The authors of the report estimate that, at trade prices, the windows and doors fabrication market grew by 3% in 2003 to around ?.8bn. 

UK Door and Window Market, 2000 - 2004  

During the mid-late 1990s, the overall growth rate has largely been fuelled by strong performances in the domestic conservatory, curtain wall, roof glazing and commercial windows sectors. The non-domestic market has been relatively buoyant in the 2001-03 period, underpinned by high levels of construction output in the commercial office, education and health sectors, though the domestic replacement and housebuilding sectors have been less positive.

In particular, the residential windows and doors markets - with estimated shares of 27% and 7% respectively - have been static during the last few years, although volumes have been relatively steady. Prices and margins are under pressure throughout the distribution chain, particularly for PVC-U, underpinned by intense competition and over-capacity, especially within the direct sell market. In the residential windows and doors markets, growth opportunities are becoming increasingly limited as the replacement sector is very mature, especially in the home-owning sector. The newbuild market is relatively small by comparison, and so the anticipated upturn in the housebuilding market is unlikely to offset growing pressure on the replacement sector.

Conservatories continue to offer good prospects in the domestic sector, with strong growth in 2001-03. Rising interest rates in late 2003/early 2004 may have an adverse impact on this sector, but market penetration is low and the product remains high on homeowners preferences for home improvements.

Health and education have provided major market opportunities in the last 3 years, and are forecast to experience further growth in the medium term. However, the next General Election in the UK is likely to be held by Summer 2005, which may result in a slowdown in capital expenditure in the pubic sector if a Conservative Government is elected. Growth in the public sector will generate increased demand for aluminium and PVC-U commercial windows and low-rise curtain wall. The commercial office sector, which has recorded positive growth over a number of years, has, however, suffered a downturn in 2002-04 and this will affect demand for windows.

The supply sector is very fragmented as it comprises vertically integrated retail glazing companies, PVC-U systems trade fabricators and fabricator/installers, aluminium systems fabricator/installers, bespoke glazing contractors, composite door manufacturers, commercial glazed door manufacturers, rooflight manufacturers, steel window manufacturers and major joinery companies.

The industry is highly competitive and while there has been some consolidation, there is still likely to be further rationalisation. In particular as the domestic replacement market matures, there are likely to be companies exiting the industry and or further mergers/acquistions. The retail glazing sector is itself very fragmented, the leading 7 suppliers only having a combined market share of around 30%, led by Anglian .

The PVC-U trade fabrication is also highly fragmented, with leading players such as Shepley, Speedframe, Griffin Windows, Sash UK, Coastal, CWG -Corby Windows Group and John Fredericks etc. typically having shares of 1-3% of the domestic doors and windows market. The growing number of 'super-fabricators' is leading to gradual consolidation, as is the fact that a number of smaller fabricators are withdrawing from manufacture to focus on installation. In 2003, Shepley Windows acquired Interframe Ltd, the Paignton based trade fabricator. The combined turnover of the two operations is around ?0 million, which makes it the largest player in the sector.

The aluminium fabrication industry is largely focused on the non-domestic market, as the use of aluminium in the domestic sector has lost share to PVC-U alternatives. In recent years, this sector has been marked by a large loss of capacity with around 10 major players no longer in operation. There are no dominant companies in this sector, but key players include: Solaglas, AC Yule, Parry Bowen, Dane Architectural Systems, SLW, CAP Aluminium and Charles Henshaw.

The other key supplier sector is the joinery industry, largely selling timber windows and doors to the builders merchants and DIY markets, although the leading players have diversified into PVC-U and composite materials as demand for timber products has declined. Key suppliers are Magnet, Jeld-wen
UK , Premdor etc.

In terms of materials, PVC-U is considered to have reached its peak in many markets, particularly the domestic market. Aluminium has a particularly strong share of the commercial market, however, where its strength makes it suitable for structural glazing projects. Timber, whilst losing share in the past, has retained a share of the market, helped by some HA/LA specification of timber for doors and windows, advances in timber treatments and the traditional appeal of wood.

This report may be of considerable interest to the readership of your magazine. If you wish to
give it some editorial coverage, use the information provided above. Please give proper credit to:

AKTRIN Wood Information Center

Stefan Wille

Tel.: (905) 845 3474

E-mail:
Aktrin@aktrin.com