Blairs Windows to set up aluminium manufacturing operation

Blairs Windows is in the process of setting up an aluminium frame making sister company which is expected to create up to 10 jobs in the short term. The Greenock company expects to run the new venture from premises in the Hillington area of Glasgow and hopes to have it fully up and running early next year.

Around £140,000 is being spent on a range of equipment with the business also investing in a new fleet of vans. Once operational it will make aluminium window and door frames along with curtain walling.

Alex Gray, managing director, said: “The aluminium side is quite buoyant at the moment and there is a shortfall of capacity.It is another piece in the jigsaw and means we can offer a solution for every project. The venture will be predominantly targeting the commercial market for things such as “shop fronts, offices, health centres and nursing homes.”

Blairs, which specialises in timber frame windows and doors, is also affiliated with Supaseal Glass and PVC frame maker Merlin Network (Scotland). Mr Gray said Blairs is seeing a growing demand for its products in London helped by strong word of mouth following work in upmarket areas such as Knightsbridge and Mayfair. In recent years it has worked on projects ranging from the London Olympics to the Black Watch museum in Perth.

Mr Gray said: “We have just taken on a new London-based agent to deal with the demand for our type of product. There is a lot of refurbishment in London where traditional timber windows have to be used because of conservation [regulations].”

Mr Gray said the timber business is targeting turnover of £7 million and hopes to be close to that in its next financial year. The Easdale family has an interest in a number of the sister companies of Blairs.