In an ever-changing industry where businesses can be here one minute and gone the next, it is refreshing to see companies that have stood the test of time.
Industry-leading system supplier VEKA has been established for almost as long as PVC-U has existed as a building product and has hundreds of loyal customers. The heritage of the VEKA Group stretches all the way back to 1969 and it remains family-owned to this day.

As a privately-owned company with a far-reaching multi-national presence, VEKA is able to offer such a level of stability that other system suppliers simply can't compete. However, despite its extensive history, VEKA has always been at the cutting edge of the industry - making continual investment in new technologies and production techniques.

Renowned for its technical developments and environmental solutions, VEKA has the enthusiasm of a much younger company. It is thanks to continuous evolution and innovations such as the new 'A' rated Vertical Slider and state-of-the-art Energy Ratings Calculator that VEKA has maintained such a long-established customer base.

Kent-based Piper Windows celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and has shared a strong relationship with VEKA from the start. Established in 1980, Piper has grown dramatically from humble beginnings with just eight employees to its current size: 150-plus staff, a 75,000sqft factory and a multi-million pound turnover.
According to Business Development Manager Barry Manley, VEKA has played a significant part in Pipers' growth as a business: “We needed to be able to guarantee the quality of our products and VEKA's high-spec profile allows us to do that. With all our work in the commercial sector it's a huge benefit to us to use profile with a brand name that is recognised and respected by specifiers.
"We have been happy to work alongside VEKA for three decades because both companies share the same ethos of quality, service and standards. This is why all site-based staff and fitters at Piper are trained to NVQ standard under a scheme established with VEKA in 1998. Here at Piper we also share VEKA's commitment to environmental issues, we have the ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Waste Management and fully support VEKA's Recycling initiatives which, in turn, improve our eco-credentials.”

Another customer, St Helens-based Qualplas Ltd, has remained loyal to VEKA for nearly quarter of a century. This independent family business particularly values the reputation of the product, as MD Andrew Smith explains: “VEKA's profile is one of the most technically-advanced available and their status as a global supplier strengthens our own local market presence.
"Using VEKA products also enabled us to become a member of Network VEKA which has been a huge benefit to our business. The organisation offers us an edge over other companies because we can provide the peace-of-mind that homeowners want. The Network VEKA logo and the benefit of having Steve Davis as brand ambassador definitely set us apart from our competitors.”

Gardinia, based in Narbeth, West Wales, has been established since 1983 and, like Piper Windows, has used VEKA profile from the very outset. Director David Morris explains that as a self-fabricating installation company, the quality of the profile is paramount: “Working within the domestic sector, we promote ourselves as a company which can be trusted with even the trickiest of installations. We create windows, doors and conservatories for discerning homeowners who demand the best and we wouldn't be able to do this without the right materials. One of the many reasons we have stayed with VEKA for 27 years is the fact that we can guarantee the absolute quality of our products right from raw materials through to production thanks to VEKA's high standards of manufacture.”

VEKA continues to attract new accounts as well as happily maintaining a record number of long-standing clients. Reliant joined VEKA at the beginning of 2010 after 28 years in business. Marketing Director Nick Allen explains: “Changing system suppliers was a big decision for us and we didn't take it lightly. When we moved to bigger premises, we needed a system supplier which had the capacity to support us as our business grew.
"We do a lot of work in the commercial sector and, with VEKA, we can be confident that our profile has all the accreditations required by local authorities and also carries a well-respected brand name for specifiers. The commercial representatives we deal with at VEKA have always been professional yet friendly and they ensured the changeover was as smooth and hassle-free as possible.”

VEKA's Sales and Marketing Director Colin Torley believes that it is VEKA's ability to continually develop which has kept its long-standing customers happy for the last 20 years.  “Over the years we have continued to unveil a host of state-of-the-art systems and now have an expansive range of products. But VEKA is not content to rest on its laurels, it is constantly evolving to stay ahead of the curve; we have developed more 'A'-rated systems, new woodgrains and an interactive, environmentally-focussed website and now we are looking forward to seeing what else we can achieve for our clients over the next 20 years.”