The latest UK industry-specific forecasts from the likes of the Construction Products Association (CPA) suggest a fairly flat outlook for much of this sector over the coming year or so. It seems likely that the UK will avoid a full-blown recession. This, along with lower energy prices and gradually slowing inflation, is already leading to a gradual renewal of consumer confidence.
Over time, that will translate into more robust demand. But in the meantime, what can fabricators do to protect themselves from difficult conditions, in the retail market in particular?
Now is the perfect time to look at adding commercial products to your range and proactively going after opportunities which undoubtedly still exist outside of mainstream window and door products. The CPA report specifically mentions investments to come in office and retail refurbishments as landlords look to attract new tenants, along with major cap ex in the university sector, in both teaching and learning buildings and student accommodation.
Aldi and Lidl are on the expansion path and Asda, Sainsburys and Waitrose have all announced plans for new convenience stores. There is also the much heralded £4.8bn levelling up fund supporting council-led, mixed-use and retail regeneration projects in towns like of Bury, Barrow-in-Furness and Ellesmere Port.
AluK’s GT55 commercial door and ground floor treatment system gives fabricators an easy route into these sorts of commercial applications because it is ideal for shopfronts, schools, multi-occupancy buildings and healthcare and leisure facilities. It’s no surprise that we’re already seeing growing numbers of our customers starting to fabricate a system which has long been an unsung hero in our range.
The GT55 comes in both thermally broken (GT55TB) and non-insulated (GT55NI) options depending on the requirements of the job. The GT55 TB achieves U-values as low as 1.6 W/m²K (Ug: 0.7 W/m²K), comfortably complying with Part L 2 of the building regulations.
Product diversification will be a key tool for navigating the market in 2023 and beyond. An important point to make for AluK customers is that we make it easy: we have an extensive, established range of diverse products that are already tested, tried and trusted in the UK.
Scott Yates
Area sales manager, AluK
