Thursday, October 29, 2015

Solid growth in the UK Replacement Kitchen Doors market

The market for replacement kitchen doors has generally shown solid growth since 2008, with average annual growth of around 4-5%. This is significantly higher than for the kitchen market as a whole and was mainly the result of consumer confidence being eroded due to the recession, encouraging consumers to look for cheaper alternatives.
Compared with re-installing the whole kitchen, replacement kitchen doors and drawer fronts are much less costly, depending on the type of door selected, and replacing the doors is also less wasteful, with no additional installation or plumbing costs needed. However, while the replacement door market has benefited from the cutback in consumer expenditure, it has perhaps not been to the extent suppliers had hoped for, and the market remains small.
The kitchen furniture market is at the mature stage of its product lifecycle, with replacement sales currently accounting for more than three quarters of sales. Consumer awareness is high and purchasing decisions tend to be based on design, colour and materials. Features such as soft-closing drawers or handle-less doors, sophisticated lighting and additional electrical appliances in the kitchen are increasing in popularity.
Key issues that have influenced the UK domestic kitchen furniture market in recent years include a blurring of distinction between the kitchen and dining room, with less formality in the home and a move towards open plan living, and an emphasis on aesthetics and stylish designs, with a move towards curved lines. An increasing number of manufacturers are offering units to suit the needs of elderly or infirm customers and this trend is likely to continue as the proportion of the UK population in older age groups increases.
Suppliers that specialise in the kitchen door sector tend to be vertically integrated and involved in the manufacture, marketing and installation of replacement kitchen doors, drawer fronts and often worktops, appliances and other accessories. In terms of distribution structure, the Internet or mail order now accounts for the largest share of the market, followed closely by manufacturers and installers. Other retailers such as IKEA and DIY outlets account for 15%, though the increase in sale of kitchens that include installation is likely to continue.
The total market for replacement kitchen doors is expected to show significant, but reducing growth in the period to 2019. In the short term margins are likely to be squeezed further by the increasing cost of raw materials, although increasing use of e-commerce has enabled door manufacturers to absorb some of these cost increases generally. Despite the value for money and the reduced waste that replacement installation offers, the market could see a decline as the economy improves and consumers spend more money on sustainable design and products, which could lead to kitchens lasting longer and needing to be replaced less frequently.
“The rate of growth in the replacement market is expected to decline as the economy improves, assuming no major changes in the market structure, such as a major company in the fitted kitchen furniture sector entering the replacement sector” said Keith Taylor, Director of AMA Research. “This seems unlikely at the moment, with the mainstream kitchen furniture market expected to show steady growth in the short to medium term future.”
The ‘Replacement Kitchen Doors 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.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

General Industrial Products Distribution Market - Key Facts

Did you know that....


  • General Industrial Products’ is a fragmented market worth around £3 billion.
  • Product ranges vary substantially between distributors, but health & safety, engineering/metal working and workshop/maintenance account for a combined share of around 30%.
  • The ‘industrial distributors’ account for around 60% of the market.
  • Distribution is very fragmented, but leading players include Arco, Cromwell, Brammer, Eriks etc. and many others.
  • Market prospects are for steady underlying growth of around 3% per annum over the next 4-5 years.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'General Industrial Products Distribution Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

UK roofing market growth boosted by housing market recovery

The roofing market as a whole is estimated to have grown by around 4.5% in 2014, following a period of relatively poor performance, with a decline in 2012 and a modest increase in 2013. Driven largely by the Help to Buy schemes and a shift back from flats to houses, demand for roof tiles has outpaced supply over the past few years. In 2015 the market value is set to reach 6% growth, and over the short to medium term future, reasonable volume growth is also expected.
Roof tiles account for up to 40% of the market by value, with concrete tiles constituting the largest sub-sector by both value and volume. Clay tiles are also significant, with fibre cement and natural slates occupying relatively small niches. 
Housebuilding and domestic re-roofing are the largest applications although commercial usage is also important. Profiled metal roofing is almost as large in value terms, although applications are almost exclusively limited to warehousing, industrial buildings, airport structures, waste management facilities and retail ‘sheds’. The market is split between composite panels, standing seam, twin-skin systems and single sheets, with the latter mostly used for agricultural buildings and for over-cladding.
Flat roof membranes & felts account for around 15%, with reinforced bitumen membranes dominating this sector. Single ply membranes are increasing in popularity and account for almost a third of the market, and in the longer term these products are expected to show higher than average growth. The rooflights sector is also an important sector in terms of value while other hard-to-quantify niche markets such as fully supported metal roofing, bitumen & cedar shingles, account for smaller shares.
The distribution of roofing materials varies significantly between different product sectors. Builders’ merchants and roofing merchants are the key routes to market for suppliers of concrete and clay tiles. As the majority of roofing slates are imported, independent importer and distribution networks are the main channels. Imports are largely limited to natural slates, which dominate this particular sub-sector of the UK roof coverings market and in the profiled sheets and tiles sectors, both import and export levels are low. With flat roofing systems mainly used on commercial buildings, the main channels are roofing merchants and direct sales, with builders’ merchants typically only supplying bitumen felts for RMI and extension projects.
Over the short to medium term we expect reasonable market growth, largely driven by private housebuilding activity, although the end of government’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme may be a constraint” said Keith Taylor, Director of AMA Research. Other end-use sectors likely to show increased demand are commercial offices, industry and leisure, reflecting expected recovery in the commercial new build sector as well as commitments to further expansion in Advanced Manufacturing and waste management. However, cuts to public sector capital investment will continue to have a negative impact, leading to declines in demand for roofing on public sector offices, MoD and healthcare newbuild works.”
The ‘Roofing Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience 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.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Floorcoverings Market Report - Key Facts

Did you know that...


  • The UK floorcoverings market was worth almost £2 billion in 2014.
  • Carpets still dominate the sector, with the share remaining more stable in recent years at over 55%.
  • Contract applications now account for over 60% of the vinyl market.
  • The top 5 suppliers in the wood flooring sector account for around 35-40% of the market.
  • Floorcovering multiples and independents are the two largest distribution channels accounting for over 60% of the domestic market.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Floorcoverings Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Friday, October 23, 2015

#3 - Translating reports into another language

All our reports can be translated into the following languages using AMA Research Interactive; German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

To translate a report, take the following steps:

·         Go to the report, either through the listing under ‘find’ or by searching for it.
·         Click on the ‘Translate’ tab in the bar above the report details.
·         Select the language you would like it translated into.
·         The translation will be displayed side by side with the English version.

In the new version of the site, it is now also possible to get the user interface itself in multiple languages. To log in, go to www.amaresearch-interactive.co.uk and click the 'personal login' link in the top right corner.

Other chapters in this article series include:

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Wood and laminates start to regain share in the UK Floorcoverings market

The UK’s wood floorcovering sector, which includes solid wood, engineered wood and laminates, currently accounts for an estimated 16% of the total flooring market. Growth has been positive since the low point in 2011, and demand for wood floorcoverings has continued to improve into 2015, with improvements in the underlying economy, a recovering housing market, and higher levels of business confidence and investment all helping to boost growth.
The market is, however, subject to strong competition from other smooth floorcoverings products, particularly luxury vinyl. The share of wood also affected by the decline in demand for laminates which began around 2008. However, over the last year, there have been signs that wood and laminates are once again beginning to regain share of the overall floorcoverings market, with manufacturers investing heavily in new innovations and new ranges in order to gain share in an increasingly competitive market. Notable trends in design and home décor recently has been a key influencing factor on this market.
Laminates, the largest product category, continues to act as a strong driver of growth in the overall wood floorcoverings market, and while both engineered and solid wood have become much more affordable, laminates’ excellent environmental credentials have made them an increasingly popular choice in the commercial/contract sector. Sales of laminates continued their upward trend in 2014 and into 2015, benefiting from growth in the housing market and strengthening consumer confidence.
The solid and engineered woods sector has been less volatile than laminates. As with laminates, solid and engineered wood floorcoverings returned to growth in 2012 after four years of decline in 2008-11, which had seen the value of the market fall by an estimated 14%. Growth for the sector in 2014 was estimated at 3%. The accessories sector accounts for around 5% of the total wood and laminates floorcoverings market.
The UK is a net importer of wood flooring, with imports rising quite significantly in 2014, as a result of robust recovery in both domestic and non-domestic construction activity and output. Variable import values year on year, however, reflect factors such as the volatility of global timber prices and currency fluctuations. The rationalisation of production facilities away from the UK to lower cost countries by larger global players is also a critical factor. China remains the dominant supplier of wood flooring imports to the UK, while Poland is the dominant European supplier-country, more than doubling its share of UK imports since 2010.
In terms of end use, the contract market for wood floorcoverings has continued to gain share, with a rise in the use of solid and engineered wood as well as higher specification laminate, which is increasingly used in contract applications. Commercial construction is forecast to continue gathering strength, particularly in the office and leisure sectors which are both major sectors for flooring products, though other important contract sectors such as education and healthcare facing continuing pressure on budgets.
“While domestic DIY installations of wood floorcoverings are still below pre-recession levels there is a degree of pent-up demand in the market, and consumer confidence continues to improve as a result of low inflationary pressures and a strengthening economy” said Jane Tarver of AMA Research. ”Despite reasonable growth, the market value is forecast to remain some 13% lower than its pre-recession peak in 2007.”
Current forecasts indicate annual growth of around 3-4% pa to 2017, with the annual rate of growth falling slightly in 2018-19. The market is estimated to reach a value of around £335m in 2019.

The ‘Wood and Laminate Floorcoverings Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience 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.

Facilities Management Outsourcing Market Report - Key Facts



Did you know that....

  • The market for outsourced 'bundled' services and TFM is expected to grow by almost 25% over the next 5 years.
  • Healthcare and education have been the most rapidly growing sectors in recent years and now represent 18% of the market, though the growth of these sectors has now slowed sharply.
  • The leading services by value in the FM outsourced market include cleaning and building maintenance, both with just over 10% of the sector.
  • Within the corporate end use sector, commercial offices represent the largest end use sector, reflecting high penetration and contract values.
  • Central government end-users account for around a quarter of the market and penetration of outsourced FM services is reasonably high in this sector. Other sectors include local authorities and social housing.


These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Facilities Management Outsourcing Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Enterprise Zones provide a boost to the UK construction sector

It is estimated that more than £400m is currently being spent by LEPs on major projects across Enterprise Zones in the UK. This has led to a major boost to the UK construction sector with work already carried out to redevelop more than 100 hectares of land and deliver more than 5.4m sq. ft. of new or refurbished floor space. Enterprise Zones are also bringing back speculative development to the UK for the first time since the recession.
Established in 2012, Enterprise Zones are at the heart of the Government’s long term economic plan, supporting businesses to grow. Since their start in April 2012 they have attracted over 430 companies, secured over £2.1bn of private sector investment and created more than 15,500 jobs across the Country. The majority of UK Enterprise Zones, which are hosted by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), are located in England, though there are 7 in Wales and 4 in Scotland.
Commercial and industrial firms locating to Enterprise Zones are eligible for incentives to set up or expand, such as business rate discounts and Enhanced Capital Allowances for the purchase of machinery and equipment. Enterprise Zones have also been eligible to apply for a number of grants including the Local Infrastructure Fund to support enabling works in and around Enterprise Zone sites and also accelerate large scale housing developments and the Capital Grant Fund to support infrastructure projects. In addition, Enterprise Zones will be subject to simplified local authority planning.
There are proposals to extend a number of enterprise zones in the UK, as well as to establish new Enterprise Zones, and in the 2015 Summer Budget, key measures affecting LEPs and Enterprise Zones with the invitation to bid for a new round of Enterprise Zones were also announced. In addition, the Government wants its 20 newly established Housing Zones to be areas where the process of house-building on brownfield land can be accelerated and simplified through locally led partnerships.
In December 2013, the Treasury announced a £15m pilot scheme to create a number of University Enterprise Zones (UEZs), designed to encourage clusters of high-tech firms to locate near and engage with universities. In the Agri-food sector, 11 Food Enterprise Zones were established in February 2015, dedicated to food and agriculture to help food and farming companies grow and attract new businesses. In March this year, the Government announced the creation of another 6 new Food Enterprise Zones.
The Advanced Manufacturing/Engineering sector is one of the most significant within the UK Enterprise Zone market, with 19 LEPs having earmarked large areas for future developments. Regional clustering is central to the advanced manufacturing supply chain and a number of Enterprise Zones have developed extensive supply chains. Key individual sectors are automotive, aerospace, renewable energy and low carbon, life sciences and IT and consumer electronics.
“Many recent and prospective Advanced Manufacturing schemes have been within zones created by LEPs, with most Local Enterprise Zones located on ‘brownfield’ sites in former industrial areas” said Hayley Thornley, Research Manager at AMA Research. “Construction projects within the zones are typically commissioned by property development companies, usually working in partnership with the relevant LEP and/or other land owners.”

The ‘Enterprise Zones – Construction and Development Opportunities Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience 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.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Inclusive Bathroom and Kitchen Products - Key Facts

Did you know that....

  1. By 2018 it is estimated that the UK inclusive bathroom and kitchen products market will be worth some £182 million.
  2. Estimated at £43 million at MSP in 2013, the showering facilities sector leads the industry's sales.
  3. There are around 11.6 million people with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability in the UK or around 18 percent of the UK population.
  4. The leading inclusive bathroom manufacturers are AKW followed by Premier Care.
  5. The residential housing sector accounts for 72% of inclusive bathroom and kitchen products market in 2013.
These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Inclusive Bathroom and Kitchen Products Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Substantial forward pipeline in the UK Transport Construction sector

In 2015, new construction output in the transport sector is forecast to rise and is expected to reach a value of over £8bn. Although output fell quite significantly in 2014 - following an increase of 6% in 2013 - the transport sector is characterised by several larger projects with long completion programmes. Infrastructure spending is a key element of the government’s long-term economic plan and, transport infrastructure is one of the major investment sectors for the construction industry. 
Rail accounts for the largest share of construction output at around 44%, though output in the rail sector has fallen in recent years. However, the UK rail sector has a substantial forward pipeline over the next 5 years under Network Rail’s programme, which includes some 5,000 projects such as Thameslink and Crossrail; the electrification of more than 850 miles of track, the Northern Hub Project to improve the rail links between cities in the North and redevelopment of many of stations.
While the Crossrail programme is now well under way, plans are also progressing on Crossrail 2, which has an estimated construction spend of around £25bn. In addition, the £40+billion HS2 is to proceed with the recommended Phase 1 route for the London to the West Midlands line, which is expected to offer considerable opportunities for infrastructure contractors and specialists. Between 9 and 11 Tier 1 contractors are to be appointed to the first phase of HS2 and, due to the scale of works packages, Tier 1 contractors will be expected to form joint ventures.
Road expenditure has continued to increase its share of the construction market. The roads sector is currently being boosted by several recent announcements in the sector, including the Government’s Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) and Transport Strategy for the North. The first phase of the RIS includes 100 major schemes to enhance, renew and transform the network; smart motorway projects to provide extra capacity on England’s roads; and new schemes in network problem areas and schemes to improve safety and ease congestion. In addition, major improvements to the north’s road network will continue including expansion and upgrades to the M6, M62, A1 and M1.
The main focus on development in the airport sector concerns proposals for airport expansion and additional runway capacity in the South East. A proposal for a new hub airport on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary has been formally ruled out after a feasibility study found it could cost up to £90bn. The Airports Commission recently published its recommendations for expanding aviation capacity at Heathrow, and the Government are set to make a final decision in December 2015.
“The plans set out in the 2015 budget for investment in regional infrastructure schemes covering both road and rail, including the Transport Strategy for the North, should provide a boost to the sector” said Andrew Hartley, Director of AMA Research. “In the rail sector, CP5 is expected to see a gradual shift away from maintenance spending to more investment in new infrastructure, with output likely to be focused on larger scale programmes currently under development such as Crossrail, with HS2 and  anew London runway expected to contribute to further growth from 2020 onwards”.
The ‘Transport Infrastructure Construction and Refurbishment Market Report – UK 2015-2019 Analysis’ is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience 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.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Electrical Accessories Market Report - Key Facts

Did you know that...



  1. The UK market for electrical accessories was estimated to be worth around £1.5 billion in 2014, heading back towards the peak levels seen in 2007.
  2. Low voltage cable systems account for 58% of the overall wiring accessories market.
  3. Circuit protection equipment is the largest product sector within the low voltage circuit protection & switchgear market, accounting for 39% of the market in 2013, ahead of switchboards and distribution boards.
  4. The outlook for low voltage cable systems is positive as the economy overall improves, leading to growth of 29% by 2018.
  5. The LV circuit protection market is dominated by 5 key suppliers which together accounted for an estimated 77% of sales.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Electrical Accessories Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Street Furniture and Lighting Market Report - Key Facts

Did you know that....

  1. The UK street furniture market is estimated to be worth around £350m.
  2. Bollards/barriers and benches/seats are the two largest sectors accounting for around 50% of the market.
  3. Street lighting is valued at well over £600m.
  4. The supply structure for furniture is very fragmented – though lighting is much more concentrated.
  5. Market prospects to 2019 are mixed reflecting pressure on local authority markets but a focus on improving the urban environment.

These facts have been extracted from AMA Research's report 'Street Furniture and Lighting Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', available from www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Friday, October 02, 2015

#2 – Managing personal details and resetting your password

You can access your user profile and amend the details by clicking on your name at the top right hand corner of the screen, once logged in to AMA Interactive. Here, you can also find links to your saved searches, clipboard and custom reports.

If you have forgotten your password, you can now request it to be reset automatically by clicking the ‘Forgotten Password’ link on the login page. However, in order to use this feature you must first have set up a security question - you will be prompted to do this when you login to the new version of AMA Research Interactive for the first time. If you have not set this up you can just contact us directly and we will re-set it manually for you.


We recommend you set up a security question so that you can manage your own password, and once you have done so the dialogue box will disappear. If you haven’t forgotten but just want to change your password to something more memorable, you can also go to your user profile and click the ‘change password’ link at the bottom of the screen.

Other chapter in this article series include:

Thursday, October 01, 2015

Strong growth in the UK Construction Equipment Rental market

UK construction equipment rental market saw a significant increase of around 9% in 2014 compared to the previous year. Hire rates had fallen at the start of the downturn, but an improvement in market conditions have allowed rates to rise in recent years, although some sectors, such as cranes, have only really seen a noticeable improvement in 2014. The market value remains lower than at its peak in 2007, but is currently estimated at around £4bn, based on AMA’s market definition.
Despite some consolidation in recent years, the UK construction equipment rental industry remains extremely competitive with players ranging from national equipment rental companies to local independents operating in the market. Companies range widely in terms of geographical coverage, financial resources, brand recognition and equipment offered, with some companies more reliant on construction, whereas other companies have developed more diverse markets, such as manufacturing, recycling and events.
In terms of product sectors, earth moving equipment represents the largest sector, accounting for over 20% of hire value. Other key sectors include lifting, skips & rubbish chutes, access equipment, portable buildings & environmental control and hand & power tools. This is a relatively fragmented market, reflecting the high number of specialist operators with different competitors in different hire product sectors. As indicated above, the market continues to consolidate, with the top 4 companies accounting for around 30% of the market, supported by a range of specialists in key sectors as reviewed in AMA’s report.
The overall market was relatively flat and only experienced modest growth for the period 2010-2013, but market value increased significantly in 2014 due to improvements in both housing and non-domestic building markets as well as manufacturing and other non-construction end-use sectors.
Infrastructure has provided significant hire demand including rail projects such as Crossrail, road repairs & maintenance, and utilities work, and other key end-use sectors include housebuilding, offices, industrial and non-construction sectors, such as manufacturing, waste management and events. While the manufacturing sector has been volatile in recent years, other sectors, such as transport, have recorded a more robust performance – while waste management and events offer good opportunities for equipment hirers.
Current prospects for the construction equipment rental market into the medium-term remain cautiously optimistic with the market forecast to grow to around £5bn by 2019. Future growth rates are heavily dependent upon the underlying performance in key application areas – mainly construction and infrastructure - while high levels of competition impact negatively on hire rates in some sectors. The hire versus buy issue will continue to impact on the equipment rental sector and it is possible that some contractors will switch back to buying equipment, rather than hiring, in the future.
“Trends within the construction industry will impact on different sectors of the hire market. For example, the underlying long term growth in off-site manufacturing, will tend to erode on-site hire requirements” said Andrew Hartley, Director of AMA Research. “However, the sector has experienced a good recovery in the last 2 years, and prospects remain optimistic as the economy continues to recover”.
The ‘Construction Equipment Rental 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.