex.
Creating a single IGU unit
that in effect seamlessly ‘turns the
corner’ of a building, presented
a unique set of challenges. “We
worked very closely with Bohle
to identify the right UV bonding
solution,” said Alex. “There are
other suppliers out there and they’ll
all supply you with a product
but what you get from Bohle is
incredible technical expertise.
“We made several trips across to
Haan in Germany to work with
their technical team to identify the
right bonding solution for what we
were trying to achieve.”
For more information, visit
www.theglassmanuk.co.uk
EXPANSION CONTINUES WITH
MAJOR LONDON ACQUISITION
» » CORNWALL GLASS HAS COMPLETED
the acquisition of Hayes-based multi-laminate
specialist, LW Architectural Glass.
Agreed at the end of March, the purchase
sees Cornwall Glass acquire the business and
all assets, with immediate effect.
The sale gives Cornwall Glass new
geographical reach along the M4 corridor into
London, plus a cutting-edge multi-laminate
capability, including autoclave, sterile climatic
lamination facility and resin pour systems.
Cornwall Glass Director, Mark Mitchell,
said the agreement represented a major
opportunity for LW and Cornwall Glass.
“The investment that has gone into LW
Glass is substantial and it’s delivered some
highly impressive commercial projects
throughout London”, he said.
“It’s a very important strategic acquisition
for us, giving Cornwall Glass a geographical
presence in London – something which we
have been considering for a number of years –
but also additional manufacturing capacity.
116 » MAY 2017 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
“This strengthens our offer across the Group
but also gives us some great specialisms and
reach into new markets.”
LW Architectural Glass was founded by
Lee Warren Fabrication and Design, as its
specialist glass business, in 2014. With a
turnover in excess of £4m, it works across
commercial and architectural sectors and
has supplied a host high profile commercial
projects including Wembley and Heathrow
Airport.
In addition to its state-of-the-art lamination
facility, the purchase of the 50,000 sq ft
manufacturing centre, also gives Cornwall
Glass two new heat soak ovens, a new
toughening plant – the fourth within the
group – alongside a spray booth, straight-line
edgers and new CNC machinery.
“It’s not just the capacity to manufacture
our own laminates that LW gives us but the
scale of the sheets that we can handle – it’s
glass processing on a very large scale”, said
Mitchell.
He continued: “This includes balustrading,
floors and canopies, in addition to over-sized
units – areas, which we see as delivering
significant growth going forward.”
With a combined turnover of £19m post
acquisition of LW, Cornwall Glass has seen
sustained growth through a combined strategy
of expansion and acquisition covering 15
locations throughout the South West and
along the M4 corridor.
www.cornwallglass.co.uk