Window and door fastener specialist, Rapierstar, has announced it is creating a new state-of-the-art Learning and Development Centre dedicated to boosting the essential technical skills required by its customers and supply chain partners.
The new 2,500 ft² facility, located within its head office complex near Macclesfield, will be the first of its kind by a UK fastener supplier, according to Rapierstar.
The L&D Centre will play a pivotal role in enhancing fastener knowledge and application skills, bringing technical know-how of window fabricators, profile extrusion companies, leading hardware manufacturers and other industry stakeholders. The centre's development is part of a wider programme of investment which also includes new technology to enable 3D modelling and CAD design as part of the NPD process and stock holding.
The new facility will also be home to Rapierstar’s expanded R&D and quality testing centre. In addition to the technical resources, the L&D Centre will feature a trade showroom, complete with the full range of Rapierstar point of sale materials available to customers. The displays and marketing collateral will be manufactured on-site and can be tailored to specific requirements.
David Furness, Managing Director of Rapierstar, said: "Fastener selection plays such an important role in the success of every window or door, which is why we are investing in the industry's only learning and development resource of its kind. It is imperative that fabricators, installers, profile and hardware manufacturers can easily access expertise on the different types of fasteners and fixings available, helping them to avoid risks of failure and also to open up new opportunities to improve windows and doors. That's what our new Learning and Development Centre will offer."
The project is supported by The Skills & Growth Company, who has worked with Rapierstar previously on a range of recruitment and training initiatives, along with the LEADER Programme, a part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development that supports enterprise and economic development in rural communities.
Furness continued: "It is easy to overlook the importance of the fastener because it is a tiny component within a finished window or door, but so many problems in the installed product are caused by incorrect fastener choice. The knowledge and resources available in our new facility will help to ensure these issue can be avoided, preventing costly call-backs and even more costly reputational damage."
The new Learning & Development Centre is being constructed next to Rapierstar’s 100,000 ft² warehouse and central distribution centre, which holds a stock of more than one billion window and door fasteners.
At the start of the year, the firm invested in delivering further enhanced customer service and product quality by stepping up to the latest edition of the globally recognised management standard, ISO 9001.
