The Pilkington Activ™ team, in conjunction with the Pilkington European Technology Centre in Lathom, has developed a Glass Coating Detector for IGU fabricators, installers, quality control personnel, site supervisors and surveyors. It’s designed to reliably detect the presence of a Pilkington Activ™ coating on the surface of the glass, which is vital to ensure that Pilkington Activ™ has been installed and is located correctly on the outer pane. Utilising a dual sensing technology it can identify and ignore other coatings even on dual coated products.

The Pilkington Activ™ website has been a hive of activity recently, spurred on by the high profile marketing campaign. The number of visitors to the site in January increasing by a staggering 143% - from 3,320 in December to a massive 8,044 in January. The number of visitors to the site in January was also 329% higher than at the same time last year and is a record level. These figures were taken before the start of the spring marketing campaign, so we are expecting them to increase even further as homeowners head to the website for more information.  Click here for to view for yourself!

In conjunction with Edgetech, we have launched one of the most comprehensive, independent studies into Window Energy Ratings (WERs) to date. WER:DIY incorporates information on almost every system, profile, glass, spacer and component that can be used to make up a window. The WER assessment calculator is free and simple to use, and includes almost 8,000 simulations, covering every possible permutation - it even focuses on different glazing and warm edge technology performances.

Padiham Glass in Burnley, Lancashire has achieved a UK first with the creation of its second Super Spacer line. It is now the only company in the UK to have two fully automated production lines, resulting in the largest capacity for the production of Super Spacer units in the country.

Pilkington Activ™ was an integral element of a £25,000 conservatory refurbishment in Cheshire, which ensured that the Grange family finally got the extra space they’ve always wanted. The original conservatory, which was attached to the kitchen, was rarely used because it was often too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. The existing glass roof was also filthy, which meant the blinds were always drawn to hide the dirty glazing so keeping the sun out. However, it has been transformed into a light and airy space thanks to the installation of Pilkington Activ™ by Knutsford Conservatory in conjunction with Tuff-X

The Pilkington Fantasy Football game is hotting up and the competition for the title is fierce. There are currently five teams jostling for the top spot, but will they last the pace? One man who is on a roll, however, is our latest manager of the month, research and development worker Melvyn Russell from Pilkington.

A seminar entitled ‘Pilkington Solutions for Energy Rated Windows’ will be presented by Andy McDowell, Pilkington Float and Coated Products Manager, at Glassex 07 in the forum area of the Glassex Energy Efficiency Zone.   Andy’s 20-minute sessions at Glassex will focus on how it’s possible to achieve competitive Window Energy Ratings using Pilkington K Glass™, hints and tips on achieving optimal ratings, future developments and case studies. The sessions will be on Monday March 5 at 1pm and Tuesday March 6 at 12.30pm. We’ve also been flying the flag of Pilkington in Ireland with three seminars focusing on energy efficiency and Pilkington Activ™.

It’s been another busy month with more features from our Press day on fire appearing in The Constructor and ABC&D. Pilkington Pyrostop™ made waves in Building Products in the form of a case study for the Galway Marine Institute and our partnership with Selectaglaze appeared in Fire Prevention and Fire Engineers Journal. For Pilkington Activ™, the trade press has featured a number of case studies, including the installation of their glazing in West Wales Hospital and Pilkington Activ™ Blue on the Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage, and the consumer press has also been full of Pilkington Activ™ with more than 15 pieces of regional coverage secured as a result of our recent conservatory photo shoot with top homes stylist Alison Davidson.

Our website www.pilkington.co.uk has seen a real upturn in  activity at the beginning of 2007, with over 29,000 visits to the site recorded in both January and February, averaging 1,000 visits a day! This compares to an average of 24,500 visits over the final 3 months of 2006. Analysis of the website is being undertaken on a regular basis and we will keep you informed of the key trends as they unfold. Keep track yourself and let us know what else you would like to see by visiting www.pilkington.co.uk/trade to find out what is available. Don't forget to save it to your favourites.