Darren Gittings

Fortis is working with ASSA ABLOY to offer UNION’s StrongBOLT™ and Eximo range as well as Yale’s Doormaster range The Fortis Group has selected ASSA ABLOY brands Yale and UNION, as its preferred suppliers of branded security. Fortis is the UK’s newest and largest building products buyers’ group and was launched with the strong ethos for members “to help each other and support suppliers.” Formed last year by merging the former CEMCO building group and Combined Buying Association (CBA) the group is made up of 39 independent builders’ merchants, key in their respective regions such as Howarth Timber, Sydenhams and RGB. Fortis is working with ASSA ABLOY to offer a hardware and security portfolio, which includes UNION’s market-leading StrongBOLT™ range that has proven success and effective point of sale support for merchants. Fortis will also stock UNION’s Eximo panic exit devices that offer safe and reliable exiting solutions suitable for a variety of projects. In addition, the growing builders’ merchant group will also offer a streamlined Yale product portfolio that will include Yale’s Doormaster range that enables a multipoint lock to be replaced without the need to replace the whole door. David Hebdon, Fortis Operations Director, said: “We have a vision of building a high-performance team with our supplier partners, so want to show our commitment to trusted brands like Yale and UNION and offer them the many benefits of trading with well-known independent merchants. “We believe that these ASSA ABLOY brands will work closely with Fortis’ members to offer profit opportunities, as well as helping to improve members’ trading volumes, margins and market share.” Eryl Jones, Commercial Manager at ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions said: “We are very pleased to be working with a buying group that is comprised of like-minded people pulling in the same direction. “Fortis has good national coverage, with both larger companies and smaller members. Yale and UNION ranges have been successfully developed into several members already, including Haldane Fisher and C & W Berry Ltd and proposals are in place for more members such as Ridgeons and Covers this summer.” Darren Gittings, Key Accounts Manager at Yale, said: “Working with Fortis is a great way for us to build even better relationships with merchants who can deliver what they say they will deliver. We are pleased that Fortis has recognised the strength of Yale and UNION brands, including our quality products for key areas of the commercial and domestic channels, such as the UPVC replacement market and the social housing and contract markets.”