DOORS & WINDOWS OPENING UP THE
ROOF WINDOW MARKET Challenges and opportunities in the market and what these mean for merchants.
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021 began with a number of challenges, including the unknowns of Brexit hanging over the industry. That’s according to Matthew King, Sales
Director at Keylite Roof Windows, who describes 2021 as an “interesting year” for the company. “Over the past year or so we have all seen supply chain issues caused by Brexit, increased demand for goods, limited supply of raw materials, labour shortages and logistic challenges. Timber, glass, paint, plastic, power, etc. have all seen price increases, in some cases more than doubling over 12 months.” At that time, he says, transport into the UK and Ireland was proving difficult, and it took a few weeks for the marketplace to understand the challenges and do what the construction industry does so well – adapt with agility and move forward.
By the Autumn demand in the marketplace was as strong as ever. “Our manufacturing facility was working hard to keep up with record month after record month and we were selling over 50% more windows per week than we had been during previous record months.” King explains that, over the past three years, Keylite had invested over 3million euros in automation and these increased capacities were being tested, with production being increased to over 20% above previous high points. “In October we, therefore, had to take the step of introducing allocation to our customers and although it represented new ways of working, we were happy that our partnering merchants saw little disruption to their supply chain.
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Mathew King, Sales director, Keylite Roof Windows
lead times through 2021, were loft ladders, which King puts down to increased demand in the market and customers moving over to the Keylite loft ladder. “Production is now making three times as many loft ladders as previously, and we are happy to offer these to any merchant to take advantage of the increased demand in the market,” he says.
The Keylite supply chain and our team are agile, and we have managed to continue to supply our loyal merchant partners during this time. But it has been a strain and certainly has been an intense period to continue to deliver results.”
King says that by the end of Q1 2022, the Keylite factory will have increased output by nearly 40%, compared to previous levels of production.
Pricing has been affected, too, he explains.
“Whilst Keylite maintained a consistent pricing policy during 2021 to try and offer some stability to our merchants, the increase in costs has meant we have had to put a larger than normal price increase into the market for 2022. And unfortunately, as prices have not stabilised, we may need to look at a further price increase during 2022.”
Among the products that were on longer
“Keylite roof windows are always in demand, but we are seeing more and more housebuilders and larger installers moving to take advantage of the labour-saving features provided as standard to the installer, and the built-in thermal collar, which ensures the thermal integrity of the window and the surrounding roof. Indeed, the thermal collar was one of the key features that persuaded Taylor Wimpy to move supplier and insist on all roof windows being Keylite,” King continues.
There are a lot of uncertainties in the market at the moment, supply chain, increased fuel bills, tax increases, less preserved money in homeowners’ pockets, and potentially international challenges further afield. Yet, King says that the construction industry never ceases to amaze him on how it can adapt and grow. “Over the past few years, we have seen unprecedented challenges of which we have all risen to and grasped the opportunities presented.
“The merchants who have stocked appropriately and maintained the supply for their customers have fared well and seen success over the past two years. They seem to have grown their customer base and proven that cost is not the only factor to the builder; consistent supply
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2022
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