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Forterro continues expansion into the fenestration industry with BM Group acquisition

Posted on 08/01/2025

The deal builds on the acquisition of Orgadata AG in 2024 to further grow the new Forterro Windows and Doors line of business 

London, UK, 8 January 2025 - European software provider Forterro has continued its expansion into the window, door and façade industry, with the acquisition of BM Group (TOUCH, BM Aluminium, Business Micros, The Consultancy, Glazing Vault, Tranquility Ordering).

Founded in 1979 and operating from offices in Scotland and England, BM Group is the leading IT solutions provider in the UK and Ireland fenestration software sector. Its products include Evolution, the widely used uPVC order processing and fabrication solution, and Touch, its web-based management platform, which covers all sectors within the windows and doors market: uPVC, aluminium and timber.

The BM Group acquisition is Forterro’s second in the fenestration sector. In November 2024 it announced the acquisition of Orgadata AG, a German company known for its innovative Logikal software for designing, calculating and producing windows, doors and curtain walls. The Orgadata deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Both companies will operate in the newly formed Forterro Windows and Doors business line.

“Adding BM Group to Forterro Windows and Doors means we have an immediate and powerful presence in this market, and it is a perfect fit with our other acquisition in the sector,” said Marcus Pannier, Regional President, Forterro. “BM Group is hugely innovative, and bringing it into Forterro means it can benefit from our experience in scaling and growing companies, taking that innovation to a bigger and broader market than would have otherwise been challenging.”

In addition to its own products, BM Group is the sole reseller of Orgadata’s Logikal product in the UK. Logikal digitalises and simplifies processes around aluminium window, door and curtain wall designs so that companies can work more efficiently, and BM Group has implemented Logikal for nearly 20 years.

BM Group’s Managing Director Graeme Bailey will remain with the company, focusing on integrating the BM Group teams into Forterro Windows and Doors, and Chief Technical Officer Jim Cronie will continue to drive product innovation. Bernd Hillbrands, the founder of Orgadata, will head up Forterro Windows and Doors following completion of the Orgadata transaction.

“Forterro is the ideal partner for us, with shared values and culture and a focus on innovation and collaboration,” said Graeme Bailey, Managing Director, BM Group. “Being part of Forterro Windows and Doors means we are better placed to help our customers meet market challenges and realise their growth ambitions, with access to broader expertise, technology and support. Our understanding of Orgadata’s Logikal and implementation with customers was also pivotal to our successful alignment within Forterro.”

“Forterro is an industrial software specialist – it’s a sector we know incredibly well, and the BM Group acquisition is timely, giving us further access to the growing window, door, and façade industry,” continued Marcus Pannier, Forterro. "Our mid-market expertise is second to none, and bringing BM Group to Forterro means that we start 2025 as we mean to continue supporting customers and achieving growth."

Advisors to BM Group on the deal were Eversheds-Sutherland, Spencer Gardner Dickens and Thomas Nock Martin Accountants. Advisors to Forterro were Alvarez & Marsal, EY and Foot Anstey.

NEW ONLINE SHOP OPTION AVAILABLE FROM GLAZING VAULT

Posted on 06/07/2021

If any of the industry’s online specialists can claim to know the installer market better than the rest, then it’s Glazing Vault, which already has more than 650 installation businesses using at least one of its software products.

Having built its reputation on developing low-cost glazing product websites and simple to use product designers, it has now added the option of an online shop which installers can purchase as a fully functioning e-commerce website or as an upgrade to their existing site.

Katie Phillips, Account Manager at Glazing Vault, says it’s the ideal product for installers, as well as fabricators and stockists who supply direct to self-builders and homeowners. She says: “Adding an online shop gives installers another dimension to their online presence and a potentially valuable source of new business.

“We all know that the pandemic has really accelerated the shift online and that’s been reflected in soaring demand for our online lead generation products. However, it’s also transformed the online shopping market, with the 2021 Online Nation Report showing a massive 48% increase in online shopping last year. For many consumers, buying online has now become their default option and, even as lockdown eases, businesses with no e-commerce capacity at all really are at risk of missing out.”

Glazing Vault has concentrated on making its new online shop option as easy to set up and use as its popular product designers. Customers can either choose the new website theme created specifically to be a stand-alone online shop, or they can add a bespoke online shop to their existing Glazing Vault website theme. Whichever option they choose, they can populate their shop with their own products and prices and keep it updated themselves with stock availability and lead times.

The e-commerce store facility is also available as an option on bespoke website designs developed by Glazing Vault’s sister company The Consultancy.

Katie Phillips adds: “This is all very well proven open-source technology which we know works seamlessly alongside customers’ WordPress websites. It includes plug-ins for secure payments and is fully customisable. We provide all the support that customers need to get their shop set up in the first place and then give them the tools they need to keep it running smoothly.”

The first Glazing Vault customers to have launched their online shops are reporting even better than expected sales figures and positive feedback from buyers.

Demo store available to view at: http://woostore.glazingvault.com

COVID-19 Update

Posted on 31/03/2020

In line with the shutdown now in place across most of the industry to try to halt the spread of Coronavirus, we have taken the decision to temporarily close some of our operations here at Glazing Vault.

We have a small team working to ensure that the business remains in good shape to reopen as soon as we are given the go ahead that it is safe and sensible to do so and to look after any customers who are still operating.

All product designers and websites will remain running as normal and you will be contacted by our automated system if your renewal is due during this period 

If you need any help during the shutdown period or have any questions or queries, please email us at: info@glazingvault.com and a member of the team will get straight back to you.

Thank you to every single one of our customers for their support in these challenging times. We will keep the website and social channels updated with our plans.

Please stay safe over the coming weeks. We hope to be back with you very soon.

Business Micros Acquisition Film

Posted on 30/03/2020

Last month, Business Micros announced that they had acquired Echo Digital Media, better know as The Consultancy & Glazing Vault.

In this film, Graeme Bailey & Paul Callaghan talk about the deal and the plans for the future.

Business Micros Announces Exciting Acquisition

Posted on 06/02/2020

 

Business Micros has announced the acquisition of Echo Digital Media (EDM), better known in this industry under its twin brands of The Consultancy and The Glazing Vault, for an undisclosed sum.

The move brings together two of the sector’s biggest digital specialists; and demonstrates the scale of Business Micros’ continuing ambition as it looks to strengthen its market leading position in its 41st year.

Graeme Bailey, Managing Director of Business Micros, says the investment in EDM will have long term benefits for both businesses, giving them the opportunity to share expertise and resources, as well as to develop new opportunities together.

He says: “EDM is already a really good business, with a great team and really exciting products, particularly in terms of its pricing and ordering portals. With Business Micros’ backing, we think it has the potential to be even better, and we will certainly be looking to invest further in both the team and the product range.”

For customers of Business Micros and EDM, Graeme says it is very much business as usual. He adds: “Customers probably won’t notice any differences in the short term but, over time, we are confident that they will see some really significant improvements in how we both operate. For instance, EDM will now have access to the datasets held within Business Micros to make their portal development quicker and easier, while Business Micros will be able to utilise the digital design expertise at EDM to enhance the interface on many of our products.

“We’ve got some really exciting new plans as well which will make the most of the obvious synergy between the two businesses, building on our individual strengths and making us even better as a group.”

Moving forward, EDM will operate as a separate business within the Business Micros group, in the same way that BM Aluminium, the specialist aluminium software business, has done since 2007. Paul Callaghan, EDM’s Managing Director, says that he sees only positives for EDM and its customers following the acquisition: “We’re becoming part of the industry’s biggest software provider, which has spent over 40 years building a deserved reputation for service and innovation. That’s a really exciting opportunity for us and gives us the platform we need to push on to the next phase in our growth.” 

 



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