Duraweld named in Sunday Times ‘Best Green Companies’ List

We were delighted to be informed that Duraweld featured in the third annual edition of The Sunday Times 60 Best Green Companies list, published at the end of May. Ranked 39 out of 60 companies throughout the UK, Duraweld also featured in the Top Ten for having the ‘greenest employees’.

 

According to the Times, “…competition for places in the Top 60 was intense and the quality of entries very high. Only those organisations demonstrating the highest environmental standards, with workforces wholly engaged and in tune with their green initiatives, have made it onto the list.”

 

Victoria Pitts, Duraweld’s Green Team leader said: “It is very rewarding to have our green initiatives recognised by such an esteemed panel of judges, and it positions us as being up there amongst the best in the country in employing environmentally friendly business practices.

 

Our commitment to protecting the environment remains firm and we will continue to improve and develop both our internal processes and our recycled product ranges. This achievement supports Duraweld’s ISO 14001 accreditation and carbon zero status.”

June 29, 2010 at 12:12 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

Weldspares use Duraweld products to increase sales

Weldspares is a long established wholesaler, based in Warrington. Their large warehouse supplies over 600 distributors with welding, safety and industrial products, chosen from a catalogue of 5,000 items.

 

The most popular products are listed in a mini catalogue which they send to their customers in a Duraweld easel binder. This method means the catalogue can be protected through the post, and then displayed for instant access in front of Weldspares’ customers. It is great to hear that Duraweld products are making life simple for our customers and helping them increase sales.

 

To see the full range of Weldspares products visit www.weldspares.co.uk

 

To buy easel binders for your own catalogue or product sheets visit www.duraweld.co.uk/category/Easel-Binders

June 29, 2010 at 12:11 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

Best sellers, new products and next season’s ‘must haves’!

• We have added four fabulous new colours to our recycled range. Available in medium weight (750 micron) polypropylene in metallic silver, gold, red and blue - please request a free swatch from jane@duraweld.co.uk

 

 

 
• Make it sticky! Our best selling, self-adhesive pocket range continues to be a hit. These simple self-adhesive sleeves are just the job for storing or displaying cards and CDs.

 

 

 
• Document wallets and folders are always handy to protect and organise your papers. Available ready to ship via the website or custom designed via the office.

 

 

 
• Have you tried the ‘Build Your Own’ service for ring binders yet? Flexible, easy to do and gives a 10% discount off the standard price - a winning combination!

 

 
• Our paper over board range is expanding! We now offer 11 popular sizes, either standard or customised to your exact requirements.

June 29, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

MBO announced as Duraweld passes to the next generation

26 February 2010 was a momentous day for us at Duraweld as Richard Senior completed the sale of the company to two of its managers, his daughter Hannah Senior, and her husband Mark Yeung.

 
Richard, who will be staying on as a consultant for the next three years, commented:

“I am delighted that this young, energetic management team will be leading the business into the future. Since joining Duraweld, Hannah and Mark have brought with them lots of fresh thinking and new ideas that are having a very positive impact. It’s great news for the company and I wish them every success in the future.”

 

Hannah said:

“We are thrilled to be the new owners of Duraweld and would like to thank our employees and customers for their fantastic encouragement and support. Duraweld is a well known and respected name throughout the industry, and our decision to purchase the business has been based on the fantastic range of opportunities we see for it to grow and develop.”

June 29, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

Technical corner: overlays and encapsulations

When purchasing a vinyl ring binder you will be asked if you would like an overlay or an encapsulation. Here’s a quick explanation of what these both are.

Encapsulation

Encapsulation is the sealing of printed sheets onto the outside of a ring binder under a layer of clear vinyl. This method of production is very cost effective and versatile, and gives a great, professional image. It allows any choice of print to be displayed and protected under a wipe clean, clear surface.

Overlays

Clear overlays, open to the head, enable printed matter, photographs or drawings to be inserted into the face of a binder creating individual or interchangeable customised binders. This method allows the binder to be updated or reused for a different purpose. Again the clear material is wipe clean and helps protect the ring binder from dirt and marking.

June 29, 2010 at 12:09 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

A view from over the pond

by Justin Goldstein, Binding Industries Association

If the turnout at the 2010 BIA Mid Management conference is an indicator of the economy, then the recession is nearing an end. Over 114 attendees from around the world congregated in Baltimore, Maryland for the premier event for binding, graphic finishing, and custom loose leaf manufacturing, including BIA Chairman Richard Senior who was honoured for his service to the organisation.

 

I see real signs of recovery in the economy. There has been a flurry of activity in the marketplace with companies taking on new projects and initiatives, and we have also had more entries into the Product of Excellence Awards than the last two years combined. One delegate, Richard Holum from Holum & Sons. Inc., a custom loose leaf company in Chicago, commented: “Business is starting to pick up for us with some clients coming back into the fold.”

 

 

Duraweld scooped one of the top prizes in the BIA Awards! Competing against companies from across the US in the ‘Product of Excellence’ category, Duraweld entered a specially designed travel card holder made from their own 100% recycled polypropylene.

 

The BIA Judges commented: “We were very impressed with the design and use of materials. The travel card holder is creative, very practical and it really stood out amongst the other entries.”

June 29, 2010 at 12:07 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

Coming soon….. Build Your Own Travel Card Holders online

Following on from our popular, online ‘Build Your Own’ ring binder service, you will soon be able to ‘Build Your Own’ travel card holders online too - and save 10% off the standard price.

 

 The card holders are specifically designed to fit London Transport’s Oyster Card. A useful and cost effective promotional item, these hardwearing, vinyl holders can be used for travel cards, library cards, business cards or credit cards, and are a great way to get your company’s name in front of your customers.

June 29, 2010 at 12:06 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

Kall Kwik click onto ‘Three Minute Money Maker’

Duraweld sponsored the annual Kall Kwik Franchisee Conference in Solihull recently, entitled ‘Together our Future Starts Now’.

 

As part of the conference programme, Jane Harper, Duraweld’s marketing manager, delivered a presentation about how smaller print operations can add turnover and margin to their business using the ‘Build Your Own’ service on the Duraweld website.

 

Jane commented:
“My presentation gave owners real, practical advice about how they can use this simple tool to quickly improve their turnover and delight their customers by adding ring binders to their existing print service.”

 

The event also featured a keynote presentation from Mike Johnson, chief executive of the British Printing Industry Federation and was attended by over over 100 owners from the KallKwik network. With a packed programme of activity, the Conference provided a great opportunity for the owners to share experiences, learn about new innovations and meet key suppliers.

 

To watch a similar presentation from Jane, click here.

June 29, 2010 at 12:04 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

IPEX 2010

Hannah Senior (pictured), Duraweld’s Managing Director, reviews this year’s IPEX event.

 

At IPEX, the once-every-four-years print extravaganza, it felt like the industry began to shrug off its’ ‘recession depression’ and look forwards.

 

One thing that caught my eye was a massive quote on Cannon’s stand which came from the Insight Report*: “It is neither run length nor time that is the primary factor in printing company revenue - it is job complexity. Print buyers place a higher value on jobs with complex binding, finishing or other services.” Of course, some might achieve this by taking print finishing in-house, but for most businesses with capital constraints and a need for ROI, this starts to look unattractive.

 
A smarter alternative is to work with specialists who can offer both expert guidance and ensure the final result delivers exactly what your customer wants. Together these elements create a strong argument for making Duraweld your partner for value-adding services. Our account handlers put real emphasis on helping you make your business more successful by working hand-in-hand to add value and win more business for your company. When was the last time you bounced ideas around with presentation experts?

 

 

*Source: The Insight Report 2008 by Prof Frank Romano

June 29, 2010 at 12:03 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

Three Pillars of Success

We introduced the ‘three pillars’ system to Duraweld in 2008, and in that time it has brought about significant changes in how we operate and how we serve our customers. The three pillars upon which we build our business are:
    • Simple efficient operations
    • Excellent people
    • Outstanding customer service

In 2010 we launched the Three Pillars Awards. We asked all our employees to nominate who they thought had excelled in each area. The response was fantastic and we are thrilled to be able to congratulate Jon Reeves, Lisa Fullerton and Ann Cooper as our award winners.

 

Here’s a selection of what their colleagues had to say about them.

 

Jon Reeves, production job supervisor – winner of ‘simple, efficient operations’
“Since Jon has moved into the main production area he has had a massive impact on product quality. His attentiveness and positive attitude are exemplary and he has made a fantastic difference to the efficiency of our operation by reducing errors and re-work”

 

Lisa Fullerton, sales supervisor – winner of ‘excellent people’
“A very dedicated member of the team. No task too much, always giving. Very enthusiastic and driven to give her best to Duraweld!”

 

Ann Cooper, machine operator – winner of ‘outstanding customer service’
“Her recent work with Purple Results was a fantastic example of customer focus. Ann was thinking about the finished product, about the customer and by querying the vinyl/encapsulation sheet colour combination she put the customer first. We can’t ask for more!”

 

Well done to you all!

June 29, 2010 at 12:01 pm | Newsletter Summer 2010 | No comment

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