It’s been a few months since I rejoined AluK and I’ve spent much of that time out visiting customers, talking to them about the market and reconfirming AluK’s commitment to them.
Obviously, I’ve also been working closely with the rest of the team here to formulate our plans for 2024, so that we can deliver the new products and the service proposition which will help AluK customers make the most of the opportunities that undoubtedly lie ahead.
Of course, 2024 will be tough for many and I think anyone who doesn’t focus on really controlling their costs will find themselves under pressure. It would be naïve to think that things won’t be turbulent at times, but AluK has exciting plans in place designed to help us and our customers get through it in good shape.
The good news is that there are no real signs of growth faltering in aluminium (the UK market is up 19% since 2019), so AluK will be pushing ahead with big investments in R&D and new initiatives designed to make it even easier to buy, fabricate and sell our aluminium products.
We’ll be announcing a major coup in the New Year with the appointment of a new, high profile R&D Director, and he will be leading a new product development programme which will see important updates to existing products, as well as some major new launches.
Our market leading, tested, tried and trusted BSF70 bifold, for example, will be updated with pre-inserted gaskets and knock-in beads, as well as new handles and hardware. We’ll also have a new sliding door and a new Heritage door, with lots more details to come.
I’m pleased to say that AluK’s service levels are at almost record levels, with OTIF figures routinely above 98% every week. Now, we’re shifting attention towards how we can leverage that operational efficiency to bring even more tangible benefits to our customers.
Lots of people who fabricate in both PVC-U and aluminium question why it continues to be so much more complex to order, quote and stock in aluminium than in PVC, and my response is always that it doesn’t have to be.
I can assure the market that AluK’s offering in 2024 will start to address that complexity, making it easier for fabricators to run PVC-U and aluminium side by side, or even to get started in aluminium for the first time.
The period I spent in fabrication from 2020 to this year means I understand exactly what issues aluminium fabricators face and my experience and all the ongoing conversations the whole team here have with customers are fundamental to formulating our plans.
There are plenty of challenges ahead, but a lot to look forward to in 2024 and I couldn’t be more enthused and excited to be leading AluK once again.
