ROMAG’S EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT WITH SUNTUITIVE

Romag has agreed an exclusive agreement to be the UK manufacturer for the pioneering Suntuitive product, bringing self-tinting glass technology to the residential and commercial sectors.

Suntuitive technology has been developed by Michigan based Pleotint LLC, who over the last 17 years have become the world’s top innovator in self-tinting glass, boasting eight international patents and a number of business awards. In the USA this product has performed incredibly well in large glazed areas for domestic and commercial projects and the plan is to offer the same capabilities in buildings across the UK.

When exposed to strong solar rays, the Suntuitive glass unit changes into a darkened blue state, bring light transmission down and importantly, reflecting up to 90% of the sun’s rays. The performance of the glass unit changes by the minute offering various levels of solar control and light transmission as climatic conditions dictate by the minute, making for a true dynamic environment.

The technical credentials of Suntuitive glass are overwhelmingly impressive, boasting a G-value of 10-34%, light transmission of 6-60% and offering a U-value of 1.2 W/m2K. To put that into perspective when there is little solar heat on the glass unit it remains in a clear state, yet still offering impressive levels of solar control.

With a history in glass innovation, Romag is the perfect partner in which to bring this exciting and pioneering development to the UK market, with the promise of short-lead times, marketing support and technical assistance. The fact that the Suntuitive product can be manufactured using existing equipment and processes is good news for Romag, while the glass can be handled and installed in pretty much the same way as any other standard glass unit.

Paul Cruddace, Romag’s sales and marketing director, commented: ‘Without question this is one of the most exciting glass developments that Romag has seen in recent years. It’s commercially viable, easy to handle and unlike switchable glass technologies, doesn’t require any wires.

He continues: ‘The commercial opportunities are broad indeed across industrial and residential sectors and will help broaden the reach of Romag.’

For further information visit www.romag.co.uk, e-mail sales@romag.co.uk or call the sales office on 01207 500000. You can also add to their Twitter following @Romag_UK.

As the Lumi window and door system gains wider recognition for its superb groundbreaking aesthetics and style, the company behind the system has further expanded the range with the introduction of a Lift & Slide Sliding door. Introduced following interest from customers and specifiers of the existing window and door products the Lumi Lift & Slide door, with its rigid aluminium frame and triple-glazed units allows the installation of openings up to 9 metres with minimal frame interruptions.

Produced in elegant anthracite grey inside and out, the Lumi Sliding Door glides on a standard 2 or 3 track system to allow effortless, silent opening and closing despite its reassuring weight and solidity. Excellent sound-reduction and burglar resistance up to RC2 (WK2) EN1627 is also assured whilst the advanced modular profile insulation contributes towards u-values as low as 1.1 W/(m2K).

However, for all of the build and performance attributes offered by Lumi the essence of the Lumi Lift & Slide Door is its superb aesthetics and in particular the unique seamless glazing. This characteristic sets Lumi apart from all other sliding doors and a feature that was crucial in the system winning the New Product of the Year category at the 2015 G Awards. Lumi Marketing Manager Linda Tomb says the Lumi Lift & Slide Door offers a step up from conventional sliding doors: “This door enjoys aesthetics and engineered quality that really are a cut above mass market offerings and it is therefore ideal for installers looking for a flagship product. The triple-glazed seamless glazing brings with it a feel and appearance that cannot be matched by any anything else on the market, yet it will appeal to a wide range of customers that value style and tactile quality.”

Tel: 084 56 729 333

The post Lumi style and elegance now available in a lift & slide sliding door appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Mighton Products’ Angel Ventlock® has won a top Readers’ Choice Award in the United States. In an annual poll in which readers of Door and Window Market (DWM) magazine highlight ‘tried and tested products that stand the test of time’ the Angel Ventlock® range of Window Opening Control Devices won the Window Hardware category.Distributed in the US by Roto Frank of America Inc., Angel Ventlock® was noted for helping to prevent deaths and injuries to children by limiting the window opening to 4 inches or less. The products were cited as conforming ‘100 percent’ to relevant US safety standards.

“This is high praise indeed,” said Mike Derham, Managing Director of Cambridgeshire based Mighton Products. “Roto Frank has been selling Angel Ventlocks® in the US since 2008 and it is the leading restrictor sold there. To achieve this sort of recognition shows that the product is as fresh and effective as ever and a proven solution to preventing child death and injury caused by falling from open windows.”

The Angel Ventlock® range of child safety window restrictors meets all US, UK and European standards and legislation including ASTM F2090-2010 and BS EN 14351-1:2006, BS EN 8213-1-2004, BS EN 14609:2004. Products are available for installation on all window types including vertical and sliding sashes and casement style windows, for OEM and retrofit. In the United Kingdom Angel Ventlock® restrictors have been tested by Secured By Design and PAS24 and is the most secure child restrictor on the market.

Yorkshire-based Spectus Approved Window Contractor Jade Windows has won a second contract for the award-winning Yorkare care home group after installing more than 200 casement windows and patio doors in the group’s most recent addition.

Yorkare, with its motto ‘Homes of Distinction’ and homes around the Humberside area, has a reputation for quality in everything it does so it naturally expects the best from its contractors, as Jade’s Ryan Fozard explained: “Everything has to be finished to the highest standard, in appearance as well as function, so we were especially pleased to be asked back to work on the next project.”

The first contract was for the conversion of the former Lindsey Lower School in Cleethorpes via main contractor Hobson & Porter. Jade made and installed the windows in the Spectus Elite 70 Bevelled system in Anthracite grey smooth foil finish for a new-built extension which formed a major part of the home behind the school’s original Victorian frontage.

Just one example of the client’s insistence on detail was the access control on the doors, as Ryan explained: “The PVC-U doors had to be specially routered out to fit electric drop bolts so that all the mechanisms were out of sight. This is something you don’t hear of every day but with Jade’s “customer first” attitude & Spectus’s technical team providing first class advice, the customer achieved their desired look.

Jade has been fabricating and installing the Spectus Elite system for over 20 years on a wide range of commercial projects, including a number of care homes. The Yorkshire-based company is also an established member of the Spectus Approved Window Contractor Network.

Mike Beal, the main contractor’s Construction Director, said: “Jade delivered a robust and competitive solution. Everything was completed on time, without problems and the finished product looked superb. We knew that this client expected the highest standards throughout; we had every confidence in Jade and this is reflected by the fact that we were happy to bring them in on the next Yorkare contract.”

The next Yorkare project for Jade, a new-build at Beverely, is now underway and expected to be completed by the coming autumn.

www.spectus.co.uk

Image Above: Colin Eadie, director, CR Smith Manufacturing

The commercial arm of windows and conservatories company CR Smith, (CR Smith Manufacturing Limited), which employs 90 at its factory in Fife, has reported a rise in both turnover and gross profits for the year ending 29 February 2016.

Sales rose to £7.5m (2015: £7.3m); gross profits were up to £1.8m (2015: £1.7m), although profits after tax were down £21k on 2015 at £108k, following capital investment in new plant and machinery.

CR Smith Manufacturing Limited has responded to increasing demand from new build developers. Now working with a number of leading housebuilders, the firm has continued to invest in its factory to meet increasing volumes and maintain quality.

During the year the company invested in two significant projects introducing a fully automated cutting and prepping line and a glass plant wash and press facility.  This continued investment follows on from a state-of-the art production line in 2015 and is part of an ongoing investment programme. The directors are confident that these investments will maintain the firm’s capability for producing a quality product and provide capacity for future growth.

George Eadie, Director, said: “Our commercial business is steadily growing. We have a strong proposition for new build developers including a high quality bespoke product, delivered reliably and efficiently because of the power and capabilities of our factory. As we continue to market ourselves to this sector, we can see the commercial arm of CR Smith expanding and have been planning accordingly.”

The figures were reported ahead of the accounts for CR Smith (Glaziers) Limited, which supplies windows, doors and conservatories to the domestic market.

The sensational headlines created from the recent comments by an Assistant Chief Constable highlight again the important role windows and doors play in communities’ safety and security. Phil Kay, the Assistant Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, has suggested that some burglaries where windows and doors had been left open would not be investigated. He was reacting to a spate of burglaries that had occurred within the student community at Loughborough University. His comments caused outrage as the national press led with headlines such as ‘Left a door unlocked? Police won’t investigate burglary’ and ‘Now Police blame victims for being burgled’, as they reported his stance that he would rather his officers focus on preventing crime and protecting the public than spending their time investigating break-ins where carelessness may have played a part. Phil Kay pointed out: “Yet if people leave doors for windows open there is an expectation the Police will investigate,” Kay later responded by claiming his comments were taken out of context, and the Leicestershire Police clarified its stance by saying: “If as a consequence of this debate, people think and act differently regarding the security of their homes and from now on always keep their windows and doors locked, we will hopefully have prevented someone from becoming a victim of burglary.”

The story brings into focus the importance of windows and doors in the protection of people’s homes. We are often pre-occupied with selling the aesthetic benefits of replacing windows and doors, and sometimes gloss over the safety and security benefits because they are features we take for granted being inbuilt in the DNA of the majority of the products we sell. Yet for homeowners safety and security are often the real heartfelt tangible benefits of upgrading their fenestration products. This year we have witnessed the development and progression of the smart home sector with safety and security high on the agenda. With stories such as the one quoted hitting the headlines, consumers will be asking for tech-led solutions. A mobile phone app that allows them to check if their windows and doors are shut would relieve any fears and prevent the Police from not investigating a burglary or an insurer not paying out. Selling on security is more important than ever, and it doesn’t have to feature complicated systems. I have been testing a new wireless door bell that connects via video to my smart phone (page 6) – a fantastic addition to any new door installation offering inexpensive added safety and security. Homeowners love aesthetics but want the peace of mind that added safety and security offer.

John Cowie – Editor

The post The importance of windows and doors in the protection of people’s homes appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Many home-improvements programmes like Grand Designs have introduced thousands of homeowners to the opportunity to welcome in vast amounts of natural light into their home and seamlessly blend inside and out, through excellent bifolding doors.

However, programmes like this always feature new build projects with large budgets, which allow homeowners to choose luxury bifold doors made from aluminium. Whilst they are an excellent solution, their price means they can be out of reach for the average homeowner. To meet this demand, installers need to offer an alternative that can match the versatility and performance of aluminium bifolds at a more accessible price, and uPVC is the answer.

Whilst uPVC bifolds of old weren’t the best quality and therefore not offered by installers, modern uPVC bifolds can provide a cost-effective yet functional and practical way for any homeowner to enjoy expansive views and transform their property.

At Warwick North West, we offer our Innolux uPVC bifolding doors. It is our unique stamp on Eurocell’s Aspect profile, offering the same, slim sightlines that draws many to aluminium and maximises natural light. With a more rounder appearance compared to aluminium, the bifold perfectly complements existing uPVC windows providing a clean, consistent design across the home.

Much like aluminium solutions, installers can offer uPVC bifolds in a range of colours and wood effect finishes so homeowners can further the premium look. With two to six panel configurations and openings up to 2.3 metres high and 6 metres across, uPVC bifolds are a viable option for any property. What’s more, thanks to unique D handles, the concertina-style doors can fold back flat to produce a 90% opening, making uPVC bifolds just as functional and effective as aluminium or timber.

There is no compromise on security or efficiency either. The Aspect profile from Eurocell boasts a six-chambered design meaning better thermal insulation reducing heat loss and air tight seals, which keep out draughts. It is also made from the highest quality uPVC, a robust and durable solution that can provide homeowners with a consistent and reliable service for many years to come.

In conclusion, uPVC bifolds provide the perfect solution to allow installers to offer a premium, practical and effective bifold door at both ends of the market. Advancements in the market have meant uPVC has been able to close the gap to aluminium meaning homeowners can take advantage of many of the same benefits of aluminium including style, security and design for the price of more accessible uPVC.

Yours sincerely,

Greg Johnson, Director – Warwick North West