Page 35 - HW June-July 2021

PRECISION
GERMAN
ENGINEERING
door & window furniture
You’ve all seen temporary fencing & gates locked up with chain, now here is a more practical & easy to use way of securing those applications. The new ABUS GateSecTM is suitable for locking a range of steel pipe type framed gates & fencing.
Features:
• Hardened German steel
• EternaTM plated for maximum corrosion
resistance
• Partial concealment of the padlock shackle • Suits up to a 12mm diameter shackle
• Easier & quicker than using chain
• Great visual deterrent
• Made in Germany
The perfect partner to any of the great range of ABUS 83 Series padlocks. Available from locksmiths and good hardware stores. Contact LSCNZ for your nearest stockist.
32a Poland Road, Glenfield, Auckland 0627 P: 9 444 5117
E: info@lscnz.co.nz
A tougher night latch
Designed and engineered with a focus on added strength, increased security, the Night Hawk night latch range from Carbine offers three options designed to retrofit all common brands of night latches.
Billed as up to five times stronger than a standard night latch and address modern aesthetics including a matt black finish, the Night Hawk range also provides significant functionality upgrades over other night latches in the market, with concealed fixing with extra mounting holes, and metal frame and open out strike options available in all models.
www.baberlocknkey.co.nz
carefully and make sure we know if these lead times are going to be extended when placing large orders with overseas suppliers.”
CAN SUPPLY BUT AT A COST
Severe cost increases relating to raw material supply issues have presented another major challenge. “Just recently within our industry there’s been a round of price increases and I can see another one in the not-too-distant future,” regrets Tim Joyce, adding: “We haven’t yet picked up all the price increases coming through on a weekly basis, we’re only picking up the historic ones now.”
So, customers’ extra spend on door and window furniture is not necessarily reflective of tastes going upmarket?
Tim Joyce: “It’s the gradual absorption of extra built-in costs. Plus, there’s planned obsolescence by manufacturers as well as they improve product lines, which adds a slight cost to the mix, and means navigating transition periods in which customers can’t get the old model anymore.”
Murray Baber put three graphs out with a recent client
mailer outlining 1 August price rises. These graphs depict steep increases in the prices of zinc, steel, and chrome of between 50% and 250%. Alongside these are further cost increases around inbound freight, labour, occupancy, energy, and insurance.
“We also air freight,” Baber says, “but stock can be bumped off and shipping extended because it’s a pretty unprofitable route, so we are going to continue to suffer in New Zealand.”
Still, Murray is also happy to report strong business levels as we pass the mid-point of 2021: “We’ve experienced a big pick-up from large construction projects including big orders to supply through architectural merchants for prisons, such as an order for 800 cupboard locks.
“We’re pretty much back to normal business levels but we’re paying a lot more attention to stock control and people are being careful not to overbuy.”
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JUNE/JULY 2021 | NZHJ 33