News & blog

The yield and tensile strengths of aluminium varies from 30-500N/mm2 and 79-570 N/mm2, while for steel the figures are in the range of 250-1000 N/mm2 and 400-1250 N/mm2. That doesn’t means that aluminium is weak though. Depending on the alloy and processing…

Justin Hunter joined AluK as Managing Director in May, just at the point that the industry was returning to work. He talked to Windows Active about the challenge which the whole industry now faces and what customers can expect from him and from AluK. 

The biggest cost associated with extracting aluminium is energy – as an indication, it takes the same amount of energy to light up a hundred 100-watt lightbulbs as it does to produce 1kg of aluminium. However, this is only a tiny part of the picture. The…

Aluminium systems house AluK has appointed Justin Hunter as its new Managing Director. With a long and successful career in aluminium fenestration, Justin brings a huge amount of industry experience and knowledge to the role.

Business and commercial relationships have been tested too like never before; and winners and losers have emerged right across the supply chain amongst suppliers who were called upon to demonstrate new levels of commitment to their customers.

After 17 years with AluK and 8 years as Managing Director, Russell Yates has announced his decision to step down, in order to pursue his long-term ambition of business ownership.

Already looking ahead to a time when the lockdown restrictions are eased, AluK has appointed two new representatives to join its trade sales team. 

AluK has begun a partial reopening of its Chepstow manufacturing plant, as it looks to meet demand from all those customers striving to fulfil commercial contracts.

AluK has created a package of marketing support for its customers to help them help themselves out of the Coronavirus crisis.

The majority of AluK’s operations remain closed in line with the government’s lockdown restrictions to try to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

The idea that aluminium is cold goes right back to the early days of aluminium windows and doors in the late 70s when they were manufactured without a thermal break. In reality, most aluminium windows now use a polyamide or even expanded polyurethane…

It’s National Stress Awareness Month. How apt. With many of us in lock-down, it’s likely that stress and anxiety levels are higher than usual. Without dwelling on the many reasons why this April may be the ideal month to highlight stress awareness, we’ve…

Following last night’s announcement from the Prime Minister, AluK has taken the difficult decision to temporarily halt production as from Friday 27th March latest. We are currently working through customers’ orders and managing a safe shut down. We anticipate…

The Coronavirus situation is changing by the day, and everyone at AluK is working flat out to try to maintain as normal a service as possible for as long as we can.

As the UK situation around Coronavirus escalates, AluK is taking a number of steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our staff and customers.

As part of the 8th March International Women's Day, we want to highlight the women working at all levels at AluK. Meet Alex, she is our Marketing Comms Manager. We've prepared an interview where she shares her experience in this industry as a…

As part of the 8th March International Women's Day, we want to highlight the women working at all levels at AluK. Meet Jane, she is our Product Support Technician. We've prepared an interview where she shares her experience in this industry as…

As part of the 8th March International Women's Day, we want to highlight the women working at all levels at AluK. Meet Sarah Taylor, she is our Customer Services Manager. We've prepared an interview where she shares her experience in this industry…

As part of the 8th March International Women's Day, we want to highlight the women working at all levels at AluK. Meet Vicky, she is our HR Manager. We've prepared an interview where she shares her experience in this industry as a woman. 

As part of the 8th March International Women's Day, we want to highlight the women working at all levels at AluK. Meet Sarah, she is our Receptionist. We've prepared an interview where she shares her experience in this industry as a woman. 

As part of the 8th March International Women's Day, we want to highlight the women working at all levels at AluK. Meet Anna, she is our Process Development Scientist. We've prepared an interview where she shares her experience in this industry…

The Newport based trade specialist was founded at the end of 2018 by Chris Reeks building on his many years’ experience in the industry. Targeting retail and small commercial installers with a wide portfolio of AluK products including casements, bi-folds…

AluK’s specification support team will be out and about throughout 2020, meeting clients and specifiers at five of the Specifi architecture events taking place around the country.

Both the 2017 and 2019 FIT Shows were real success stories for AluK, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the trade market and helping us to win significant amounts of new business.

AluK has added yet another variant to its hugely versatile 58BW window system, with the launch of the new 58BW Flush. This gives AluK customers a clever and cost-effective way of targeting the fast growing flush window market with a window which requires…

AluK has just released its 2020 Academy training schedule, with more than 20 different GQA accredited AluK courses and workshops available to book now via the website at www.alukacademy.co.uk

Our MD Russell Yates has been talking to Glass News magazine about our market performance this year and looking ahead to 2020.

Our team were at the Batimat exhibition in Paris last week, with several customers joining us on the trip to see the latest innovations in European construction.

 In an aluminium market where the established order is increasingly being challenged by a growing band of newcomers, AluK argues that its ‘Tested, Tried, Trusted’ branding has never been more relevant.

We’re delighted to be backing the industry’s efforts to attract new talent into fenestration and bridge the widely acknowledged skills gap. We already invest in our own successful training Academy here in Chepstow, but we’ve also taken the decision to…

AluK is partnering with Architecture Today magazine to bring an exciting new series of topical talks to the London architectural scene

In the week that the government launched its #everymindmatters campaign to increase the help it gives to people with mental health problems, it seems timely that AluK is giving our backing to a mental health initiative aimed especially at the construction…

Several of the team from AluK attended the industry Glazing Summit yesterday held at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. Organised by Purplex and Insight Data, it was another chance for the industry to get together and discuss the issues affecting…

AluK promotes its contemporary looking Veranda system as the perfect way for installers to increase the value of new bi-fold door and sliding door projects and as an opportunity to revisit previous installs and secure profitable new business.

Last Saturday, it was the turn of the team here in Chepstow to take up AluK’s Run for Life challenge, which is raising money for breast cancer charities around the world.

Easy to fabricate and easy to sell 

HIGH SPECIFICATION ALUK WINDOWS AND DOORS IN NEW CARDIFF BAY DEVELOPMENT

1994 was the year that the Channel Tunnel officially opened, the year that Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa and the year of the first National Lottery draw. We were watching Pulp Fiction and Four Weddings and a Funeral, listening to Definitely…

AluK celebrated its 25th anniversary in the UK in style at the FIT Show – with a party, a birthday cake and a £10,000 competition.

Our Managing Director Russell Yates was one of the panellists invited to speak at the FIT Show’s popular Big Learning Lunch held on the final day of the show at the NEC.

Thanks to every single customer and colleague who joined us at this year’s FIT Show

Next week the fifth FIT Show will be taking place at the NEC. AluK will be there on stand E10 and we’d love to see as many customers coming to see us as possible.

AluK’s versatile 58BW window and 58BD door systems helped transform an unloved, uninspiring 1970s office block in Bristol’s Redcliffe harbourside

There’s just a few weeks to go now until this year’s FIT Show at the NEC!

It’s less than two months to go until the FIT Show which is happening at the NEC from 21-23 May. 

An article caught our eye in last week’s Times newspaper confirming what we at AluK already knew – that beautiful surroundings are one of the keys to human happiness.

We’re talking a lot in our marketing at the moment about how we’re Leading the Way in aluminium. Two of the areas we’re focusing on are expertise and support and we’re demonstrating just what we mean in this piece which appears in in the Building Envelope…

AluK India at the service of a great cause continuing AluK's global campaign "Run for Life" to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.

Our UK headquarters in Chepstow is up for yet another award, and it’s probably the most prestigious one yet. The 350,000 sq ft building has been shortlisted by finalists, Rio Architects in the Commercial category for the Royal Institution of Chartered…

Diagonally shaped curtain walling leaning outward and without a singular regular pane of glass or panelling beyond the doors is just the sort of challenge which AluK relishes.

A commentary in yesterday’s Times newspaper by Economics Editor David Smith was headlined ‘Manufacturing may have lost two decades, but it is not a lost cause’.

2019 marks our 25th anniversary as a UK systems house. That’s 25 years of expertise and experience, all harnessed to help AluK customers realise their vision and grow their businesses.

Over the past year or so, the whole of the fenestration industry has come to acknowledge the continuing skills gap which exists in this market, so it’s encouraging to see so many new programmes and initiatives being announced which are designed to start…

We’re incredibly proud of our new 350,000 sq ft headquarters in Chepstow, and it seems we’re not the only ones. Just a few months after it was named Workplace Design of the Year at the Insider Wales Property Awards, it has also just been shortlisted by…

If you’re a regular visitor to the site, you can’t have failed to notice the transformation as we roll out our new ‘Leading the Way in Aluminium’ campaign. You’ll be seeing plenty of this across the trade and commercial media this year and in lots of…

Anna Plesniar, AluK’s Quality Coordinator, was named as the industry’s Unsung Hero at the G-18 Awards.

In this centenary year marking 100 years since the end of the Great War, it’s an honour for AluK to be able to support the efforts of our Senior Product Market Manager, David Prout to create a fitting and inspirational tribute.

We’re celebrating at AluK, having just been named as the ‘Aluminium Company of the Year’ in the National Fenestration Awards for the second year in a row.

October 6th marked the start of AluK’s global relay race in aid of breast cancer charities which we are calling ‘Run for Life’.

We’re proud to be one of the leading manufacturing businesses in this part of Wales, so we were thrilled when our MD Russell Yates was invited to a Round Table event organised by Wales Business Insider magazine recently on the topic of Manufacturing.

If the G-Awards are the Oscars of the glass and glazing industry, then AluK has both feet firmly on the red carpet, having been nominated in no less than four of this year’s categories.

It was Lights, Camera, Action at AluK Chepstow this week when we played host to the team from the local Monmouthshire Business Awards.

In an industry where it’s not uncommon for fabricators and installers to have two, three or even four different aluminium suppliers for different products*, AluK has worked hard to make all the juggling and hassle that goes along with that totally unnecessary…

Our new home has won a national award. Our 350,00ft2 site, in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, was named Workplace Design of the Year at the Insider Wales Property Awards at Cardiff City Hall last night, June 28.

We are delighted to announce that our new home has been shortlisted for a national property award. 

AluK were delighted to be able to support the GM Fundraising Circus Bezerkus gala dinner on Saturday 9th June, all in aid of the Hope House Children’s Hospices in Oswestry and Conwy.

Although it sometimes hurts to admit it, the aluminium industry has got an awful lot to thank Kevin McCloud for. His Grand Designs programme has probably done more to make aluminium a fashionable and aspirational material then any advertising campaign…

Our Managing Director Russell Yates was one of the guest panellists at yesterday’s highly successful Glazing Summit, held in Solihull. 

Senior Product Marketing Manager, Dave Prout discussed how the new AluK Veranda system is a product which gives customers the perfect add-on to every bi-fold and sliding door they fit, as well as an opportunity to revist virtually every door installation…

The Milford Window Company is crowned AluK’s April Installation of the Month competition with a project which perfectly demonstrates the versatility of its aluminium window and door systems.

AluK’s customised façade systems to feature on leading developer, Berkeley Homes high-end project, West End Gate.

When refurbishing historic industrial properties in urban centres, retaining period features is key to ensuring that stringent planning conditions can be met, while also being a major selling point. We take a look what makes our 58BW Steel replacement…

As first time exhibitors at FIT in 2017, AluK came at the show with a fresh perspective and a real determination to make an impact. AluK Marketing Director, Sioned Webb takes a look back at the 2017 show and shares her thoughts about AluK's success…

We are teaming up with two of Europe’s leading façade companies to stage a free advice clinic on Wednesday 2nd May at our London Design Studio.

Our Managing Director, Russell Yates has just been confirmed as one of the panellists for the upcoming Glazing Summit, taking place near Birmingham on 22 May.

AluK’s charity team were on ‘cracking’ form last Fry-day, donating a couple of egg-stremely chocolatey hampers to our local Mencap group for their Easter charity raffle.

Eagle eyed viewers may well have spotted the AluK bi-fold door on a new episode of George Clarke’s inspirational Amazing Spaces programme broadcast recently on Channel 4.

AluK’s new Luminia Select Partner network was launched late last year with a number of fabricators selected to join as founder members. They were all individually invited on the basis that they share AluK’s ethos and values in targeting the premium sector…

AluK, the expert in engineered commercial aluminium systems, has further developed its sliding door offering to give architects and façade consultants a system that allows for beautiful views and complete design freedom.

The door which will set a new benchmark for bi-folds is now officially available in the UK.

The Celtic Manor might be best known for hosting Europe’s win in the 2010 Ryder Cup, but at AluK it will also now be known for hosting the hugely successful launch of our Luminia Select Partner scheme.

It’s awards season here at AluK. In the past couple of weeks, we’ve picked up the Excellence in Marketing award at the Monmouthshire Business Awards and been shortlisted in two separate categories in the National Fenestration Awards (NFA).

At the end of September, we welcomed all of the leading figures from the UK window and door trade press to Chepstow to show off our brand new factory and headquarters.

In conjunction with RIBAJ, over the last few months AluK’s Design Studio has hosted a series of fascinating debates discussing the nature of our cities across a range of themes. Last week saw the final debate in the series take place, so let’s recap just…

When Sioned Webb, our Marketing Director, signed up to take part in a women’s only charity challenge last year to raise money for the Hope House Children’s Hospices, she didn’t quite know what to expect.

We have been shortlisted for a Monmouthshire Business Award, recognised within the Excellence in Marketing category for our Experts in Aluminium marketing campaign.

AluK has announced two significant changes in the structure of its commercial management team designed to help customers make the most of the enormous opportunities which lie ahead in aluminium.

The Expert Zone on AluK’s stand at FIT proved a really popular draw for visitors – with many taking advantage of the free seminars on offer covering topics as varied as making the jump into aluminium and meeting the demands of Approved Document Q.

All was revealed on the AluK stand at FIT, where the company finally unveiled the four brand new products which had been generating such excitement before the show.

Last week saw AluK exhibit at FIT Show for the first time ever, showcasing our fantastic new products, holding insightful events, even winning an award and, of course, meeting hundreds of enthusiastic visitors at our stand.

Think you know a thing or two about fenestration, construction or the FIT Show?

We are pleased to reveal that we are now an approved Qualicoat licence holder, following inspection of our state of the art powder coating paint plant.

For the very first time in the show’s history, our Experts in Aluminium will be attending FIT Show 2017. The biggest event of its type in the UK, the show takes place at the NEC Birmingham 23-25th May and to mark the occasion we’re naturally pulling out…

We are pleased to announce that we have acquired a major site in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, to enable significant expansion plans. The multi-million pound investment at Newhouse follows three years of substantial growth in the UK market.

Why aluminium? It’s light, strong and highly sustainable. It doesn’t warp or rust and is near maintenance-free. It’s also exceptionally versatile. So what better material to choose for the 2017 Master Fitter Challenge at The FIT Show?