2021 Year in Review
NorDan UK Managing Director, Alex Brown, discusses what the company has been involved with over the past year and summarises our current state as we move into 2022.
As we approach the end of 2021, I wanted to reflect on the past year and what has been happening within NorDan UK. It has been quite an exciting time for the company, with several new projects and milestones that will hopefully have a lasting effect over the coming years.
I’m delighted to report that this year saw another record year for NorDan UK, both in terms of turnover and profitability. This is a credit to our own people, both in the UK and across Europe in our manufacturing facilities. I need to make special thank you to our regional business leaders in Livingston, Aberdeen, and Exeter – without your constant drive and commitment the results achieved this year would not have been possible. Congratulations to all.
I would also like to thank our incredible clients we have built lasting relationships with. If the progress made in 2021 is anything to go by, I’m sure the next few years will see even more exciting developments take shape.
The first thing to acknowledge is of course that 2021 marked 40 years since the founding of NorDan UK. With NorDan products being designed to perform reliably over many years in even the harshest weather, the decision to expand to the UK in 1981 made perfect sense.
40 years later, we now supply high-spec, windows, doors and smart accessories across the UK through a growing pool of regional offices. The company has become a household name in many parts of the UK, being specified for many high-profile commercial developments and residential projects of all sizes.
2021 saw the continuation of our programme of 6-figure upgrades to regional showrooms. We’re now in a state to provide a truly hands-on and engaging showroom experience that will enhance our specification process for customers.
Speaking of specification, NorDan’s continued investment in sustainability and digitalisation throughout 2021 has led to us establishing a dedicated team of technical specification advisors to aid clients throughout the process of specifying NorDan windows.
Spearheaded by our Senior Manager of Strategic Sales, Mike Stevenson, the Spec Team allows NorDan UK to quickly deliver our technical and environmental documentation. Towards the end of the year, we had the privilege of being involved in the zero-carbon COP26 House project from Beyond Zero Homes, which was showcased during COP26 in Glasgow this November.
NorDan UK provided a range of aluminium-clad timber windows and doors, including HomeGuard entrance doors. We were selected as a supply partner for the project due to the excellent low embodied carbon credentials of our products, combined with their efficient operational carbon qualities.
Projects of this kind not only signal the potential future of housing, but also the future we foresee for NorDan as a business. Zero carbon living is no longer just an aspiration, but a reality that as an industry and as a planet, we must continue to work towards achieving.
As a final highlight from this year, we were pleased to have also been involved with the delivery of the largest window and door installation programme of its kind in Scottish history.
Sidey was recently contracted by Falkirk Council for the replacement of windows and doors across approx. 12,000 properties over a 4-year period as part of an extensive refurbishment across the council’s entire portfolio of public housing properties.
To meet this brief, Sidey entered a partnership with NorDan UK to provide alu-clad timber windows and doors to compliment Sidey’s existing range of products. We’re pleased to be working in partnership on this exciting and essential project and look forward to seeing it develop going forward.
Throughout 2021, there have of course been several new challenges, from the fallout of Brexit to further complications caused by COVID-19. Thankfully, the hard work and dedication of the NorDan UK team has allowed orders to be fulfilled, deadlines to be met and new connections to be made.
I’d like to reinforce my thanks our members of staff for their continued positivity, communication and strong work ethic, even despite challenging circumstances.
The future may not be certain, but I am sure that as a company we are in an excellent position to continue driving growth across the UK and group wide.
As the NorDan Group approaches its 100th Anniversary, we hope to build on our recent momentum by introducing new products designed specifically for the British market and putting an even greater focus on environmental sustainability across the entire organisation.
On behalf of NorDan UK, I’d like to wish all of our staff members, connections and customers the very best over the Festive Season and hope you have a Happy New Year.
- Alex Brown, Managing Director, NorDan UK
