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Hunt’s Headlines – Industry Reacts
Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement has been welcomed for cutting National Insurance and making tax easier for the self-employed. Being able to claim tax...
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Doors That Stand Up, Stand Out
“Quality is a core principle that’s embedded into every part of our business, from door design and material sourcing to testing, partnerships and installer support,” Apeer’s Asa McGillian told The Installer recently.
“And in a marketplace increasingly flooded with underperforming, non-compliant products, our commitment to verified quality is proving more vital than we could ever have predicted.”
Fake news
McGillian was talking about the growing awareness that some door manufacturers are making false claims about the U-values of their products. The Apeer CEO has emerged as a leading industry voice calling for accountability in the fenestration trade. “It’s not enough to say a door performs,” he told us. “You have to prove it, reliably, transparently and independently.
“That’s what quality means.”
Quality that’s proven, not promised
Apeer launched the first 70mm composite door with a U-value of 0.9W/m²K twenty years ago. Now with a range that includes three levels of doors, from a 44mm entry level door to a 70mm A++ door to a quadruple-glazed 120mm door, every Apeer door is built from the ground up to meet stringent thermal and performance standards. Every component, from insulating cores to advanced glazing units, is selected and assembled with the final U-value in mind. That value isn’t based on theoretical modelling but on certified, third-party testing.
Who’s fooling you?
Yet recent independent assessments commissioned by Apeer have found shocking disparities in the wider market. “In some cases,” says McGillian, “we’ve tested competitor doors that claim low U-values but that are actually achieving between 2 and 3 W/m²K. Some have no insulation at all and so they perform worse than a basic cavity wall. That’s not just non-compliant, it’s completely fraudulent.”
These findings have helped expose what McGillian describes as a compliance crisis, where false claims are harming both consumers and honest businesses. Installers in particular are vulnerable, with the potential for reputational damage or even legal consequences if non-compliant products are fitted under false pretences.
McGillian told us: “If a door doesn’t perform as promised, it’s not just the manufacturer who’s at risk, it’s the installer who faces the customer’s questions. That’s why we make sure that every performance claim on an Apeer product can be backed up with proper certification and data. It’s what installers and homeowners deserve.”
Investment pays
“Building a high-performance composite door takes more time, more expertise and more investment,” says McGillian. “But the result is a product we can stand behind and one that our partners can sell with total confidence.”
“We’ve invested in our factory and equipment and also our choice of materials. We spend a lot on research and development. And we invest in our skilled workforce here in Ballymena.”
Partners
This holistic approach to quality is also reflected in how Apeer works with its partners. The recent distribution agreement Apeer signed with integral blinds specialist Blinds in Glass Group (BiGG) is a prime example of this alignment. “Our partnership with BiGG will help expand Apeer’s reach across England and Wales, introducing new installer networks to a door range that doesn’t need performance claims dressed up because it has the paperwork to prove them,” says McGillian. It will work because both businesses are committed to raising standards, not lowering prices at the cost of quality.”
“Inferior doors might offer a short-term margin boost but they pose long-term risks for everyone in the supply chain. That’s why we don’t just sell a product, we support our network of partners. From detailed installation guides to marketing assets, colour swatches and showroom support, our commitment to quality continues long after the door leaves the factory.”
Pictures: “When we say we’re partners with our installers and distributors, we mean it. We want them to succeed, and that starts with giving them products they can be proud to sell and fit. We’ve always believed that trust is the foundation of this industry and that trust has to be earned. We’re earning it with every door we build,” Apeer’s Asa McGillian recently told The Installer.
Article written by Brian Shillibeer
08th September 2025