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‘ True ’ aluminium / PVC-U crossover casement and grey substrate driving commercial growth
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CLEARVIEW REPORTS ON HOW aluplast is opening-up new opportunities across residential and commercial sectors , through its highly flexible new Ideal 4000 system . aluplast unveiled its new Ideal 4000 SquareLine Casement system at the NEC in May . Representing a major investment by the German-systems house and vote of confidence in the UK , it ’ s defined by a contemporary squareline detailing and forms a highly competitive PVC-U window offering in-itsown-right , lending itself to residential , new build - and commercial sectors .
Tested to Part Q , PAS24 and Secured by Design Specifications , with five thermally efficient chambers , the Ideal 4000 , also easily achieves a WER A +. It also packs in green credentials with aluplast ’ s ecotech offer .
THE IDEAL 4000 : AN ULTRA-ENERGY EFFICIENT PVC-U / ALUMINIUM CASEMENT CROSS-OVER
It ’ s aluskin , aluplast ’ s innovative ‘ clickand-fix ’ aluminium external fascia system for casement windows , however , that elevates this solid PVC-U offering to a new strata , as the only PVC-U casement window and door suite available in the UK , with an external aluminium cladding option .
While the Ideal 4000 has been developed specifically for the UK casement window market , through aluskin , aluplast exploits established and proven global leading technologies , to create a high-end and equally high-margin aluminium platform . Significantly , this can be manufactured by PVC-U fabricators without investing in specialist machinery .
This not only levels the playing field in PVC-U manufacture but also gives fabricators new reach into not only mainstream but premium residential and commercial markets through a single system .
“ Ideal 4000 gives fabricators incredible scope across markets ” says Ian Cocken , Director of Sales and Marketing , aluplast . “ They can manufacture a high performing ‘ standard ’ PVC-U window and do so competitively , or through foil or ultimately , aluskin , access premium and higher margin residential and commercial sectors – the Ideal 4000 and aluskin delivers incredible flexibility .
“ It ’ s the only true aluminium external cladding system available in the UK today on a casement window – that USP generates real opportunity for fabricators and installers .”
NEW GREY SUBSTRATE This rapidly increasing demand has driven not only aluplast ’ s development of aluskin and its foil ranges but also the launch this autumn of its new grey substrate . “ The demand for anthracite grey and other aluminium-type finishes is a key driver of growth . Offering a grey substrate in addition to a grey foil or aluskin , delivers an infinitely stronger aesthetic ”, says Cocken .
He continues : “ It ’ s logical , it looks incomparably better and delivers genuine USPs to our customers . Why would you put a grey or black foil on a dark brown profile substrate and even more importantly why would you choose it as an end-user if you were offerred an alternative option – you wouldn ’ t and they don ’ t . Grey substrate is winning our customers business .”
DEMAND FOR ALUMINIUM UP - PALMER
Aluminium ’ s reach into the new build residential but also the commercial sector continues at pace . According to the The Window , Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain , by Palmer , aluminium saw 24 % growth in the last year , including 26 % growth in volume terms and installed value by 28 % in sales of aluminium windows .
“ Our customers are winning business on the back of Ideal 4000 daily , across sectors but particularly in commercial markets where specifiers want great aesthetics but also want a high level of thermal performance ”, says Cocken .
“ The ceiling on aluminium ’ s reach into the commercial market is set by u-values and pricepoint – aluskin and the Ideal 4000 lowers both ”, he says .
NO MINIMUM ORDER , NO SURCHARGE AND NO SETTING UP CHARGE ON SPECIAL FOIL ORDERS aluplast also offers one of the UK ’ s most competitive foiling offers , with special foils in 15-days or less with no minimum order , no surcharge and no setting up charge on special orders .
This includes three smooth or ‘ sanded ’ finish grey options , in Basalt Grey ; Anthracite Grey ; and Brushed Aluminium . aluplast has also recently added Agate Grey ( RAL7038 ) in either a flat or woodgrain option , to its offer .
MAJOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS ON THE HORIZON
As a global systems house , aluplast R & D programme is continuous . In addition to the Ideal 4000 , it also launched its new Liftand-Slide door at this year ’ s FIT Show . With U-values as low as 0.65 W / m2K – a Passive Haus Standard - and capable of spanning openings of 6.5m X 2.8m with just two sashes , it delivers impressive design flexibility , including aluskin options .
“ There are some very exciting innovations ahead in terms of the range that we are able to offer and the levels of performance that we ’ re going to be able to achieve ”, says Cocken . “ We expect to be able to announce these in the early part of 2018 and will build on the approach we have adopted with the Ideal 4000 and aluskin , something which is already winning our customers business across sectors .”
www . aluplast . co . uk
24 » NOV 2017 » CLEARVIEW-UK . COM