Knowledge is power and the key to all success. A common phrase this, but one often overlooked as we are preoccupied with the more pressing demands of daily business life. Sales, production issues and staffing problems all take up large proportions of the working lives of those running a window business. Despite all these challenges, you should never underestimate the value of knowledge. Martin James, Managing Director of aluminium door specialist manufacturer Dutemänn is very aware of the benefits that market knowledge can bring: “It’s what drives business and without it you can’t remain competitive.”
All through his working life, from aluminium extrusion to hardware manufacturing and nowadays as an MD of an aluminium door fabricator, Martin has placed great emphasis on keeping ahead of the game in terms of market intelligence. It’s this passion for knowledge that has brought about his long association with the Council for Aluminium in Buildings (CAB). A trade association representing the aluminium sector, CAB has a very strong membership in the fenestration sector. Its role in commerce is vast as it aims to to educate and inform users, specifiers and clients of the features and benefits of aluminium as a sustainable building material. It is what lies behind the aims and objectives and support for the CAB membership that really makes Martin enthuse about his own association with the organisation. He says: “The investment in the CAB programme is far reaching. It’s about the industry as a whole. The beauty about what CAB Chief Executive Justin Ratcliffe and his team offer, is linked to their extensive knowledge and support. This is perfectly illustrated by the support and advice they gave to Dutemänn regarding the changes to Part L and the introduction of CE Marking. They immediately put out an information pack explaining the requirements and then were only a telephone call away from offering further asistance.”
Martin has always been a strong advocate of the use of aluminium in fenestration. He was heavily invloved in the Chrysalis Group which looked to promote aluminium in windows and doors in the 90s, and today much of the Group’s work has helped lay the foundations for aluminium’s further acceptance in both commericial and domestic fenestration markets. “The marketplace has developed to allow aluminium to be more prevalent,” he says. “The likes of bi-folds and large sliding doors have all contributed as aluminium is the right material for these products.” Trade associations play an incredibly important role in business and Martin is staggered that more companies are not involved. He expands on this further: “The benefits of membership are all encompassing. They represent the ‘font of all knowledge’ and for Dutemänn this has proved invaluable. Although it’s not our primary reason for being a member, the ability to network with other professionals involved in aluminium is also incredibly rewarding. Even if it’s just to chat about the state of the market, I have found the regional meetings very rewarding. But for me, it’s about the ability to help support the promoting of aluminium to a wider audence and to further Dutemänn’s and my knowledge of the marketplace. I have always said I liken CAB to having a whole technical team at the end of the phone – and this can only benefit Dutemänn and our growing numbers of customers.”
Dutemann has further cemented its involvement with CAB as a sponsor of a number of the regional meetings, the most recent being the regional members’ meeting in Liverpool. Martin concludes: “What we do in business all centres on quality. This runs right through our ranges of aluminium bi-folding doors, Haus entrance doors and our flagship Glide S sliding door system. CAB membership enhances all we do and the investments we make in its activities are worth every penny.”