Liniar scoops FIT Show award with Alumina bi-fold buzz

New product launches, dazzling design, a classy coffee bar, sketch video, touchscreen table and enthusiastic staff all combined to earn Liniar the prestigious award for the Best Stand Over 80m at the 2016 FIT Show – and the exhibition proved to be a great success all round. Liniar’s new aluminium bi-folding doors caused a real stir among visitors, with many taking some convincing that they weren’t uPVC. Designed by the same team of experts as the Liniar window system, the foiled and sculptured finish of the Alumina by Liniar bi-folds attracted a constant flow of interested parties.

Fantastic reaction

Kevin Richards, Managing Director of Senator Windows, couldn’t contain his excitement: “Wow! The Liniar team have done it once again with the Alumina bi-folding door - outstanding strength, security and thermal efficiency in one aluminium bi-fold. The fact that it’s the first of its kind to be sculptured and foiled makes it an industry first. Our customers are going to love it!” DoubleGlazingBlogger Jason Grafton-Holt was also suitably impressed: “The Liniar stand is perhaps one of the best throughout the exhibition. An in-built NYC-class coffee shop is a perfect place to recharge and take in their enormous Alumina ali bi-folding door system, on show at 2500mm high and 1200mm wide per sash. The thing is huge! It also looks damn good.”

Quality products

Also on show were Liniar’s ModLok™ bi-folding doors, which although dwarfed by Alumina, still raised eyebrows with their patented aluminium reinforcement and locking mechanism and the smooth operation of each door. Installers who had traditionally shied away from uPVC bi-folds were convinced by the ModLok’s strength, and this was further corroborated with Liniar being presented with PAS24 and Secured By Design status on the stand itself. With demonstration and full-size models of the Liniar conservatory roof kit and the soon-to-be-launched fascia and soffit range, together with flush sash windows making an appearance at their second FIT Show, Liniar certainly had enough on display to prove its status as one of the most innovative systems companies.

Out-stand-ing!

Visitors flocked to the stand over the three days to peruse the products, meet the team, see the new literature on offer and pick up a goodie bag containing, among other treats, a Liniar tape measure and USB stick. Liniar’s exclusive entertaining area, the Lime Light Coffee Bar, provided the perfect venue for customers, both existing and new, to enjoy a hot drink, a bite to eat and to find out about the new additions to the range. The touchscreen table brought digital brochures, videos and websites to the fingertips of visitors, while creating queues of willing gamesters to take on the Liniar design team at ‘Tap’ – although nobody managed to dislodge them from the top of the leader board!

Rewarding experience

The success of the stand was made even sweeter when Paul Godwin, FIT Show Director, announced from the stage of the gala dinner that Liniar had won the award for the Best Stand Over 80m. Chris Armes, Sue Davenport and Helen Noble, all integral to the design and organisation of Liniar’s exhibition presence, ascended to the stage to accept the trophy. “It was great that all the hard work that everyone has put in to every aspect of our stand has been recognised,” said Chris. “It makes it all worthwhile.” The feedback from the competition judges highlighted the key points that secured the decision, among them the use of different, eye catching zones that cleverly incorporated technology and encouraged a good flow of visitors. One judge commented: “The clean, bright stand incorporated pretty much everything needed; hospitality, game attraction, products etc.  It was inviting and made a great use of space.” Another stated: “Winner! Ticked all the boxes, extremely well presented, products on show, funky café, pleasant staff, competitions, easy to access.”

Master Fitter Challenge

TV presenter George Clark opened the live finals of the Master Fitter Challenge, with this year’s event proving to be a greater success than ever before. Six teams competed against the clock under tough conditions beneath the careful gaze of the GQA’s exacting assessors. Liniar once again sponsored the window section of the challenge and Marc Wilcoxson, technical support expert for Liniar, took to the stage at the gala dinner to present the winners with a cheque for £5,000. Congratulations to Pennine Windows on your success and a big well done to everyone who took part.

FIT to drop!

If you’ve been wondering why some of the Liniar stand team were looking slightly bruised and battered during the show, it’s because 14 members of our team took part in the gruelling Wolf Run event just three days before the FIT Show, in aid of charity. Tackling a 10k run littered with challenging obstacles and freezing cold swims, the team has so far raised more than £6,000, largely due to the amazing generosity of customers and friends in the industry. All the money will be going to Derby Royal Hospital’s neonatal unit in memory of Liniar D&D Director Adrian ‘Reg’ Redshaw’s grandson.