SENIOR LEVEL PROMOTION AT MILA

MILA SETTING THE PACE WITH NEW HINGE THAT CAN BE FITTED IN LESS THAN 40 SECONDS

Mila Launches New Evolution hinge with Quick-Fit Magnetic Technology

Mila’s popular Evolution high security hinge has ‘evolved’ for composite doors, with a new version featuring game-changing, magnetic, quick-fit technology for the first time. The new Evolution hinge for composite doors incorporates high strength magnets in the sash part and the lid which means the fabricator simply has to locate the hinge lid over guide…

Our most Ambitious New Product Pipeline EVER.

Team Mila are heading into 2024 with a huge amount of enthusiasm and anticipation. Starting in January, we’ve got the most ambitious new product pipeline we’ve probably ever had – including something very exciting for composite doors and a big new initiative in stainless steel.  And that’s on the back of a really successful brand…

SUPASECURE STAINLESS STEEL HANDLE ACHIEVES FIRST & ONLY SOLD SECURE SILVER GRADING

Mila’s popular SupaSecure™ TS007 two star door handle has just become the highest rated security handle in the UK, scoring an unprecedented Silver grading from Sold Secure. The stainless steel SupaSecure™ is the first and only handle to have been awarded the coveted Silver grading alongside its PAS24 and SBD accreditation, and gives Mila customers…

Mila Delivers Major Advance on Bi-Fold Door Magnets

Advance™ Bi-fold door Magnets are the first products in hardware specialist Mila’s new ‘designed for aluminium’ range. The Magnets, designed to hold open both traffic and intermediate bi-fold doors, feature clever, self-aligning pivot technology on both sections. This allows them to move up to 30° from side to side so that they always achieve 100%…

Mila Makes a Move into Aluminium

Advance is a new high performance, precision engineered hardware range from Mila – with every product designed and manufactured exclusively for the aluminium market. This ‘advanced’, forward-thinking range launches in October, starting with a magnetic hold open system for bi-folds, complete with patented self-aligning technology. More Advance products are set to follow – all with…

Mila’s Supa Stainless Steel Range selected by Select

Mila’s Supa™ range of stainless-steel door hardware is helping Walsall-based Select Windows provide a raft of benefits to its trade, retail and commercial customers, at minimal additional cost. Select, a long-time fabricator in Liniar, switched to Supa™ from Mila’s ProLinea door handle and letterplate last year and now supplies stainless steel hardware as standard on…

Deliveries as Usual at Mila

Mila has acted swiftly to ensure that customers don’t experience any disruption following the administration of one of its delivery partners, Tuffnells on Friday 9 June. New delivery arrangements have already been put in place via other freight companies, and Mila’s Operations and Program Director has reassured customers that they can expect business as usual…

NEW Heritage Door Handle from Mila – with a Contemporary Twist

Mila has launched a new Heritage door handle – with a contemporary twist. With no fewer than nine colours and finishes available, there is a handle in the range to suit even the most traditional or modern door. Designed in-house by Mila’s own product development team, the new Heritage handle features a diamond shaped lever…

More Products Added to Mila’s Stainless Steel Door Hardware Range

Mila’s Supa™ stainless steel door hardware range is expanding again, with the launch of a new Supa™ Safety handle, which meets the accessibility requirements of Building Regs Approved Doc M and the Lifetime Homes Initiative. The Supa™ Safety handle has an extended lever which is easier to grip than the standard Supa™ lever – even…

Voice of the Industry

January 2023

2023 is obviously going to be another challenging year given the cost-of-living crisis, but that doesn’t mean there won’t still be opportunities. As always, I think we can expect the more premium end of the market to hold up relatively well and there will probably never be a better time to push the energy efficiency…

Stainless Steel Beats Zinc in Carbon Footprint Analysis

New independent analysis commissioned by Mila has revealed that not only is stainless steel door hardware more durable than zinc diecast, but it also has a lower carbon footprint. That, Mila says, is a powerful message for fabricators and installers to take to all those retail customers who want to buy more sustainably, and to…

Letter to the Editor

By Richard Gyde, Managing Director, Mila

I’ve seen the recent appeal in the press from several large fabricators for suppliers to halt the current round of price increases, rather than pushing them down the supply chain at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is dampening consumer demand. As a supplier MD, I’m hugely sympathetic to that position and applaud the massive…

Genius Decision to Switch to Mila

Proving that even in the most efficient factories, there is still room for incremental improvements, Genius PVC in Norwich has just switched to the Mila ProSecure door hinge for its range of PVC doors in Kömmerling’s 70mm profile. Feedback from Genius’ trade customers was that they would like more adjustability on their doors during installation….

Trickle Vents for Even the Most Cynical Homeowner

Strafford Cooke, Technical Director

The apparent contradictions in the new Building Regs as they impact on windows and doors have been pretty well documented over the last few months – not least by me! Approved Document L requires improved thermal performance of windows and doors, and Approved Document F requires better ventilation – 90% of the time using trickle…

Yale SlotVents Now in Stock at Mila

Ahead of the deadline for the new Building Regs on 15 June, Mila has added the new Yale SlotVent contemporary styled trickle vents to its range, making it easy for customers to comply with the ventilation requirements in Approved Document F. Alongside the product launch, Mila has created a dedicated new section on its website…

A House of Handles On Us

Mila is offering trade fabricators ‘A House of Handles on Us’ as it steps up its efforts to help fabricators win new business at the higher end of the market using its Heritage hardware range. The move is in response to signs of a slowdown in enquiries for mainstream PVC-U casement offerings, set against continuing…

Mila Maintains Supply from Ukraine

Mila has made clear its ongoing support for Axor, its tilt and turn hardware partner based in Ukraine. Axor is located in the eastern city of Dnipro, which was the target of Russian attacks early on in the conflict. However, with the Ukrainian government urging businesses there to stay open as much as possible to…

GN, Face to Face

Dave Day, Supply Chain Manager

Unsurprisingly the last two years have been the most challenging of Dave Day’s career – and not just because he’s an Arsenal fan! As Supply Chain Manager at Mila, he’s played a huge role in helping the hardware specialist get stock on the shelves and keep customers supplied.   IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU Where were…

Nationwide Windows First to Offer New ProSecure 1 Star Cylinder from Mila

Nationwide Windows was quick off the mark when Mila launched its new anti-bump 1 star BSI Kitemarked cylinder at the end of 2021. The Rugby-based fabricator switched to the ProSecure cylinder for all its composite and PVC-U doors, pairing it with Mila’s popular 2 star SupaSecure™ stainless steel security handle to provide trade, retail and…

Unlocking New Market Opportunities

Cylinders were once mostly a commodity product, with price and ease of availability the main factors driving selection. Now though, installers are increasingly using cylinders as a way of differentiating their product offering and are winning additional business in both replacement and new build as a result. Both these markets have been transformed over recent…

Stainless Steel in the Spotlight

The big switchover is well underway By Richard Gyde, Managing Director

Since 2019, Mila has seen sales of our Supa™ stainless steel products increase by a staggering 184% and they now account for more than 45% of all the door hardware that we sell. That’s a massive shift compared to before the pandemic and is probably fairly indicative of what’s been happening right across the hardware…

Mila Partners with EYG on Stylish New PVC-U Door Range

Mila’s long-standing partnership with EYG, one of the UK’s leading trade, retail and commercial fabricators, is going from strength to strength, with Mila’s SupaSecure handles and TS008 compliant stainless steel letterplates featuring on EYG’s new range of PVC-U front doors. EYG’s Kingston range has been developed to give buyers a stylish alternative to composite doors,…

Game Changing Mila Letterplate Endorsed by Nova Group

When Mila launched its new Kitemarked SupaSecure and ProSecure letterplates in the Summer of 2021, it called the product a ‘game changer’. The design of the letterplate means that it protects against opportunist thieves using the letterplate to ‘fish’ for keys and valuables or manipulate the locking system, but it is still as slim, leakproof…

Alutech Chooses Ingenious from Mila

Just a few months after hardware specialist Mila announced that it was adding the Ingenious range of multipoint door locks to its product line up, Alutech Systems has already adopted the Ingenious Duplex™ Professional lock as the default lock on its range of aluminium door systems. Alutech previously offered its aluminium systems with a three-hook…

Mila’s Full Security Cylinder Line-Up Available From Stock

Mila now has a full line-up of security cylinders available from stock – thanks to the addition of a new anti-bump 1* BSI Kitemarked cylinder to its range. Customers now have an even wider choice of options and more opportunities to differentiate their door offering, all with the comforting reassurance of next day delivery if…

Sale of Arran Isle Group to Assa Abloy

Arran Isle has signed a definitive agreement to sell the Group to ASSA ABLOY Limited.  The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in the UK and Ireland, and customary closing conditions. The deal is expected to complete in early 2022. Arran Isle’s Mila and Carlisle Brass businesses are highly complementary to ASSA ABLOY’S existing operations…

Doors Deserve Mila

Coinciding with the announcement that it has added the Ingenious range of locks and hardware to the Yale range that it already sells, Mila has launched an exciting new ‘Doors Deserve Mila’ campaign. Rolled out online and in person via the Mila sales teams, it communicates the scale and quality of Mila’s entire hardware offering…

Yale and Ingenious door locks both now available from Mila

By Richard Gyde, Managing Director, Mila

Despite the fact that Mila supplies hardware from some of the biggest names in the industry including Yale, Siegenia, Axor and Spilka, we would certainly describe ourselves as a ‘branded house’ and not as a ‘house of brands’. It’s an important distinction for customers and stems from the fact that, on average, we only add…

GGP Hot Seat with Sarah Gyde

Sarah Gyde, Marketing Director, Mila

What sparked your interest in the hardware industry? I have worked in the hardware industry since I graduated from uni. My first role was within the marketing department at Mila in 2000, and looking back, it was a great place to gain an understanding of Mila products, customers and the wider industry. The Mila culture…

The Mila Hardware EDIT

Hardware specialist Mila has spent lots of time and money since the start of the first lockdown making sure that its web presence does exactly what busy customers need it to do.

Letter to the Editor

from Richard Gyde

It was six months ago that I first wrote to the press to sound an early warning about the storm brewing in the freight market.

Mila’s Sales Team is Back and Better than Ever

After almost a year of working from home, Mila’s internal sales team is back at the company’s Daventry HQ, while the external team is getting out and about again visiting customers safely. The return has coincided with the promotion of Mila’s National Sales Manager Julie Holmes to a new role as Head of Sales, and…

Ship Ahoy!

Hardware stocks are finally returning to normal says Richard Gyde, Managing Director at Mila For most people, last month’s story about a 400m long ship being blown off course and blocking the Suez Canal was probably nothing more than an interesting news piece. But for those of us in the industry who rely heavily on…

‘Game Changing’ TS008 Certified Letterplate from Mila

Mila has launched what it is calling ‘the most fabricator focused’ TS008 certified letterplate on the market. And it’s ‘the best looking’ to boot.

Mila’s Website Updated for Lockdown 3

Mila has redesigned its website to help all those customers who are now working remotely again as a result of the latest government restrictions.

TruFrame helps Mila develop fabricator friendly Heritage range

Leading fabricator TruFrame made a significant contribution to the design and development of Mila’s new range of Heritage espag handles, so it’s no surprise that it has become one of the first customers to start fitting the new handles on its flush sash windows.

Stock shortages will soon be over

Just when the hardware industry thought it had taken all that Coronavirus could throw at it, we were hit by yet another crisis at the end of last year in the form of a massive reduction in freight capacity and a surge in shipping prices.

New Year Message, Glass News

I don’t think Mila has ever appreciated the support and loyalty of our customers as much as we did in 2020, and I would sincerely hope that they felt the same about us.

Mila Celebrates 40 Years in the UK

As Mila’s 40th anniversary year draws to a close, Managing Director Richard Gyde talked to Total Fabricator about the crazy days of the 1980s and how the company remains, in many important respects, a ‘family’ business.

Window News Letter to the Editor

from Richard Gyde

Dear Gerald, Even without the Coronavirus pandemic, this is peak season when it comes to importing freight from Asia. Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Christmas combine to drive huge spikes in demand, and logistics businesses across the west also ramp up their orders to cover Chinese New Year shutdowns.

Glass News, Voice of the Industry, November

Glass News asked us… Marketing budgets, and marketing staff, are usually the first to suffer cuts in difficult times, and many would say, wrongly.  But has this past year changed your marketing thinking and efforts, or changed how you market your products or services?  Are you using different channels now that face-to-face contact with your…

Face-to-Face with Jennie James, Key Accounts Representative at Mila

2020 might be Mila’s 40th anniversary in the UK, but for Key Accounts Representative Jennie James, there’s a more personal reason to celebrate. It’s 10 years since she joined the business and one husband, two children and three job roles later, she’s as committed to Mila and its customers as ever.

A Big Anniversary Year for Mila

When it comes to anniversary years, they don’t come much bigger than 2020 for Mila. Not only is the company celebrating 40 years in the UK, a raft of key people from right across the business are celebrating milestone anniversaries as well. For Technical Director Strafford Cooke, 2020 is his 30th anniversary, for Marketing Director…

New Heritage Handles from Mila

Mila has launched its own range of Heritage espag handles, combining elegant styling with intelligent design and security features. Available in both Monkey Tail and Pear Drop designs and in both left and right-handed options, the new handles are the perfect option for homeowners who want a traditionally styled sculptured, chamfered or flush sash window….

Making the Switch to Stainless Steel Hardware

If the enforced lockdown did anything positive, it did at least give fabricators time to take a close look at their businesses and identify any areas for potential improvement. For many, it was probably the first time in their careers that they had been able to really take a step back like that. I was…

Mila says It’s Good to Talk

As the return to work gathers pace, Mila’s National Sales Manager, Julie Holmes, is appealing to fabricators to talk to their suppliers as much as they can so that they can deliver the kind of support which will make the biggest difference. She says: “Mila has been phoning and emailing customers regularly to find out…

Mila Signposts Mental Health Support as Lockdown Eases

At the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, Mila is highlighting the need to support individuals who are struggling with the intense stresses which the Coronavirus crisis has brought. The industry’s leading hardware supplier has already issued guidance on how to implement safe working protocols to protect employee’s physical health, but says that their mental…

Mila Stepping Up Support for Customers Returning to Work

With the government announcing that it is encouraging the manufacturing and construction sector back to work in line with safe social distancing guidelines, Mila has stepped up its response to support customers who are reopening their factories from this week.

Mila Expands Deliveries in Line with Demand

With an increasing number of fabricators announcing their intentions to restart limited operations from 11 May, Mila is expanding the delivery service it has been offering from its Daventry warehouse.

Mila Offers a Financial Perspective on the Restart

Mila’s core operations have been largely closed during the lockdown, with only a limited weekly delivery service which started on 20 April. However, during that time, a ‘heartbeat’ team has been busy making sure that the business is alive and well and ready to reopen in stages as soon as it is safe and sensible…

Mila Share Safe Working Guidelines

Mila has just announced a partial reopening of its warehouse to provide a limited delivery service to customers working on commercial contracts.

Mila Announces Limited Service to Help Customers Working on Essential Contracts

While Mila remains closed in line with the government lockdown restrictions, the company is now offering a limited service to support the small number of customers who are continuing to operate on essential contracts.

Mila Lights it Blue for the NHS

Mila’s iconic red logo has been turned blue to honour all of the NHS heroes who are doing such incredible work on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus. The company says it’s a small token of appreciation for the superhuman efforts being made by the NHS and healthcare staff.

Mila Steps up it’s Focus on High Specification Doors

Since the start of the year, Mila has stepped up its focus on the premium retail door market, with the launch of a brand new TS007 3* cylinder and a new range of square stainless steel pull bars. With first generation PVC-U doors increasingly being targeted for replacement with contemporary aluminium, timber and composites, Mila…

Another Mila Hero to the Rescue

Mila’s impressive new product development programme for 2020 is now in full swing, with the launch of a new range of universal friction hinges.

Mila Adds Sold Secure Diamond 3* Security Cylinder to ProSecure Range

Mila is offering customers the ultimate in cylinder security with the launch of a Sold Secure Diamond Standard, BSI 3* Kitemark cylinder.

New Contemporary Square Pull Bar Collection

Mila is launching a stylish new range of square shaped, stainless steel pull bars in its trusted Supa™ range, perfect for the new generation of contemporary aluminium, timber, composite and PVC-U doors.

Glass News, VOI, December

What has 2019 been like for you, bearing in mind it hasn’t been an easy year for anyone? With all the uncertainty around Brexit, politics and the economy in general, plus a general election in the offing, what do you think is in store for you, personally, your company, the industry, and the UK in…

Conformance Convenience from Mila

Mila has added a new page to its website dedicated to conformance, so that customers can quickly and easily access any of the test certificates they need on Mila products (www.mila.co.uk/test-certificates).

Making the Right Smart Tech Choice

Mila announced at the FIT Show that we had become the exclusive distributor of Mighton’s Avia smart lock into the UK trade market, and we are now supplying the product from stock.

Mila Extends ProSecure TBT Range

Mila’s ProSecure TBT gearing range is now available with the option of a new fully concealed hinge alongside the existing visible, face-fix option. It comes with the same combination of high specification and SBD accreditation which is already making Mila’s ProSecure TBT hardware popular with leading fabricators such as Pearl Windows, and with the same…

Making money from Smart Tech

There’s undoubtedly a huge level of interest in Smart Technology in this industry at the moment, but what we have sensed is a degree of questioning amongst fabricators and installers about how they can actually translate that interest into increased sales and of course profits.

Quality Manager Raising the Bar Even Higher at Mila

Barbara Zogornik is the newly appointed Quality Assurance Manager at Mila. She joined the business just weeks before it sailed through its most recent ISO9001 quality audit with no issues identified, so is in no doubt about Mila’s 100% commitment to quality.

Easy to Fit and Easy to Sell

Why the market wants smart locks to generate profitable new business by Richard Gyde Mila’s stand at the FIT Show was devoted to one single product – the new Avia secure smart lock from Mighton Products. We’ve just become the exclusive UK trade distributors of this Apple HomeKit compatible device, so the timing of the…

Smart locks come of age

Over the last year or so, there’s been a fairly dramatic shift in how the industry has come to view smart locks. They have quickly gone from niche to mainstream as both fabricators and installers have come to recognise that they now represent a very real profit opportunity.

Mila is getting Smart at FIT

I think Mila will surprise a few people at the FIT Show with a stand devoted to just one single product – the brand new Avia secure smart lock from Mighton Products. Mila has recently been appointed as the exclusive UK trade distributor for this innovative smart lock. So, with so much buzz at this…

Making the Smart Choice

I’ve no doubt that there will be lots of fabricators and installers working in the retail market heading to the FIT Show this month with the specific intention of identifying the perfect smart lock for their businesses. There’s huge momentum building around this technology at the moment and it obviously represents a great opportunity to…

There’s More to Mila

Proving once again that ‘there’s more to Mila’, the industry’s leading hardware specialist has expanded its marketing team with the appointment of Laura Chapman as a digital design and marketing executive. With a degree in media design and a background in the home improvement sector, Laura brings the perfect blend of technical skills and real…

Tingdene Homes Chooses Mila’s New Hero Range

It was the competitive price of Mila’s HERO window and door handles which triggered the initial enquiry from park homes specialist Tingdene Homes, but it was the product quality and service back up which persuaded the team to make the eventual switch to HERO from their previous hardware supplier. Tingdene is one of the leading…

Mila Passes the Test for Notaro Window

When Bridgwater based Notaro Windows needed Approved Document Q (ADQ) accreditation for windows they were installing in a new housing development, they could relax knowing that all they had to do was ask Mila to help. Mila has been Notaro Windows’ hardware supplier for more than a decade and they took care of the whole…

The Benefits of a Supply Agreement are mutual

With Brexit uncertainty continuing to cast a very long shadow across the market, the issue of supply agreements is coming up with increasing regularity in our conversations with customers. For fabricators, of course they offer guaranteed levels of service, while for suppliers like Mila, they offer greater transparency in terms of demand forecasting.

2019 Voice of the Industry by Richard Gyde, Glass News

2019 promises to be an interesting year!  In or out of Europe?  Paying silly money in the £billions to the EEC whether we stay or go, and £billions in overseas aid.  You’ve set your budget for your business:  what do you think 2019 will do for you, your business and the country?

Pearl Windows Switches to Mila’s Hero TBT Hardware

Leading trade fabricator Pearl Windows has become one of the first companies to switch to Mila’s new HERO hardware for its TBT window range. The Bolton based manufacturer was quick off the mark when Mila launched the new hardware back in May, and says it is already getting positive feedback from customers operating in the…

Letter to the Editor – BREXIT

There are less than six months to go now until the UK officially leaves the EU at 11pm on 29th March 2019. While we still don’t have any clear indication of what the Brexit outcome will actually look like, there’s no doubt any change to the status quo is likely to cause disruption to this…

BREXIT – The Phoney War Is Nearly Over

After what can only be described as the longest ‘phoney war’ in history, the Brexit countdown is now well and truly on. Unless something (else!) extraordinary happens in UK politics over the next five months or so, the UK will officially leave the European Union at 11pm on 29th March 2019. Now, if you’re one…

Women in Industry, Glass News

The ‘Women In Industry’ series in Glass News highlights the aspirations of women in the window, door, glass, roofs and hardware industry and aims to inspire more to makes this their career. This month, Glass News spoke to Sarah Gyde, Marketing Director at Mila.

Holding out for HERO’s quality and value

Back in May, Mila launched its new Axor tilt before turn hardware range into the UK market, under its new HERO umbrella brand. Like other HERO branded products, Mila’s new TBT range is being presented to the market as a lower cost option to help fabricators meet

Mila Announces Plans for FIT Show 2019

Mila has announced that it will be back at the FIT Show in 2019. The hardware specialist, which made such a memorable impact at the show in both 2013 and 2016, is promising an exciting stand once again, packed with new products and innovations.

Meet the Mila Sales Office Team

Mila customers can now put a face to the expert voice on end of the phone, thanks to a new page on the company’s website which profiles everyone in the sales office team. Visitors who visit the website can find out just what a dapper dresser sales office manager Lee Bullimore is, which member of…

Mila Proves The Perfect Partner For The Fascia Place

At the start of 2016, The Fascia Place took the decision to stop buying in its windows and doors and to take control of its own production and supply. The company appointed experienced production manager Stuart Shearman to head up a brand new factory which, 18 months on…

MILA Announces Fully Reversible Hinge Range

Just weeks after it announced it was bringing the AXOR range of European tilt and turn hardware to the UK, Mila has followed up with the launch of an enhanced security hinge for fully reversible windows, developed in partnership with another European manufacturer Spilka.

New 3D Printer Promises Even Faster Product Development at Mila

Mila has reduced the time it takes to produce a precision prototype of a new hardware design from one week to just one day – thanks to its investment in its own high specification 3D printer. The hardware specialist says that this is having a significant impact on the speed at which it can deliver…

Glass News, Face to Face

Becky-Lou is the face behind the voice for Mila’s customers in the south and south east. Bubbly, enthusiastic and Mila through and through, she’s been selling hardware for 10 years but still gets a thrill from being first to secure a sale on any new product.

Mila Launches New Cost Effective Tilt and Turn Hardware Range

Mila has partnered with the award winning European hardware manufacturer AXOR to bring a brand new range of tilt and turn hardware to the UK market. Suitable for windows from 400mm to 1520mm wide and 370mm to 2390mm high, the new range gives fabricators a cost effective alternative to the Siegenia tilt and turn hardware…

A Polarised Window Market Doesn’t Have to Mean Bad News

There’s little doubt that we’re seeing a growing polarisation in the window market – with sales of premium products to affluent householders growing much more quickly than sales of standard alternatives in the more mainstream sector. The recent figures from AMA Research’s report into the UK Door and Window Fittings market certainly indicate that high…

100% Score for MILA

Mila has received what is arguably the ultimate endorsement of its quality management systems with a 100% score in its most recent ISO9001 BSI audit. The score means Mila can transition immediately from the 2008 version of the ISO9001 standard to the revised 2015 version, positioning the hardware specialist alongside many of the UK’s leading…

More Praise for MILA in Supply Chain Audit

Just a few months after being named the Component Supplier of the Year at the G-Awards, Mila has had yet another positive endorsement of its performance, winning an ‘exceeding organisation’ rating from consultants Grant Thornton. Grant Thornton has just independently audited Mila’s entire supply chain, analysing everything from how it manages its inventory to how…

Move Over ALEXA – Meet NORA

Move over Alexa – and meet NORA. NORA is the brand new online ordering system from Mila which makes it even easier for customers to place their hardware orders direct. Customers can now choose to receive a personalised NORA order form from their Mila sales contact which is pre-populated with all the products they order…

MILA Congratulates TRADESMITH on 25 Years

Mila is leading the congratulations for Sussex based PVC-U trade fabricator Tradesmith as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Tradesmith has been buying a large proportion of its hardware from Mila for much of those 25 years, and the partnership between the two companies is stronger than ever. Mila’s Area Sales Manager Earl Tate said: “In…

MILA’S ProSecure Handle Gets Ultimate Endorsement

Mila’s ProSecure TS007 two star security handle has received what is probably the ultimate endorsement of its quality and performance, having been chosen by a specialist locksmiths company headed up by two ex-police officers. SheffLOCK which operates across Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region, is now routinely fitting the Mila handle on more than half…

Product choice extends from what you buy to how you buy it

Mila prides itself on the fact that it has a product to suit every fabricator and every budget. Our good, better, best ranges mean that we have affordable entry level products as well as top of the range high security options, all supplied with the peace of mind backing of the Mila brand. We have…

MILA publishes the key to quality hardware

Mila has just published the latest version of its iconic Key product catalogue – The Key 8. Described as the best ever guide to the Mila range, it has been completely redesigned and updated to make it even more usable and accessible for customers. The 450+ page Key 8 is available on the Mila website…

MILA Leaps Ahead with New Website

Mila has launched a brand new website, which it says puts it even further ahead of the competition. The new website at www.mila.co.uk transforms Mila’s online presence thanks to a contemporary new design and intuitive navigation. It is optimised for use on any type of screen and is packed with all the product and technical…

Component supplier of the year award for MILA

Mila was named Component Supplier of the Year at the November G-Awards for the third time in seven years. Managing Director Richard Gyde explained some of the secrets behind the company’s ongoing success. We were the only hardware company to win at the G-17s and in fact we were the only hardware company to even…

2018 Voice of the Industry by Richard Gyde, Glass News

Having been named the Component Supplier of the Year at the G-17s in November, everyone at Mila is feeling very positive about 2018. Of course there will be challenges – not just from Brexit, but from the rising commodity prices which were an issue for the whole hardware sector throughout 2017.

MILA wins component supplier of the year at the G-17S

Mila was named the Component Supplier of the Year at the G-17 Awards, in recognition of its outstanding work in tackling the industry wide issue of hardware corrosion, and its decision to deliver a new programme of Smart Hardware, Simple Guarantees to customers. Managing Director Richard Gyde collected the trophy on behalf of the whole…

UKAS accreditation means MILA test centre is now a one stop shop

Mila’s Test Centre in Daventry has just been awarded UKAS accreditation, allowing it to formally assess window and door hardware to both PAS24 2016 for security and BS EN1670 2007 for corrosion resistance. This is the culmination of many months of hard work by the specialist Mila team behind the Test Centre, where the focus…

MILA adds Yale Conexis L1™ to product line up

Mila has added the Yale Conexis L1™ Smart Lock to its range, adding the legendary Mila stock availability and exceptional customer service to the innovative features of the product. Mila’s Head of Sales Vicki Sanders says the company is responding to demand from fabricators and installers who are keen to make the most of growing…

Adaptability – the Key to a Successful Supply Partnership by Paul Pearson

Alongside trust and reliability, one of the key elements of any successful supply partnership is surely adaptability. A supplier that can quickly and cost effectively adapt their offering to the specific requirements of each individual customer can be a hugely valuable asset. Real adaptability though still represents a significant challenge for many suppliers, because it…

Mila Scores a Hat Trick of G-Award Nominations

Mila has scored a hat trick of G-Award nominations this time around, and is a finalist for Component Supplier, Customer Care Initiative and Trade Marketing Campaign of the Year. The nominations recognise some of the key areas where Mila continues to excel, and it is particularly delighted to be the only hardware company in each…

Solarframe Partners with Mila on ADQ and Much More

SolarFrame, based in Rotherham, is one of the first fabricators to take advantage of Mila’s new initiative to create a library of test data for customers who want to be able to meet the demands of Approved Document Q in the new build market. Mila has invested in an ongoing programme to carry out the…

Voice of the Industry by Sarah Gyde, Glass News

With the move to the NEC the FIT Show 2017 was different to the last one at Telford.  Was it better or worse?  There seemed to be an increase in the investment on stands but did that translate into more visitors?  Was it worthwhile for both visitors and exhibitors?  Will you gain more business and,…

Glass News, Julie Holmes Face to Face

It’s All About You Where were you born, and which part of the country do you currently live? “I was born in Holywell Green in God’s Own County of Yorkshire, and I’ve always lived within 10 miles of there. In fact, I moved back to Holywell Green just a couple of years ago.”

Synseal Partners with Mila on Security and Performance Testing

Synseal Group is the latest customer to partner with Mila on security and performance testing and to benefit from the hardware specialist’s advice and expertise. Mila has helped Synseal achieve PAS24: 2016 security and BS6375 weathertightness and performance accreditations on its new range of WarmCore casement windows, and PAS24: 2016 on the tilt and turn…

Mila adds Xpert Tools to its product line up

Fabricators and installers can now buy a huge selection of specialist fenestration tools direct from Mila, after the hardware specialist added the popular Xpert Tools range to its product line up. The Xpert Tools range includes everything from air tools to glass lifters, with lots of products developed specifically for the needs of the window…

A winning combination from Mila

Mila has delivered what for many fabricators is the perfect combination of security and durability. It has launched a new version of its hugely popular ProSecure two star security handle in Supa stainless steel. The SupaSecure handle is designed primarily for use in coastal and high pollution environments, but Mila also expects it to appeal…

Consort Ltd chooses Mila GRIP handle because it ticks all the boxes

One of the UK’s leading trade fabricators has switched to Mila’s low carbon GRIP handle for all of its casement windows, after deciding that the product ticked every single box for its installers. Consort is now fitting an impressive 3500 GRIP handles every month on the Veka FS frames it manufactures at its Sutton in…

Mila launches fire rated stainless steel letterbox

Mila is launching a fire rated version of its SupaStyle stainless steel letterbox making it an ideal choice for customers fabricating and installing fire doors.

Hardware guarantees – are they guaranteed to confuse?

Depending on the hardware you buy – and where you buy it from – you can probably expect it to come with a guarantee of 5, 10, 20 or even maybe 25 years. As a fabricator, you happily pass that guarantee on to your installer and, as an installer, you then happily pass it on…

Honest and straightforward guarantees from Mila

Mila has made it even easier for customers to choose the right product for any application with a brand new set of design icons to show exactly what is included in every guarantee. These will be used from now on across all of Mila’s packaging, website and brand new catalogue, so that buyers can see…

Mila makes further investments in digital marketing

Charly Venn has joined Mila’s award winning marketing team to head up its digital activity. A creative advertising graduate with several years’ commercial experience, Charly is using her skills in both online marketing and social media to help Mila engage directly with customers, suppliers, colleagues and market influencers. She is also offering support to Mila…

Mila extends Heritage range for traditional styles doors and windows

Mila has extended its stylish new Heritage finish across a much broader range of hardware so that customers can now mix and match to achieve a really authentic looking result on any traditional style window or door. The Heritage finish comes in a choice of Black or Pewter and fits perfectly with all the most…

Pressure on prices is here to stay

If some commentators in this industry are to be believed, Brexit was just a blip which can be brushed aside as everyone ‘keeps calm and carries on’.  I wish it were that simple.  In the hardware sector where so many products are manufactured overseas, the real implications of the Brexit vote are only now really…

New Year message – GGP Magazine

It will be in 2017 that the real implications of the Brexit vote will finally be felt in the hardware sector, as price rises come into force virtually across the board, as a result of the fall in the value of the pound against both the dollar and the euro. Mila had the financial resources…

2017 Voice of the Industry by Richard Gyde, Glass News

What are your expectations for 2017, for your company and our industry as a whole? There is no doubt that 2017 will see price rises across the hardware sector as the fall in the value of the pound post Brexit vote and a rise in commodity prices come together to create almost a perfect storm…

Mila and Eurocell join forces to achieve PAS24 approval on single and french door

Mila has demonstrated the value of its technical advice service by working with Eurocell to achieve PAS24 2012 approval at BSI on five single and French doors, with both standard and new PVC low threshold profiles. The doors in 70mm Eurologik were 1050mm x 2300mm and 2000mm x 2300mm and triple glazed, so the maximum…

Mila wins marketing award for second year in a row

Mila’s marketing team were once again in the spotlight at the G-16 Awards when their campaign to launch the innovative GRIP espag handle was named Trade Marketing Campaign of the year. Picking up the trophy from Milton Jones, Sarah Gyde, Mila’s Head of Marketing and Customer Experience, said: “We won this same award in 2015…

Mila customers benefit from new appointment in China

Mila customers are benefiting from the appointment of Steve Johnston as the first Head of Global Sourcing for its parent company Arran Isle Ltd.  Based in the Ningbo region of China, right in the heart of Mila’s biggest manufacturing area, Steve is working with the company’s dedicated team there to ensure the consistent quality of…

Mila rewarded for commitment to health and safety

Mila has been rewarded for its ongoing commitment to Health and Safety with a 90% score in its most recent external audit and the achievement of a milestone 500 days without a lost time accident. Mila’s Operations Manager Joe Montague, who is responsible for Health and Safety within the business, believes that the current success…

What is COTIF? By Oliver Burgess

Like every quality hardware supplier, Mila’s target OTIF is 100% – every single item in stock and available for immediate delivery.  Mila measures and reports our OTIF every day and, at the time of writing, our scores are 95% on order OTIF and 99% on line OTIF.

Andy Haynes celebrates 30 years at Mila

Mila’s technical salesman Andy Haynes has just celebrated his 30th anniversary with the company and on the way has become one of its most popular and valued members of staff. Although he started out working in Mila’s warehouse, Andy proved himself a natural salesman very early on and has spent almost all of his time…

Mila appoints new marketing assistant to support customers

Stephanie James has joined Mila’s award winning marketing team as a Marketing Assistant with a specific brief to help customers win more business.

Glass News, Dawn Brentegani Face-to-Face

After 22 years at Mila, Dawn Brentegani is someone who really cares about the company.  Returning to work after having her first two children, Mila fired her ambition and now she’s even studying for extra qualifications in her spare time.   It’s All About You Where were you born, and which part of the country…

35 years and counting – GGP

As he celebrates a milestone 35 years with Mila, GGP talks to Managing Director Richard Gyde about his early days in the business and some of the momentous changes he’s seen.

Mila shortlisted in two categories at G-16 awards

Mila has been shortlisted once again at the G-16 Awards – in the highly competitive Component Supplier of the Year and Trade Marketing Campaign of the Year categories. Mila has won the Component Supplier of the Year on two previous occasions – in 2011 and 2013 and, with exciting innovations in product development, customer service…

Mila’s values in the spotlight

When we talk at Mila about quality and service being ‘in our DNA’, what we mean is that those are the core values of this business and that they are shared by all of the individuals who work here. Our entire team are focused on delivering the quality products and efficient service which add value…

Quality and service – much more than a marketing boast

Lots of companies talk in their sales and marketing campaigns about ‘quality’ and ‘continual improvement’ but we all know that those claims are meaningless unless they have real substance behind them. Mila, however, states that ‘Quality and Service are in our DNA’, and I am really proud of what we do to justify our claims…

Our heritage is at the heart of our business

Mila’s heritage goes back to 1971 when Michael Davidsen and Lars Borup-Nielsen founded the business in Denmark and named it after themselves (MiLa).  45 years on, that heritage is more important to us than ever – not just because it helps to set us apart in what is a relatively young industry, but because it…

Mila’s GRIP espag handle shortlisted in Plastics Industry Awards

Mila’s brand new ABS GRIP espag handle, has just been given almost the perfect endorsement from the plastics industry itself, having been shortlisted in the Best Industrial Product Design category at the prestigious Plastics Industry Awards. The GRIP handle has been tested and proven to be stronger than a zinc handle yet comes with a…

Stainless steel hardware – It’s not just about the finish

Take two stainless steel handles – they both function and they both look very similar.  But, in my experience, underneath, they can actually be as different as two pieces of furniture – one which is crafted from a piece of solid oak timber sawn, planed and sanded into shape, dove-tail jointed and lovingly waxed and…

Voice of the Industry by James Kiernan, Glass News

“We’ve had the FIT Show with a lot of product launches to give the industry some impetus, but has the first half of 2016 lived up to budgetary expectations?  And what of the rest of the year?  Whether we, as a country, have voted to remain or leave the EU, what are your expectations for…

Stainless steel escutcheons join Mila’s Supa line up

Mila has launched a new range of stylish escutcheons to add to its Supa range of stainless steel door hardware. Designed specifically to complement Mila’s range of Supa pull bars launched at the start of the year, they give customers the chance to choose a perfectly suited stainless steel solution for their doors with all…

Mila’s MD urges the industry to back the border to border bike ride

Mila’s Managing Director Richard Gyde will set off on the Border to Border charity bike ride with the GM Fundraising team next month and is appealing for the whole industry to dig deep to support their fundraising efforts. He said: “Starting at the Canadian border and cycling all the way down to the Mexican border,…

Sarah Parker, the new Sales Office Manager at Mila

Mila has appointed Sarah Parker as Sales Office Manager to lead its 14 strong internal sales team. With several years of industry experience in a similar role, Sarah brings a considerable amount of technical and commercial expertise to Mila.  She is focused on ensuring that her team has unrivalled, up to date product knowledge so…

Glass News, Charlie Heeley Face to Face

If you’ve ordered anything from Mila over the past few years, chances are Charlie Heeley will have played some part in getting it to you on time, in full and perfectly packed. Here he talks about how Mila really is in his DNA and how he once missed out on the chance to be scouted…