Five years on: what’s changed?

Ross Hartshorn, Sheerline’s Technical Production Director, looks back over the past five years of the aluminium industry and considers how the sector has changed. 

Sheerline is a premium aluminium systems house. Based at a single manufacturing site in Derbyshire, we undertake everything from aluminium extrusion to powder-coating and logistics in-house. Our vision was to build a highly vertically integrated sustainable UK manufacturing business, with Sheerline offering solutions to the issues associated with some legacy aluminium systems houses, such as poor service and stagnant product development. 

2025 marks the fifth anniversary of Sheerline’s launch and, in that time, a lot has happened. Aside from the usual, we launched during an unprecedented global pandemic, which has contributed to global economic instability. But what key changes has the aluminuim industry experienced over the past five years?  

Consumers’ love of aluminium 

One of the biggest changes has been the popularity of aluminium, and there are two ways of looking at this. Firstly is the consumer perspective, which is arguably tied to the refined, architectural aesthetics offered by aluminium. It is the versatility of aluminium that makes it the ideal choice for so many projects, from ultra-modern developments to properties located in conservation areas. The rise in heritage styling can be attributed to the way aluminium easily replicates the slim sightlines, unlike PVC-u. The other advantages include the fact homeowners can create comfortable stylish homes without compromising on sustainability or practicality. Being able to choose from an array of colours means homeowners can make their project unique. 

The industry’s embrace 

From an industry perspective, there are clear signs the growing popularity of aluminium is not a passing trend. This is reflected by the number of industry acquisitions that have taken place – particularly this year, signalling the diversification of traditional PVC-u systems houses. Adding complementary aluminium products to sit side-by-side their existing offering allows them to compete in different markets and mitigate the risks that come with relying on one sector.  

Industry instability 

The past few years have seen instability on a global scale. Regardless of the cause – COVID, ongoing geopolitical tensions, or economic pressures – the result has been widespread and unpredictable. Fabricators have sadly come and gone, which isn’t new for this industry. Some suppliers reliant on cheap imports were accused of importing aluminium from countries under sanction. And Trump’s tariff threats are causing ongoing uncertainty. Other factors driving instability include the skills shortage, the downturn in the UK’s construction sector, and the ongoing ‘race to the bottom’ mindset. Although the premium aluminium market is largely immune to it, it’s challenging for those at the budget end of PVC-u. 

Innovation 

On a more positive note, an invigorated aluminium fenestration sector has led to more innovation. The influence of this can be seen across the industry year after year, as new products are launched. But it’s not just products being introduced – there’s hardware, component parts, and methods of construction. And it’s not just driving positive change within the window and door space; aluminium is gaining momentum in the roof market too. For Sheerline, the initial vision was to develop a fully-suited, perfectly matched product range, so homeowners could achieve consistent styling throughout the home. In the past, everything may have been Anthracite Grey, but that’s where the similarities ended. 

Legislative changes 

Changes proposed as part of the Future Homes Standard also have the potential to affect the industry. However, it isn’t possible to know exactly how, as the revised standard introduction has been delayed (yet again!). It’s thought the pending changes to Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) will tighten the thermal performance requirements of newbuilds. However, there is a school of thought that argues the existing standards should be better policed first. Other expected changes relate to Part F (ventilation) and Part O (overheating mitigation). The findings from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry have the potential to drive positive change within Building Regulations, which could also impact the fenestration industry. 

This is just a snapshot of some of the changes within the fenestration industry over the past few years. Things are constantly changing, and they will continue to do so. However, external factors can be mitigated with hands-on management and strategic planning.  

www.sheerline.com