Glazing firm TuffX provides an update on its operations and its growing product range.
Glass has been placed in the spotlight this year by the United Nations General Assembly with 2022 being named the International Year of Glass. It’s a fitting tribute too because in both domestic and commercial buildings, glass is being used today in ways that would never have been thought possible just a couple of decades ago.
One company celebrating the International Year of Glass and all that is glass in building, is a company that has been supplying the material for 85 years, TuffX. From its beginnings as a corner shop, TuffX has now grown to be one of the largest manufacturers of glass products in the UK.
Longevity matters
Paul Higgins, Commercial Director of TuffX comments: “In an era of new start-up businesses, we are proud of our heritage and are committed to keeping a firm emphasis on the outstanding quality and service that our customers have come to expect from us. Entrepreneurial spirit is a great thing, and it’s the reason TuffX came into being in the first place, but longevity and stability are also important to tradespeople that are under pressure day-to-day. The last two years have been a stark reminder to us all of the importance of partnership in business, which is precisely why we will continue to invest in all of the products and support our customers need.”
One such investment is an extension of the company’s current premises. The site in Knowsley is undergoing a 30,000 sq ft extension which when completed later this year will give TuffX 115,000 sq ft of space in total. This follows ongoing investment in machinery and other periphery factory improvements which totalled £2 million. The manufacturer has also expanded the company fleet multiple times to maintain service levels, despite a growing portfolio. In fact, to ensure builders and installers get the products they need without any hassle, the company offers nationwide delivery direct to site via its fleet of 40 vans and trucks. The most recent vehicles to be added to the fleet include a Sprinter van, a 7.5-tonne truck, a 10-tonne truck and a 13-tonne truck – a range of sizes that complement the existing fleet and ensure TuffX can continue to be relied on to deliver products economically on a large scale, along with rural deliveries on routes with potentially restricted access.
Growing the range
The evolving TuffX Infinity Range of products has catapulted the company’s growth more recently as it meets the growing demand for incorporating architectural glass into the home. Innovative new products that allow light to flood into and around open plan properties, and seamlessly join the outside space with the inside, are proving increasingly popular says TuffX.
“The Infinity Range was launched with framed fixed rooflights and walk on units in 2019,” explains Paul, “but we have added to our portfolio considerably since then to meet the desire for more and more glass in the home. We are expanding the factory to house this growing range, with our glass rooflight, roof lanterns and pond glass all being added in the last few years.
“Our rooflights and walk on units have proved particularly popular with builders as well as homeowners because they are so easy to install on site. They come assembled so – assuming the aperture or roof upstand have been built to the correct specification beforehand – these products offer a drop in-and-seal solution.
“We are proud to say that we are currently the only company that can supply fire rated walk-on glass floor units. These units really open the space inside the home by allowing light to flow between floors, while remaining usable in areas where fire egress building standards need to be met. We also offer thermal walk-on units for use for example on the roof of an extension that is doubling up as a balcony upstairs, and walk-on glass floor units for use inside the home between the ground floor and a basement or cellar. Our framed and all glass rooflights and roof lanterns continue to be popular for extensions and renovations, while our pond glass is perfect for raised garden ponds and built-in aquariums.
“Consumers are opting for more glass in their homes, whether in the walls, floors or ceilings, and this is a trend we passionately believe is here to stay. With a programme of continuous investment and product development, and a dedication to elevated levels of customer service, the team at TuffX will carry on supporting builders and installers to deliver on homeowner’s ever-expanding requirements.”
For further information on TuffX visit https://www.tuffxglass.co.uk/
