Giving Installers What They Want, On Time, Every Time, Fast

AluFoldDirect changed the way that the trade buys aluminium glazing, especially for uPVC installers who didn’t know how to get a piece of the aluminium market.

By perfecting manufacturing processes, training our team at our in-house academy, investing in machinery and creating a unique offering to installers, we have captured the market and experienced phenomenal growth in our 4 years in business.

As well as delivering Everything Aluminium, on time, every time, we offer installers the chance to upskill on aluminium fitting at the Aluminium Installer Training Academy and show products to their customers at the Aluminium Glazing Design Centre.

Changing how the trade buys aluminium

• Aluminium glazing industry
  • Traditionally known for long lead times, high levels of let-downs & re-makes.
  • PVCu installers were used to fast lead times and straight-forward installs but knew there was more money to be made from aluminium because homeowners are demanding wide-span glazing, inspired by Grand Designs.
  • We’ve received this bad service, so understood the frustration.
• Solution = service innovation
  • We deliver aluminium glazing products right first time, every time, on-time:
    • Bi-fold doors, sliding doors and windows in 1 week unglazed, 2 weeks glazed.
    • Secured by Design commercial aluminium doors in 2 weeks.
    • Stock size, stock-colour aluminium roof lanterns and rooflights in just 1 day and bespoke lanterns in just 2 weeks.
  • Shorter lead times mean installers build the opening, then order the products, so no mis-fits, mis-measures or re-makes.
  • We promise right first-time manufacturing through our in-house training scheme, so products fit first time.
  • Nothing leaves the factory that isn’t perfect – our motto is “That’ll do, won’t do”.
  • Customers receive an email when the product is out for delivery in an unmarked van.

Changing how the trade sells and fits aluminium

• Product Innovation
  • Technic-AL roof lantern developed in-house. Taken to market with success over the last year – our first ‘own’ product in the market place.
  • Launched Technic-AL flat rooflight in 2018.
    • Helps installers make the most of expanding home improvement market.
    • Stock sizes & colours delivered same or next day.
    • Colour coded packaging enables fast fitting – in just 40 minutes.
• Free-to-use Sales Tools
  • Aluminium Glazing Design Centre – a new concept for the industry.Opened in Jan 2017 – seeing increasing footfall.Installers can use the AGDC as their own showroom to bring customers to or send their customers to us.
  • Plus, full suite of literature, brochures and samples available.
• Aluminium Installer Training Academy
  • One-of-a-kind, purpose-built training academy so installer customers can upskill on aluminium and make the most of a growing market.
  • Free training sessions personalised to each customers’ needs.
  • Can cover Everything Aluminium range, skills refresher on select products or Infinium Glazing Accredited Installer Training.
  • Practical, hands-on fitting session with our aluminium installation expert, Paul.
  • Training done in the Academy at the Blackburn factory, where in rigs, there are full-sized examples of the Everything Aluminium range to install during the training sessions.

Investing in our Team & Premises

• Had deliberate strategy to hire unskilled people from the local area, hungry for the opportunity to develop.
• Success is dependent on excellence. Take pride in your work, and work by AluFoldDirect’s motto of ‘That’ll do, won’t do’ and you will progress.
• Pay above minimum wage & make sure that trainees are proud of what they achieve.

Implementation:

• Created a three-stage system.
  • Trainee – trainees are taught the basics of manufacturing aluminium bi-fold doors, the AluFoldDirect process and how to ensure great results every time, working on the assembly line under supervision, on two areas of production.
  • Qualified Fabricator – 6-12 months later trainees take charge of the fabricating process.  After passing an internal qualification, they work unsupervised on two areas of production, whilst being supervised on areas.
  • Trainer – the final stage is for qualified fabricators to pass on their expert knowledge to new trainees, helping AluFoldDirect to continue to grow.
• All factory staff have come through this system, except 3.
• Invested in purpose built fabricating facility, doubling space to over 35,000 sq. ft., fit for £25 million+ turnover.
• AluFoldDirect holds stock worth more than £600,000 to provide consistent, fast service.
• £698,000 investment in machinery, factory and AGDC.
• All investment made from cash reserves with no borrowing whatsoever.

The AluFoldDirect Difference

• AluFoldDirect stands out because we offer a reliable, secure service that installers can rely on, 100%.
• By delivering certainty to installers, they have the confidence to take on larger projects and grow their business.
• We launch the products and services that our customers need to grab their piece of the aluminium market.

Where it began…

• MD Craig Miller previously owned a conservatory business. He experienced poor, slow service from bi-fold door suppliers and realised there was a market for something better.
• AluFoldDirect changed the way the trade buys bi-folding doors and aluminium glazing products.
• Fast lead-times (1 week unglazed, 2 weeks glazed) means installers can wait to make precise measurements from survey, not from plans.
• Products precisely measured for right first-time installation, reducing the risk of remakes.
• The model was perfected for bi-folding doors and then extended across ‘Everything Aluminium.’

We understand installers…

• Installers want to keep schedules busy. 
• They need products that are:
  • Right first time, every time.
  • Delivered quickly.
  • Easy to install.
• Helps them get off-site quickly, get paid and get onto the next job, to be more competitive and win more work.
• So, we manufacture and deliver aluminium glazing products fast.

We help installers be the best…

• The Aluminium Glazing Training Academy offers installers the chance to upskill on aluminium glazing and fit it right first time, every time.
• Free training to help customers build skills in their time.
• This gives them the confidence to take on bigger aluminium glazing jobs with confidence and skill.
• The AluFoldDirect Aluminium Glazing Design Centre is designed to help window companies, contractors and architects in the North West.
• The centre is a place where the trade can bring customers to see, touch and feel aluminium products
• This is supported by advice from AluFoldDirect’s in-house experts.

That’s what led to our phenomenal success

Year 5 Target Achieved in Year 3

• When AluFoldDirect began in 2014, we set a turnover target of £7.5 million in profitable turnover by 2019.
• In 2017 we hit the target, with a turnover of £8.3 million and £1.27 million net profit.
• Plus, AluFoldDirect has no debts, borrowings or overdraft. Instead, we have more than £2 million in cash reserves ready for expansion plans.

To conclude…

• From an initial investment of £60,000 in 2014, AluFoldDirect’s operating profit is now £1.27 million.
• We created 91 jobs, most for non-skilled workers, reviving and teaching manufacturing skills in local Blackburn people.
• We have transformed an old Whitebirk site into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, with the Aluminium Glazing Design Centre, to future-proof our business. It’s fit for £25 million+ turnover.
• We’re flying the flag for British manufacturing and construction, from the heart of Blackburn.
• We have invested in people and place, so we can be sure that in all we do, “That’ll do, won’t do”.

AluFoldDirect has experienced phenomenal growth in its 4 years in business, by creating a truly unique offering to installers with super-fast lead times on Everything Aluminium glazing. It is also tackling the industry’s skills shortage with its internal fabricator training scheme and Aluminium Glazing Installer Academy.