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Velux parent, VKR Holding of
Denmark, is acquiring Loewen, the
custom wood window and door mak-
er based in Steinbach, Man., Canada.
The move is VKR’s second major
expansion into the North American
market, following up on the purchase
of Western Canada’s Gienow Group
last fall. “The corporate strategy will
continue to be to focus on the luxury
segment of the North American
market,” states Al Babiuk, previously
COO and now Loewen CEO. “We will
continue with our focus on product
and distribution, partnering with
our existing dealers and developing
new dealers, as well as marketing
through our own retail network.
The financial strength and corporate
capabilities of VKR will provide great
opportunity for us to move forward
with the company’s strategic plan and
develop competitive advantage in
North America. Loewen also provides
a further platform in North America
for VKR to grow its business holdings
and capitalize on market opportuni-
ties outside of Europe.”
Filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, Ply Gem
Holding Inc. is planning an initial
public offering. The manufacturer of
exterior building products is look-
ing to raise as much as $300 mil-
lion. “As a leading manufacturer of
exterior building products, we intend
to capitalize on the recovery in new
construction and home repair and
remodeling,” officials note. Ply Gem
also aims to increase market penetra-
tion “by leveraging the breadth of our
product offering and broad geo-
graphical footprint to serve custom-
ers across North America.” The com-
pany estimates it increased its share
of total unit sales of U.S. vinyl and
aluminum windows for new construc-
tion from approximately 17 percent
in 2008 to 24 percent in 2009.
The U.S. Department of Energy
has launched its Highly-Insulating R- 5
Windows and Low-E Storm Windows
Volume Purchase Program. “The
Department of Energy has played a
key role in rapidly advancing window
technology in the past few years.
This program will help move these
technologies into the marketplace,
providing significant energy savings
to homes and businesses across the
country,” states Roland Risser, DOE’s
Building Technologies Program Manager. “This initiative will help drive
demand and increase the number
of offerings available to builders and
project developers.” The program
features a Web site designed with
links to more than 30 manufacturers
to provide builders, agencies, energy
retrofitters and volume buyers a
convenient source to look for more
energy efficient products at cost-effective prices, officials state.
The Atis Group, one of Canada’s
largest window and door manufac-
turers, filed papers to go public this
spring, but then announced several
weeks later that it would defer such
an effort. Based in Quebec, Atis had
acquired Allsco Building Products
in New Brunswick and Vinylbilt in
Ontario earlier in the year to expand
its reach across Canada. “Given the
increased uncertainty and volatility in
the markets, primarily due to macro
economic circumstances, we believe
it is best to defer the offering at
this time,” Robert Doyon, president
and chief executive, said in a state-
ment. “We will continue to execute
our business plan according to our
growth objectives and reconsider the
IPO in the future when equity market
conditions are more favorable.”
The U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency has started the criteria
revision for the Energy Star windows,
doors, and skylights program and
is currently inviting industry input.
In announcing the kick off of the
process, EPA said it is looking at such
changes as lower U-factors in most
climate zones, adjustments in SHGCs
for some zones, the addition of air
leakage requirements and some form
of structural testing. EPA is looking
to publish preliminary criteria in July
2011 to be followed by a stakeholder
meeting and public comment period.
It then hopes to publish the final cri-
teria in March 2012 with an effective
date of March 2013.
Alcoa plans to purchase Traco, the
Cranberry, Pa.-based manufacturer of
commercial windows and doors. Traco will become part of Alcoa’s global
Building and Construction Systems
business, which also includes Kaw-neer, the manufacturer of architectural aluminum windows, curtain wall
and storefront products and entrance
systems. Terms of the deal were
not disclosed. “Traco’s strong brand
and product lines are well known
throughout the commercial building
market and we look forward to helping the brand continue to flourish,”
says Glen Morrison, president of
Alcoa Building and Construction Systems. Traco, founded in 1943 as the
Three Rivers Aluminum Co., employs
650 people at its 1-million-square-
foot headquarters and manufacturing
operation near Pittsburgh.
Santelli Tempered Glass Inc., a
Pennsylvania-based supplier to residential window manufacturers, plans
to open a new tempering facility in
Elkhart, Ind. The company plans to
invest more than $3.7 million to lease
and equip a 32,500 square-foot facility. Founded in 2006, the company
employs 45 people at its current facilities in Monessen, Pa., and Ocala, Fla.
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