Daniel Smith

ACQUISITION NEWS: AFC Industries has acquired Birmingham UK based distributor Forward Industrial Products (Forward Industrial Products Group) through its TFC Business Unit. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Forward Industrial Products Group Ltd is an industry leading supplier of C Class components, vendor managed inventory services and MRO services, with a focus on enhancing the productivity and effectiveness of its customers’ manufacturing operations. Forward provides a range of value-added services as well as both standard and custom items and engineered products. Birmingham-based Bracebridge Corporate Finance was the sole advisor to Forward for the transaction. We’re really pleased to be part of AFC and the growing TFC group. The partnership is a perfect fit for Forward Industrial," said Martyn Cleaver, Managing Director of Forward. "It opens up new opportunities within our existing customer network and enables us to share our 28 years of industry expertise with TFC's customers and bring their strengths to ours. Our management team is excited about the next chapter with AFC/TFC.” AFC CEO Kevin Godin remarked, “It was a strategic goal of ours to expand our operations and capabilities in the U.K. and Europe in a way that would complement our TFC team. Forward is a great fit for us both culturally and geographically. Their dedication to service and solving problems for customers make them a natural integration for us.” President of AFC Europe (TFC), Morgan Burgoyne, added, “bringing these teams together immediately strengthens both and further establishes us as the leading component solutions provider in our key markets. The future is bright as we continue to invest in the right people and capabilities to provide superior market knowledge and service to our customers.” For additional questions please contact: [email protected]. #ThinkLINK #fasteners #fastenernews #fastenerindustry #acquisition

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Another week, another video, but this time it's promoting something even bigger! On Monday we announced that our Dresser Mouldings Ltd division would be rebranded to Latham Timber Manufacturing, bringing them into the James Latham brand family. To celebrate this, not only have we refreshed and rebranded their website, but also developed a market leading 3D Cladding Visualiser tool to work alongside it. Not content with computer generated graphics like some others, we've had real cladding sections not only photographed, but then industrially scanned to ensure the timber you see in the visualiser is a direct match to the timber that will be used on the project - grain, colour, texture, the lot! Over 30 cladding species and colours to play with, on four different building types, you can change the cladding's orientation, profile, lighting and more to get a real impression of how your project can look. Hugely complex to produce, but a breeze to use, it's a quantum leap from other visualisers out there. Not only that, but you can order samples, download brochures, even book a 1-2-1 video consultation with one of our team. A collaborative effort between our long term partners Cyon Agency, Josh Cameron of Feed Me Content, the cladding team at Latham Timber Manufacturing and our own marketing team (including the hard working Egzon T., Clare Fleming, Matthew Morley and Michael O'Brien) it really is something to behold. To give it a try, visit tm.lathams.co.uk #cladding #timbercladding #constructionmarketing #timber #buildingproducts #design #architecture #digitalmarketing #specification

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Managing your energy expenditure is more important than ever, and passive solutions both for keeping warm in Winter and for keeping cool in Summer make the most sense. In other words, get some shutters!

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Out of Office 🚧 Yesterday, Adrian (Service Team Manager) and I attended the Heidelberg Materials UK | Heidelberg Materials Trading H&S Contractors Day at Gowling WLG Birmingham. We had a great day and it was nice to meet other important members of the industry. Things I've taken away from the day: 👷‍♂️ LOTOTO Safety is the main focus in Health and Safety on site - This was great to hear and fits in perfectly with our campaign to increase awareness for LOTOTO safety with the LOTOTO ID Cards recently released to the industry. ⚠ Reporting Unsafe Acts - There is a huge stigma in the industry with regards to "Whistle-Blowing"/ Reporting unsafe acts. For various reasons, people fear reporting unsafe acts. Heidelberg created a great video which featured a poem being shared by members of staff explaining "choosing to look away". We shouldn't choose to look away and unsafe acts, no matter who is doing them, should be reported. Heidelberg have also set up a phone-line in which unsafe acts/near misses can be reported via anonymously, this is a fantastic idea! 🧠 Mental Health in the Workplace - Heidelberg are doing a great job in raising awareness for Mental Health and now have 250 Mental Health First Aiders within the company. Well done all! We look forward to joining in raising awareness for Mental Health within the industry next year. 👷‍♀️ Inclusiveness - Being a "Man's-Industry" is no more, the industry is gradually changing to be accepting of all. This was truly inspiring to hear and I look forward to seeing the industry changes. Thank you Rod Lafargue and Marian Garfield for having us! #Quarrying #Construction #Inclusiveness #MentalHealth #Quarry #ConveyorMaintenance #QuarryPlantandIndustryLtd #LOTOTO #HealthandSafety #Contractors

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Download this plain speaking brief, written for MDs, Directors and Owners of mid-cap SMEs who don't have a Marketing Director but need marketing to drive growth in new markets or sectors. It'll help you consider the state of your marketing now, where you need to take it, and evaluate anyone you hire to help you. To download, click the full-screen square at the bottom of the preview, then click the download arrow at the top-right of the screen.

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New venture by an absolute expert in windows and roofs.

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Making a date in my diary early this year. AI will dominate and it will be interesting to see which vendors stand out, what functionality is most in use and what to look out for in future road maps. #AImarketing #b2bmarketing

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Did you know that washing personal protective equipment (PPE) at home can be risky? Our eBook examines the potential dangers of washing workwear and PPE at home versus using professional laundering services. You can find more details at https://lnkd.in/exkbxubu. The eBook outlines the challenges posed by the use of domestic washing machines as they are unable to ensure the proper cleaning and sterilisation needed to meet safety standards. It also emphasises the legal obligations of employers in the UK to maintain, replace, and clean personal protective equipment in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations of 1992 and 2022.

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Marketing Consultancy vs the Benefits of a Fractional CMO. Discover how a Fractional CMO can revolutionise your marketing and business outcomes, in this blog from The Marketing Centre. https://bit.ly/3VvjkYX #fractionalcmo

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Definitely worth your time if you’ve never used a specification platform before. You will quickly realise just how much time you can save.

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Is your company at risk due to a lack of AI expertise? The latest blog from The Marketing Centre features expert insights from Regional Directors, Ged Leigh MBA FCIM and Colin Stickland, on harnessing AI for strategic advantages. Key Highlights: - Practical Applications: Learn how simple AI tools can boost your operations. - Team Upskilling: Discover six steps to enhance your team's AI literacy. - Compliance Matters: Understand the importance of an AI policy amid emerging regulations. Read the full blog: https://hubs.la/Q02SXSg80 #AI #BusinessGrowth #MarketingInnovation #Leadership

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Hafele's new Homes for Living report, is available now. Filled with stats and facts about homeowner priorities and aspirations, with a keen focus on the kitchen - and what's more, it's free! Download from hafele.co.uk, link below, or drop me a DM. #insights #kitchens #home #customer

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Really looking forward to Design in Mental Health 2024 next week at Manchester Central where I will be talking about Human Conscious Design on Tuesday 4th June in the Keynote Theatre at 4pm. We are all unique, our differences - shaped by age, gender, ethnicity, and ability - make up our multi-faceted and interconnected world. Over the last two years the Tarkett team and I have been carrying out research to understand how our different human make-up affects us as we go through life - in education, at work and in elder care. This research has been developed into a practical guide 'Human Conscious Design Principles' and our first of its kind Human Conscious Design Virtual Reality Platform. For communities, organisations, and businesses to truly thrive everyone in society needs to be able to flourish.  Design has a pivotal role to play here; to create spaces that foster inclusivity is imperative. Inclusive design celebrates the vast diversity of human experiences by putting people at the heart of the process from the start. But it’s not about designing to the common denominator, nor at the expense of creativity. The talk will look at specific challenges and individual needs focussing on sensory processing, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. Designing for life has never been more important and I can't wait to showcase how we can create spaces where everyone can thrive!

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Howdens have published interim results with the company showing group revenue growth of 4.3% in what has been widely reported as a challenging market. Margins have been maintained and market share is growing. However, the market appears to have been disappointed by Howdens' H1 results (shares fell 4% yesterday). This probably ignores the fact that revenue growth of 4% was delivered despite the kitchen market being down 6-7% and with pricing in the market being more competitive than last year. EBITA was flat only after strategic operational expenditure, which has a solid track record of driving market share gains. Read their half year announcement here - https://lnkd.in/eEaqFz89 Strategically, the company is now manufacturing more of the goods it sells and is increasing inventory levels - maybe preparing for the market growth which is sure to come! #retailnews #retail #kitchens #homeimprovement

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🌿 Big strides in UK manufacturing towards sustainability! Philip Payne's ARDEN, a new eco-friendly emergency exit sign crafted from European oak, showcases the perfect blend of eco-consciousness and functionality; supporting a lower carbon footprint in emergency lighting.🍃 It's great to see British manufacturing pushing towards a greener future! 🇬​🇧​🌳 Give it a read below 👇 #SustainableEngineering #UKManufacturing #Innovation

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Learn how expert product training at TruSeal Plastics helps ensure that staff can provide the best advice to customers 🛠️💡. #ExpertTraining #TruSealPlastics #roofingmaterials #buildtrade #roofingtradeuk #rooferslife #roofers #buildersuk

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