cautious and we share the view that improvement is likely to be gradual rather than immediate. However, our own efforts around market focus and depth of engagement give us reasons to be optimistic. We are seeing early signs of movement in both commercial and residential pipelines, including renewed activity within high rise aluminium projects where hybrid Tilt and Turn solutions such as Alupilot are increasingly specified to meet performance compliance and installation requirements. At the same time, we are preparing for the forthcoming release of our Crafted Synergy range for entrance doors designed to bring mechanical and smart security solutions together in a more integrated and consistent way. A key element of this is the Polaris Smart turner which has been engineered specifically to work in harmony with Winkhaus door locking systems, the XR6 one star cylinder and two star security components from the Armorshield range including cylinder guards, handles, and escutcheons. The Polaris Smart Turner has been developed with long battery life automatic calibration during installation and reliable real world performance as core design priorities. Cyber security has also been embedded into the product from the outset. At launch Polaris will be supported by IASME recognised cyber security certification providing independent assurance that connectivity data handling and system integrity have been assessed against recognised best practice standards. This systems based approach reflects our broader view on security standards. While three star cylinders can continue to be specified beyond the end of 2026 as long as they successfully meet all elements of the updated PAS24:2022+A1:2024 and TS007- 1:2024 test regimes including the freeze test. Products unable to demonstrate consistent performance against these requirements will need to be withdrawn or redesigned. Experience from extensive internal UKAS aligned testing continues to show that achieving consistent performance across evolving test conditions is increasingly complex. For this reason, we remain focused on the two star and one star combination which continues to demonstrate the most robust repeatable and evidence backed route to PAS24 compliance. Fire safety is another area where complexity scrutiny and responsibility continue to increase. During 2025 alone we invested over five hundred thousand pounds in fire testing. When composite and timber applications are considered together, we believe we now hold one of the widest scopes and largest evidence banks of fire test data covering FD30 and FD60 entrance and communal doors. This is supported by the expansion of our fire rated hardware portfolio including new ranges of Winkhaus fire rated door closers, two star security handles and fire and security rated letter plates. N ot bad for a company that does not make doors . Alongside product and compliance investment we have also been strengthening our internal foundations. Increased use of digital platforms continued uptake of our Partner Portal the implementation of a new internal CRM system and the appointment of a dedicated Customer Experience Manager are all part of a broader aim to improve how we listen to support and interact with our customers. As we move into 2026 the focus is not on chasing short term volume but on building sustainable compliant and resilient businesses. Those who continue to invest thoughtfully remain close to both commercial and residential markets and support customers through increasing complexity will be best placed as conditions gradually improve and it is this approach that gives us confidence as we look ahead.
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