Next month’s BMF’s All-Industry Conference in Malta once again sees FAKRO as a headline sponsor. Having surprised merchants unfamiliar with the quality and extent of its range at the 2013 event, the company will be offering further proof this year of its commitment to innovation.

2015 has seen the launch of several new products and key design improvements, most being shown for the first time at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show in March. In keeping with the BMF’s All-Industry Conference theme of ‘Building Momentum and Focus’, such new and improved products from FAKRO will offer merchants even greater scope for profitable revenue generation and the very latest in design.

One major change affects loft ladder design. The popular LWK Komfort ladder now has ‘click’ fixings, which enable it to be detached from the hatch and frame during installation. Alignment of the frame and ceiling joists can therefore be done by a single installer with no specialist skill required to do so.

FAKRO continues to use close-grain pine as the primary material in its ladder range and though the market has seen a number of cheaper imitations, FAKRO’S quality, in terms of timber and overall construction, is distinctive. Add to that the fact that they look stylish you can see why a growing stockist network is buying in to the value for money that they represent.

This year FAKRO has also introduced a highly energy-efficient loft ladder, the LWT, which has a special 80mm thick hatch filled with insulation. It uses a triple seal system to create the perfect barrier against heat loss and has the same ‘click’ fixings.

Andy Prosser, sales director at FAKRO, said: “FAKRO set out several years ago to develop a reputation for roof window innovation and this was a bold step to take at a time when the company was not well known. Loft ladders may not offer the same scope for design improvement as roof windows but this fundamental change shows how our research team is continually looking for ways to stay ahead of the competition. We invite as many merchants as we can to see our manufacturing and research facilities so that they can judge for themselves what goes into FAKRO’S product development. Feedback confirms that this is often a key factor affecting their decision to buy for the first time.”

Contemporary building design has seen urban living make increasing use of roof terraces and gardens. As a result, the DXW Window for roof terraces has been designed with a wear-resistant, non-slip surface and heavy-duty glazing that will take constant, heavy foot traffic. Alongside the new SF light tunnel, which uses a roof window profile as the light source rather than a traditional roof dome, its styling matches flat roof designs launched in 2014.

Andrew Cross, marketing manager at FAKRO, added: “The BMF’s All-Industry Conference in 2013 gave us the ideal platform to introduce FAKRO to many who had never bought from us before. It’s pleasing to see that our approach to design and extensive range have encouraged many of them to do so for the first time. This is the sector’s premier event and working alongside the BMF as headline sponsor we are confident that it will prove valuable for businesses of all size.”

Mr Prosser concluded: “With the superb organisation that the BMF has put into the event, we hope it will be one which everyone enjoys. FAKRO offers exceptional margin opportunities to merchant partners and we are looking forward to renewing old friendships while also establishing new ones. The merchant supply chain is at the heart of our business and we will be discussing a wide range of topics as part of the programme of events.”