Clearview National March 2015 - Issue 160 | Page 74
GLASS&SEALEDUNITS
Thermoseal Group, proving
the battle was well worth it
»»Clearview recently
visited, Thermoseal Group to
discuss with managing director
Gwain Paterson the journey
the business had experienced
during the last five years since
deciding to produce their
own warm edge spacer bar
range, and how developing
futureproof, innovative products,
is strengthening the company’s
position as a leading IG
supplier.
Our meeting took place at
one of the two Wigan based sites
Thermoseal Group owns. The
first plays host to the company’s
‘Research and Innovation’
centre, warehouse, distribution
and manufacture of the rigid
‘Thermobar’ warm edge spacer
bar, the second, a short distance
away to a newly fitted production
unit, manufacturing ‘Thermoflex’
the businesses latest innovation in
warm edge spacer bars.
Gwain explained “We were
already manufacturing injection
moulded IG components at our
Birmingham head office when
building regulations were revised
and ‘Window Efficiency Ratings’
was introduced.
“At the time, we were
distributing a leading European
warm edge spacer, however; as
time went on we decided to
embark on an extensive research
project to manufacture our own
range of products
“This led to a substantial
investment in excess of £5
million, firstly concentrating on
our Thermobar warm edge spacer,
a rigid spacer system which we
manufacture in various widths
from 4mm up to 20mm in three
colours – black, grey and white.
products in order to develop and
improve production methods and
products further.”
“One of our more recent
purchases is the Gas Chromatic
Mass Spectrometer (GCMS);
a highly sophisticated piece of
equipment we use to analyse and
investigate the chemical matter
within our products, allowing
us to ensure the quality of the
compound is continuously
correct.”
“As demand grew, so has our
technology and capabilities to
manufacture new products,
developing the Thermoflex
elastomeric flexible rubber spacer
to our product range.” Gwain
continued.
The New Thermoflex
Warm Edge Spacer
Thermoseal Group’s latest
introduction ‘Thermoflex’ warm
edge spacer bar is a uniquely
designed product; made from
elastomeric foam rubber
compound, offering low thermal
conductivity, better UV stability
compared to EPDM products
and has improved life expectancy
when fitted into a sealed unit.
Thermoseal Group took
the decision to invest in
manufacturing a foam spacer
system to offer customers a choice
of warm edge spacer to suit their
production methods – Thermobar
(rigid spacer) or Thermoflex
(flexible spacer).
Thermoseal Group is the only
manufacturer of warm edge
spacers (both flexible and rigid)
to inject mould bespoke fittings
in-house.
Gwain explains “Feedback
from customers led us to research
the market to help us create a
perfect flexible spacer bar. They
advised; quicker production
times, an overall increase in
the unit performance and an
achievement of lower thermal
conductivity were important to
the production of a sealed unit.
Customer feedback has dictated
the design and development of
both Thermoflex and Thermobar
warm edge spacers.”
“Our innovation team worked
closely with customers and a key
UK University to understand
the best compounds to use and
the correct method of mixing
74 » M AR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
them. This was extremely time
consuming, but an important
aspect to the process, enabling
us to ensure total control on the
quality of the end product.