Earlier this year Jade directors Adam Jones and Sean Mackey featured on Glazing Insider, a window and door industry podcast that is run through trade publication Window News. In this post we highlight some of the interviews’ key takeaways.

Key takeaways from Sean Mackey’s interview with Glazing Insider

1. Digital transformation is reshaping the glazing industry

Sean Mackey emphasizes how technology and digital tools are increasingly crucial for glazing businesses to stay competitive. He discusses the need for companies to adopt systems (e.g. software for quoting, production workflows, customer engagement) that streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies within the window and door manufacturing environment. Without embracing digital change, firms risk falling behind.

2. Importance of customer experience and communication

A recurrent theme is that good customer communication — being transparent, responsive, and keeping the customer informed — becomes a differentiator in a crowded market. Mackey insists that glazing businesses must think not just in terms of supplying windows or glass, but delivering a service, where trust and clarity matter.

3. Investment in people and culture is critical

Tools and technology alone are insufficient: a company must also invest in its workforce, training, and internal culture. Mackey notes that staff buy-in, ongoing education, and aligning teams around common goals are essential if digital tools and new processes are to be effective.

Key takeaway’s from Adam Jones’ interview with Glazing Insider

1. The importance of “in-the-trenches” experience and niche problem solving

Adam Jones is positioned as someone who’s built credibility by tackling specific, practical problems that fabricators face day to day. He emphasises that many fabricators invest in large CNC machinery, but often overlook “in-between” tools or specialist machines that address bottlenecks.
Jade Engineering, under his leadership, develops targeted, single-function machines (milers, cutters, crimpers, weld cleaners, etc.) that complement large machines and resolve real workflow friction.

2. Customer-driven innovation and incremental investment

Rather than only focusing on “big ticket” machinery, Jones stresses the value of designing solutions in response to customer requests, especially when those solutions are relatively low cost but high impact. One example: the Jade JBC2 machine, intended to automate cleaning of reverse butt welds, addresses a manual, error-prone task and helps reduce remakes or quality issues.

3. The role of consulting and systems thinking

Adam and Jade position themselves not merely as tool or machine suppliers, but as advisors who take a systems view of a fabricator’s workflow. They highlight that supplying one machine in isolation is less effective than understanding upstream/downstream implications and designing for harmony in the production line. They have segmented their business into divisions (Tooling, Machines, Consult) so clients understand that Jade can support both hardware and planning aspects of their operation.

Jade – engineered for growth

Both interviews were part of a wider communications campaign following the company’s renovation and refurbishment of its new 30,000 square foot facility in Coventry – the culmination of a £4 million investment plan designed to position the company for significant year on year growth both within the UK and, potentially, beyond.

As a key player in the UK window manufacturing sector, Jade’s knowledge and expertise in the evolution of fabrication means that its influence has been experienced at some level by nearly every player across the industry – both PVCu and aluminium. Directors Adam Jones and Sean Mackey recognised that they needed to transform itself from a local ‘owner managed’ business, establishing a polished, professional structure and creating a framework that will support its projected growth.