Amdega, the oldest designer and manufacturer of conservatories in the world, has reported strong growth figures for the first half of 2008, despite the current pressures on the global economy.
Renowned for its premium, bespoke conservatories, orangeries and summerhouses, Amdega has experienced a 25% increase in exports to the Far East, Europe and the States since the turn of the year, as well as 10% growth in new orders in the UK during May and June.
The company recently unveiled a new environmental policy, making it the first in its sector to make the formal move from utilising traditionally sourced hardwoods to temperate American (and other) hardwoods, North American Douglas Fir and high grade European engineered timbers. Waste materials including sawdust, off-cuts, paper, glass and metal are all being recycled and even the timber treatment solution used is long term bio-degradable. As a result of this policy, the company has seen a 30% reduction in waste and over 50% less materials going to landfill. So far, every customer who has been offered the choice of changing their order from traditional hardwoods to the new choice of timbers has made the move, signalling 100% support for Amdega’s industry-leading environmental approach.
Paul Cruddace, Amdega’s International Business Director commented; “We have already achieved an overall 12% increase in orders compared to 2007 and we have still have the second half of the year to go. Despite the widely reported ‘credit crunch’, Amdega is performing strongly and we are confident that our end of year figures will achieve expectations. We have recently recruited six new designers and are looking to take on further design expertise both in the UK and overseas.”
He continued; “With people losing confidence in the property market, many customers are viewing an Amdega conservatory as a premium investment in their home, adding value and extra space without the need to move house. And thanks to our increased 15 year structural warranty, a bespoke Amdega conservatory continues to be a byword for excellence in design, quality and durability.”
As well as making a combined £250,000 investment to enable the move from traditional hardwoods, Amdega is investing a further £300k+ in its new Amdega Academy, which offers ten employees per year the opportunity to undertake a 3 year business management degree. The scheme is open to all employees with a view to developing junior to middle management, with the goal that eventually thirty employees will achieve the qualification.
Paul explained; “If the company is to fulfil the growth objectives that we have set, we need to offer our staff the opportunity to grow with us and achieve their potential. Armed with their new business management degrees, we hope our staff will continue to be motivated, hard working and committed to taking Amdega forward. We are fully confident that we will achieve our projected turnover in 2008 and 2009.’
Amdega was launched in 1874 and employs some 315 people in the UK, with the majority based at its workshops in Darlington. The company also has representatives in 15 countries worldwide. Annual turnover, which includes a significant proportion of international trade, reached £29 million in 2007.
The company is renowned for excellence in design and quality across its range of traditional and contemporary conservatories, orangeries, summerhouses and pool houses. All commissions are individually designed to suit the specific needs and lifestyles of each customer.
Orginally published: 27 June 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Amdega launches new range of summerhouses
Amdega Limited, the manufacturer of premium timber conservatories and summerhouses, has launched a new range of contemporary summerhouses, in preparation for the forthcoming spring/summer season.
The modern designs reflect those of Amdega’s recently-launched contemporary range of conservatories.
The summerhouse is very much part of the English gardening tradition, having been in place in English gardens since the 16th century. Since that time, summerhouses have been used as a place for relaxation, a retreat from the elements or a place to meet with friends and family. Amdega’s new summerhouse designs are shaped to suit every style and size of garden and can be positioned towards the sun or shade, to take in the desired views. Certain models even rotate to follow the sun throughout the day.
With the virtues of summerhouses extolled by gardening great Gertrude Jekyll in the 1800s, the new range of Amdega summerhouses are made from durable, high-quality timber that can be stained or painted to suit any garden ambience, creating a bridge between house and garden. All timbers are sourced from managed, sustainable sources and carry the FSC symbol.
Attention to detail is reflected throughout the range of Amdega summerhouses with traditional leaded glass. Internal side frames are lined with exterior-quality oak veneer and externally clad with Western Red Cedar wood to continue with the upmarket finishing of the buildings. Floors are solid timber and roof shingles are made from Cedar wood, which over time, mellows to a soft hue to reflect the subtlety of an English garden.
Chris Redfern, Amdega’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We wanted to be able to offer our customers a wider choice. Our name is associated with traditional designs. While that still remains the case, we now also offer very modern looking conservatories and garden buildings. All of them carry the Amdega name, which is a hallmark for excellence.”
“The traditional image of a summerhouse is a place to store garden furniture, somewhere to shelter from a storm or take afternoon tea. Just like conservatories, people are looking at more imaginative ways to use them. Summerhouses – or summer buildings – are used as gyms, offices or, for some people, a place to write or paint,” said Mr Redfern.
Amdega employs over 300 people in the UK, the majority based in its workshops in Darlington in the North East, and has representatives in 15 countries worldwide. Its turnover, which includes a significant proportion of international trade, approaches £30 million per year.
Chris Redfern added: “We are now delighted to be able to launch our contemporary summerhouse range at the start of this spring and summer season. We are confident they will be as well received as our new range of conservatories. It is important for companies, even one as well established as Amdega, to be innovative and adjust to current market trends and fashions.”
Orginally published: 17 April 2008
The modern designs reflect those of Amdega’s recently-launched contemporary range of conservatories.
The summerhouse is very much part of the English gardening tradition, having been in place in English gardens since the 16th century. Since that time, summerhouses have been used as a place for relaxation, a retreat from the elements or a place to meet with friends and family. Amdega’s new summerhouse designs are shaped to suit every style and size of garden and can be positioned towards the sun or shade, to take in the desired views. Certain models even rotate to follow the sun throughout the day.
With the virtues of summerhouses extolled by gardening great Gertrude Jekyll in the 1800s, the new range of Amdega summerhouses are made from durable, high-quality timber that can be stained or painted to suit any garden ambience, creating a bridge between house and garden. All timbers are sourced from managed, sustainable sources and carry the FSC symbol.
Attention to detail is reflected throughout the range of Amdega summerhouses with traditional leaded glass. Internal side frames are lined with exterior-quality oak veneer and externally clad with Western Red Cedar wood to continue with the upmarket finishing of the buildings. Floors are solid timber and roof shingles are made from Cedar wood, which over time, mellows to a soft hue to reflect the subtlety of an English garden.
Chris Redfern, Amdega’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We wanted to be able to offer our customers a wider choice. Our name is associated with traditional designs. While that still remains the case, we now also offer very modern looking conservatories and garden buildings. All of them carry the Amdega name, which is a hallmark for excellence.”
“The traditional image of a summerhouse is a place to store garden furniture, somewhere to shelter from a storm or take afternoon tea. Just like conservatories, people are looking at more imaginative ways to use them. Summerhouses – or summer buildings – are used as gyms, offices or, for some people, a place to write or paint,” said Mr Redfern.
Amdega employs over 300 people in the UK, the majority based in its workshops in Darlington in the North East, and has representatives in 15 countries worldwide. Its turnover, which includes a significant proportion of international trade, approaches £30 million per year.
Chris Redfern added: “We are now delighted to be able to launch our contemporary summerhouse range at the start of this spring and summer season. We are confident they will be as well received as our new range of conservatories. It is important for companies, even one as well established as Amdega, to be innovative and adjust to current market trends and fashions.”
Orginally published: 17 April 2008
Amdega chosen for prestigious exhibition
Amdega, the world’s oldest conservatory company, has been chosen by the organisers to be just one of a handful of key exhibitors at this year’s prestigious 100th Ideal Home Exhibition.
One of the Darlington-based company’s new range of contemporary conservatories will be built on the exhibition floor at Earl’s Court in London. The Ideal Home Exhibition organisers say they have selected Amdega and other top UK companies to ensure the quality of this year’s show matches the occasion.
As well as visiting Amdega’s conservatory, visitors to Earl’s Court will be able to imagine what life would be like in the ultimate six million pound house, see the latest inventions for the home and be entertained by some of the best-known celebrity chefs – including Jean-Christophe Novelli, Aldo Zilli and Sophie Grigson.
An Amdega spokesman said: “It is a great honour to be invited to take part in this special Ideal Home Exhibition. Between us, Amdega and the Ideal Home Exhibition have more than 230 years of experience in providing exciting innovations. We are delighted that one of our new designs will feature at the show. I am sure visitors will be impressed by what they see.”
The IHE runs from 14 March to 6 April and is expected to attract more than 50,000 people a day. Its special centenary website, which features Amdega images, has already had 67,000 hits since its launch in September
Over the last 100 years it has been the launch pad for countless household products including the toaster and electric kettle (1920), the microwave (1947) and the electric grass mower (1970). The show has also been in the vanguard when it comes to environmental concerns, unveiling the first ‘energy efficient kitchen’ in 1989.
Thirty four years before the first exhibition W Richardson and Co, a family firm of horticultural engineers who supplied heating systems for exclusive glasshouses, began building their own glasshouses.
The glasshouses were used to “conserve” exotic plants, which had been imported from all over the world, during the English winter. The company, which later became Amdega, quickly established a reputation for building exceptionally high quality “conservatories”.
That tradition has continued, with brief interruptions during both world wars when the skills of Amdega’s workforce were used to manufacturer spare parts for the Royal Flying Corps’ bi-planes and prefab homes to replace houses destroyed in the Blitz.
Amdega now employs over 300 people in its workshops in Darlington in the North East of England, and has representatives in 15 countries worldwide. Its turnover approaches £30 million per year, which includes a significant international presence.
Orginally published: 28 February 2008
One of the Darlington-based company’s new range of contemporary conservatories will be built on the exhibition floor at Earl’s Court in London. The Ideal Home Exhibition organisers say they have selected Amdega and other top UK companies to ensure the quality of this year’s show matches the occasion.
As well as visiting Amdega’s conservatory, visitors to Earl’s Court will be able to imagine what life would be like in the ultimate six million pound house, see the latest inventions for the home and be entertained by some of the best-known celebrity chefs – including Jean-Christophe Novelli, Aldo Zilli and Sophie Grigson.
An Amdega spokesman said: “It is a great honour to be invited to take part in this special Ideal Home Exhibition. Between us, Amdega and the Ideal Home Exhibition have more than 230 years of experience in providing exciting innovations. We are delighted that one of our new designs will feature at the show. I am sure visitors will be impressed by what they see.”
The IHE runs from 14 March to 6 April and is expected to attract more than 50,000 people a day. Its special centenary website, which features Amdega images, has already had 67,000 hits since its launch in September
Over the last 100 years it has been the launch pad for countless household products including the toaster and electric kettle (1920), the microwave (1947) and the electric grass mower (1970). The show has also been in the vanguard when it comes to environmental concerns, unveiling the first ‘energy efficient kitchen’ in 1989.
Thirty four years before the first exhibition W Richardson and Co, a family firm of horticultural engineers who supplied heating systems for exclusive glasshouses, began building their own glasshouses.
The glasshouses were used to “conserve” exotic plants, which had been imported from all over the world, during the English winter. The company, which later became Amdega, quickly established a reputation for building exceptionally high quality “conservatories”.
That tradition has continued, with brief interruptions during both world wars when the skills of Amdega’s workforce were used to manufacturer spare parts for the Royal Flying Corps’ bi-planes and prefab homes to replace houses destroyed in the Blitz.
Amdega now employs over 300 people in its workshops in Darlington in the North East of England, and has representatives in 15 countries worldwide. Its turnover approaches £30 million per year, which includes a significant international presence.
Orginally published: 28 February 2008
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