Looking Ahead to 2026: Confidence Built on Evidence and Discipline
The past year has served as a reminder that while market conditions across the fenestration sector remain challenging, they are far from static.
Businesses that continue to invest thoughtfully, remain close to their markets, and make evidence based decisions are finding ways to progress even in a constrained environment.
Throughout 2025, pressure persisted across both residential and commercial construction. Rising operational costs, driven by wage inflation, National Insurance changes, and wider input cost increases, were compounded by regulatory delays and funding constraints, particularly in social housing and higher risk developments. These headwinds were largely anticipated, but they demanded active management rather than acceptance.
Despite these challenges, the year also delivered signs of resilience. Industry engagement remained strong, innovation pipelines stayed active, and national recognition reinforced the importance of continued investment, even during periods of subdued demand.
While volumes across certain project types remained inconsistent, a disciplined focus on operational efficiency and close alignment with customers enabled inflationary pressures to be managed without undermining long term stability or partnerships.
Looking toward 2026, industry sentiment remains cautious, with most expecting improvement to be gradual rather than immediate. However, early movement within both residential and commercial pipelines provides grounds for measured optimism. Notably, renewed activity in high-rise aluminium projects is driving greater specification of hybrid Tilt and Turn solutions such as aluPilot, reflecting the increasing importance of performance, compliance, and installation practicality.
Product development continues to move toward integrated systems rather than individual components. The forthcoming Crafted Synergy entrance door range reflects this approach, bringing together mechanical and smart security into a consistent and compliant solution. The Polaris Smart Turner has been engineered to work seamlessly with Winkhaus locking systems, XR6 one-star cylinders, and ArmorShield two-star security hardware, with long battery life, automatic calibration, and real world reliability central to its design.
Cyber security has been embedded from the outset, with IASME recognised certification providing independent assurance around data protection, connectivity, and system integrity.
Security standards continue to evolve. While three-star cylinders may remain permissible beyond 2026 if they meet updated PAS24:2022+A1:2024 and TS007-1:2024 test requirements, extensive UKAS aligned testing demonstrates that achieving consistent performance across increasingly demanding test regimes is becoming more complex. As a result, the two-star handle and one-star cylinder combination continues to offer the most robust and repeatable route to compliance.
Fire safety remains an area of growing scrutiny and responsibility. Investment exceeding £500,000 in fire testing during 2025 has resulted in one of the broadest evidence banks covering FD30 and FD60 entrance and communal doors across timber and composite applications, supported by an expanded portfolio of fire rated hardware.
Alongside product and compliance investment, internal capability has been strengthened through enhanced digital platforms, improved customer interfaces, and a renewed focus on customer experience.
As the industry moves into 2026, the emphasis is not on chasing short term volume, but on building sustainable, compliant, and resilient businesses. Those that continue to invest with discipline, supported by evidence and close market engagement, will be best positioned as conditions gradually improve.
