DAVID WHITWORTH TO LEAD DHF ONWARDS

Article first published 30/10/2007

Door hardware industry stalwart David Whitworth was elected chairman of the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) at its recent Conference and Expo.  
 
He will now oversee the implementation of a strategy, unveiled at the event, designed to increase the size of the federation and make it more influential in the market place to the commercial benefit of its members.  
 
The DHF now represents the majority of the key players in industrial and commercial doors & shutters and garage doors, and also represents the leading UK manufacturers of building hardware and architectural ironmongery.  
 
David, who is a director of a number of UK and European hardware manufacturing and distribution companies, is vice president of the European Hardware Manufacturers Association (ARGE). He has twice been chairman of the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI). He was chief executive of architectural ironmongers the Laidlaw Group for 30 years which he took onto the Stock Exchange and went on to become main board director of the Newman Tonks Group until its acquisition by Ingersoll Rand.  
 
He was described by outgoing DHF chairman Andrew Lloyd, managing director of Bolton Gate Co Ltd, as a “legend” in the hardware sector. “His name is synonymous with the door hardware industry,” he said.  
 
David told the conference, held at Loughborough University: “In his two years as chairman, Andrew Lloyd has worked with chief executive Ian Wood to put a strategy in place for the federation. It’s my job now to deliver results for the members and for the industry.”  
 
Members heard that there were three key objectives in the strategy: to promote members’ shareholder value; to provide the highest level of expert direction to members to satisfy the regulatory and statutory requirements in their markets; and to grow external awareness of the role of the DHF in the UK construction market. Over the next two years a wide-ranging programme of initiatives designed to meet these objectives will be put in place.  
 
Bob Perry, managing director of Laser Key UK, a division of Yale, was elected as vice chairman of the DHF.  
 
After the formal meeting, members and delegates attended a number of workshops covering a wide variety of current industry topics including certification, the new lock standards, health & safety and employment issues. Throughout the day, delegates - including non-DHF members - visited the DHF Expo where more than 30 exhibitors showcased the best of the UK’s door, shutter and hardware industry.  

Article ID No.: 156