Sustained recovery forecast in the UK Commercial and Industrial Doors and Shutters market

The UK market for industrial and commercial doors and shutters experienced a difficult period in 2009-12 but has shown some recovery in 2013/14 and is worth in excess of £400m. The improving overall performance has been underpinned by a combination of a recovery in construction activity in the industrial/ warehousing and offices sectors.

Legislative changes have also had a significant impact on the sector in recent years. For example, in terms of replacement and refurbishment, the Fire Safety regulations and the Corporate Manslaughter Bill helped to influence investment in replacement and refurbishment doors and shutters during the downturn, and The Equality Act 2010 (formerly the Disability Discrimination Act) has helped drive growth in demand for retrofit and replacement of existing access areas with power-assisted and automatic doors and door controls. As a result, replacement installations account for around 60% of sales across the sector, though this varies between product groups

Personnel doors accounts for around 55% of the market and incorporates timber doors, hinged steel doors, aluminium framed manual entrance doors and automated pedestrian doors. In value terms, automated pedestrian doors represents the largest single sub-sector, although the timber hinged and steel hinged door sectors are also significant, and account for a combined share of almost 50%. Timber doors are largely used internally, with external usage continuing to decline in favour of steel and aluminium and other materials such as PVCu, which offer greater durability and lower maintenance.

The ‘industrial’ doors sector covers sectional overhead doors, high-speed doors, roller shutters, sliding & folding doors and flexible doors, and in 2014 this sub-sector accounted for some 43% of the total market for commercial and industrial doors and shutters. High-speed doors represent the largest and the highest added value sub-sector with sectional overhead doors the second largest sub-sector, followed closely by rolling doors and shutters/grilles. High-speed doors have increased their share of the market as building owners have become more conscious of the need to rapidly open and close doors for heat/cooling conservation and for security purposes.

“The supply of commercial and industrial doors and shutters remains very fragmented, with the larger suppliers supplying major construction and RMI contractors, and the smaller suppliers focusing on local and specialist sectors, as well as RMI and servicing” said Andrew Hartley, Director of AMA Research. “While timber doors are supplied primarily by UK specialist timber door manufacturers and joinery companies, the automated pedestrian door and industrial door sectors are dominated by international suppliers.”

The outlook is for sustained recovery in both the commercial and industrial door markets with forecasts of around 3% growth in 2015 and further steady modest annual growth of 3-4% through to 2019 to reach a value of over £490m.

The ‘Commercial and Industrial Doors and Shutters Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.