DWC Home | Magazine | Back Issues | June 2007 | Industry News
DWCimage   See the News Archive

INDUSTRY NEWS

MANAGEMENT BUYOUT APPROVED FOR ROYAL WINDOW COVERINGS EXTRUSION ASSETS

Georgia Gulf has approved the management buyout of the window covering extrusion assets of Royal Window Coverings (RWC) by Collin Hamilton, president, and managing directors. RWC is a division of Royal Group Technologies Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, recently purchased by Georgia Gulf.

“Although this opportunity unfolded quickly, becoming an independent company will benefit our customers through an improved focus on product availability, competitiveness and our ongoing product development,” said Hamilton.

“We are fortunate to have the commitment of our talented employees as a cohesive team to refocus our relationship with our customers. Our entire sales team is on board and embracing the change. Distribution will remain the same, servicing customers from within North America’s three major markets: Coral Springs FL; Irvine, CA; and Montreal, Quebec, for the northeast. Suppliers have stepped in and are working closely with us to provide the cost structures that will allow us to compete successfully,” Hamilton added.

The company is working on new product designs being sampled for a PVC vertical louver collection called Providence. The business also will continue with its Trends horizontal collection and Executive Valance collection, the company states.

GLEN RAVEN, ASTRUP AND JOHN BOYLE MERGE

Glen Raven, Inc., Glen Raven, NC, is combining its operations with The Astrup Co., Cleveland, OH; and John Boyle & Co., Statesville, NC; announcing the signing and closing of definitive merger agreements through which Astrup and Boyle have become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Glen Raven. A joint transition team has been formed that will focus on product and service innovations for the future.

“Merging Glen Raven’s resources with those of Boyle and Astrup will create a stronger, more diversified organization that is capable of providing enhanced value to our customers,” said Allen E. Gant Jr., president of Glen Raven. “Today’s global markets demand innovative products, efficient supply chains, close working relationships with customers and strong consumer brands. We will achieve all of this and more by joining forces with the talented people at Boyle and Astrup.”

Boyle and Astrup will continue to operate as separate companies while a transition team consisting of members of senior management from all three companies completes a comprehensive operational review and develops an integration and growth plan.

Astrup is a leading supplier of materials used in the manufacture of awnings, signs, tents, outdoor furniture and umbrellas, marine products and associated fabric products for residential, commercial and architectural applications. Having celebrated its 130th anniversary during 2006, Astrup markets its products and services through 14 distribution centers.

Boyle is a leading manufacturer and distributor of materials for awnings, signage, tents, marine, military, geo-textile and other outdoor and recreational applications. Founded in 1860, Boyle offers extensive capabilities in knitting, coating and laminating and operates 10 branch offices.

Glen Raven markets performance fabrics in more than 100 countries worldwide, including its two leading brands, Sunbrella® and Dickson®. Founded in 1880, Glen Raven has marketing, product development, sourcing and manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

HUNTER DOUGLAS LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER SUMMER SALE EVENT

During summer 2007, Hunter Douglas, Upper Saddle River, NJ, will offer aligned dealers an opportunity to increase store traffic and close larger and more profitable sales with its first-ever Hunter Douglas Summer Sale Event.

In effect from June 1 through August 31, 2007, the program provides consumers with special rebate savings of between $20 and $100 per unit on many of the company’s best selling and sought-after products, including the Duette® Architella™ Collection of honeycomb shades. Of particular note, there are no minimums or maximums, so savings are applied to every qualifying product purchased, the company states.

To build national consumer awareness of the event and to entice consumers to act quickly, the promotion will be heavily advertised both in national magazines and online on top-performing Web sites. The availability of more information and participating dealer locations via the Hunter Douglas Customer Information Center and at hunterdouglas.com will be highlighted to help drive volume sales leads, it adds.

“The Hunter Douglas Summer Sale Event is an easy-to-implement promotion timed to capture consumers just as the weather warms up and they begin to garden, clean and refresh their surroundings in time for summer entertaining,” said Jim Mathews, Hunter Douglas vice president of corporate marketing. “Fully integrated, this promotion is supported by national advertising and a dealer kit with high-impact sales materials.”

ADO SMARTFABRICS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL BIO-SAFETY CERTIFICATION

ADO Corp., Spartanburg, SC, has received the internationally-renowned Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for its ADO SmartFabrics product line containing both ADO ActiBreeze® and ADO BioProtect® treatments—now available in one fabric.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 comprehensively addresses all components of textile products to assure no harmful substances are present in any significant amounts. The Oeko-Tex testing method, which is recognized throughout Europe, Japan and the United States, evaluates and screens for any harmful substances present within processed textiles intended to come into contact with consumers. Textiles with the Oeko-Tex certification do not contain allergenic dyes, have been tested for pesticides and chlorinated phenols, have been tested for the release of heavy metals under artificial perspiration conditions, are free from formaldehyde or from trace amounts significantly lower than the required legal limits, have a skin-friendly pH, are free from chloro-organic carriers, and are free from biologically active finishes.

“It’s important our North American audiences be aware of the global efforts ADO takes to assure the highest product quality and consumer safety,” notes Walter Herr, executive vice president. “ADO understands the importance of manufacturing products that are both friendly to the environment and to the consumer.”

ADO SmartFabrics now contain both ADO ActiBreeze and ADO BioProtect treatments in one fabric, which means these ADO fabrics not only clear the air space by eliminating odors, they also reduce bacteria that’s present in the atmosphere. The products still adhere to the ADO guarantee of five-years’ washability, colorfastness and dimensionally stable fabrics, and ADO SmartFabrics treatments don’t wash out, the company states.

SHUTTERSMART LAUNCHES CUSTOM ARCHES, FRENCH DOOR CUT OUTS

ShutterSmart, a division of US Polymers Inc., Los Angeles, CA, has launched a complete line of custom shutter arches that match its line of Polyclad HardWood and Wood Shutters.

Arches are operable and come with eight frame choices to match every wood or vinyl shutter frame type, the company states. Each arch is color matched to closely resemble its accompanying shutter. These latest innovations are aimed at taking ShutterSmart to a new level in the industry, it adds.

ShutterSmart sells its Polyclad Hardwood Shutters through a network of authorized dealers and fabricators nationwide.
KENSINGTON RELEASES NEW HONEYCOMB & PLEATED SHADES SAMPLE BOOK

Kensington, Suwannee, GA, has issued a new Honeycomb & Pleated Sample Book, which includes a updated look, new photography and an easy-to-use guide on how to choose shades, the company states.
The new book includes the same Kensington format and color scheme known to the industry, it adds.
TECHNIKU INTRODUCES TWO AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS FOR CELLULAR, ROLLER SHADES

Techniku, Broomfield, CO, has launch its new LR700 for roller shades and designer shading and the new LC300-S for cellular shades.

With the increasing popularity of roller and cellular shades, Techniku introduces the two new 12-volt battery (or power supply) automation solutions for simple and convenient operation.

The LR700 raises and lowers roller shades and designer shadings and can fit most tubes ranging from one to two inches with a variety of adapters. It includes built-in intelligence and a communication “hub.” With electronic limits, the automation system has reliable position monitoring, top and bottom limit, and intermediate position setting that can be accessed from a button located on the motor.

The LC300-S operates most cellular/pleated shades by replacing the manual clutch and integrating with a standard traversing shaft operating system in a variety of today’s most popular headrails. With an external electronic interface, it also has electronic top, bottom and intermediate limits. The top limit can be set with a tight fabric stack without affecting the performance of the shade.
UK AUTOMATIC CURTAIN ESTIMATOR NOW IN US MARKET

ACE For Windows, automatic curtain estimating, now is available in the United States by CCM ACE Ltd. ACE For Windows is a software system custom-made for the curtain industry and developed and sold in the United Kingdom.

The ACE software was developed for department stores, window treatment showrooms, custom workrooms, residential and commercial soft furnishers, fabric manufacturers, interior designers and decorators—anyone who needs to quote clients in an accurate and professional manner, says Susan Miller, sales director.
HUNTER DOUGLAS FUNDS ENDOWMENT AIMED AT REDUCING GLOBAL POVERTY

Hunter Douglas Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, is funding the newly named Hunter Douglas Endowment for Microfinance Sustainability, operated by MicroCredit Enterprises, to reduce global poverty.

MicroCredit Enterprises, based in Sacramento, CA, is a not-for-profit venture that leverages private capital in the United States to make tiny business loans to deeply impoverished people in developing countries, 91 percent of whom are women. The impoverished loan recipients generally have no credit history, no collateral and no formal education, but with microloans they are enabled to create and build home-based businesses. By providing economic opportunity, MicroCredit Enterprises breaks the poverty cycle by investing in “character collateral,” that is, the desire of mothers to feed their children and the determination and grit of parents to build futures for their families, the company states.

MicroCredit Enterprises has developed an innovative concept that enables private individuals and charitable institutions to support the extension of loans to high-quality microfinance institutions in developing countries by becoming guarantors. Rather than making cash donations, guarantors pledge assets, on which they can continue to earn a return.

The Hunter Douglas Endowment for Microfinance Sustainability is a liquidity account that underpins the MicroCredit Enterprises financial model, acting as a cushion to guarantors and lenders. The Hunter Douglas donation to the endowment will leverage $10 million in overseas microloans, providing food security for 500,000 poor people (60 percent of whom are children) on an annual basis and in perpetuity. Every penny benefits the program; no overhead costs are paid by the endowment.