There is one exhibitor at the FIT Show that is truly in a category of one: Kestrel is only roofline specialist to take a stand at this year’s show. In fact, it’s the only roofline manufacturer to exhibit at the show at all, and the organisers had to create a category especially for the brand.

Kestrel’s business development manager for the south coast, Keith Hart explained why he felt the FIT Show was so important to Kestrel.

“We were very impressed by the number of visitors the show had in 2014,” Keith said. 

“The fact that 51 per cent of those people were installers made it clear that The FIT Show is a good match for Kestrel.”

One of the key products for Kestrel to demonstrate at the show will be its Kavex embossed uPVC cladding range.

The uPVC cladding, which comes either as a 300mm double shiplap, 270mm double feather edge or a 150mm v joint style, has become a firm favourite with installers.

Available in a number of colours including cream, white, sand, light grey, light blue and the newly launched stone, Kavex comes with a range of matching trims.  Offering the grained impression of timber without the upkeep, it’s proving popular for domestic and commercial projects alike.

One installer, Unique Windows based on the Isle of Wight, has seen a marked increase in interest for the Kavex range.

Partner at Unique Windows Michael Turner said: “Our sales of Kavex have increased significantly over the past year. It’s being used on a variety of projects from large commercial developments through to domestic homes and even garden offices and summerhouses.”

Having recently used the light grey product to clad the new Isle of White Airport, Michael explained Kavex will also soon to be used on a hotel and chalets complex on the island.

According to Keith Hart, one of the key selling points of the Kavex range is ease of fitting.

“We designed the product to be easy to use, so there’s no lengthy training process for contractors who start installing the product,” he added.

The colour variety available within the Kavex range is typical of Kestrel's uPVC products. The manufacturer has long kept a close eye on the fenestration industry and listened to customers to spot trends.

For example, the roofline and cladding specialist recently added a new shade of grey to its 100mm open V and 150mm shiplap range.

The RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey cladding was developed after Kestrel stockist Plastic Building Supplies of Norwich was given the challenge of supplying grey uPVC cladding for a domestic project.

Kestrel business development manager for the south Steve Bowden said: “The homeowners needed a replacement for their existing warped and cracking vertical cladding and it needed to be finished in a specific grey.

“Kestrel has a culture of technical innovation and like to do all we can to support our stockists and their customers, so we accepted the challenge to come up with the perfect shade of grey.”

The end result was so good that the colour now sits alongside rosewood, black grain, white grain, Irish oak, Sherwood grain and mahogany, to form part of the main Kestrel cladding range.

At the FIT Show the team will also explain the benefits of the Kestrel registered installer scheme, which gives contractors access to formal training in roofline installations. It also allows registered installers to offer an extended 35-year warranty on some of the brand’s white products.

To find out more about Kestrel visit www.kbp.co.uk or meet the team in person on stand 259 at the FIT Show on the 12-14 April 2016.