Clearview National October 2016 - Issue 179 | Page 38

DOORS&WINDOWS

Plastic fantastic – Bi-fold sparks
surge of interest in PVCu
In an exclusive article for Clearview, Greg Johnson, Director at
Warwick North West discusses how the Innolux bi-fold door is helping
installers gain a share of a predominantly aluminium bi-fold market.
»»IT’S NO SECRET THAT
the bi-folding door market has
gone from strength-to-strength
over the last few years. Initially
popular in the commercial
sector, bi-folding doors started
to gain traction in the domestic
market as homeowners realised
they were able to create more
space and light in their home,
making for a more pleasant living
environment.
Originally the bi-folding
door market was dominated by
aluminium. Inherently strong and
with slim sight lines, aluminium
doors were superior to the bulky
plastic alternatives that were
prone to jamming and didn’t
have the aesthetic appeal of
aluminium.
DESIGNED FOR OPTIMUM
PERFORMANCE
But thanks to products like the
Innolux bi-fold from Warwick
North West, PVCu is starting to
gain traction in the bi-folding
door market. The Innolux
bi-fold offers the same benefits
as aluminium – including slim
sightlines, smooth operation and
high security – but at a PVCu
price point with excellent thermal
efficiency to boot.
Greg Johnson, Director
of Warwick North West,
commented: “It’s true that the
first generation of PVCu bi-folds
were prone to multiple problems,
including warped frames and
jamming, mainly because they
were made using profiles that
weren’t designed for the unique
requirements of a bi-folding
door. The Innolux bi-fold on the

other hand was designed from
the ground up, specifically to
fix common issues with other
bi-fold systems, making it a true
alternative to aluminium.”
Based on the Eurocell Aspect
system, the Innolux bi-fold
features a bottom and top rail
concertina mechanism, making it
incredibly easy to open and close.
Available in two to six door panel
configurations, Innolux bi-fold
doors can also achieve larger
openings of up to 2.3 metres
high and 6 metres wide, with a
unique D-handle enabling the
door panels to fold back flatter to
create a clear 90% opening. It can
achieve a U-value as low as 0.9;
and has been designed for quick,
hassle-free fitting.
A RIGHT ROYLE
OPENING
Warwick North West has
highlighted the benefits of the
Innolux bi-fold in an amusing
sketch featuring TV comedy
legend Ricky Tomlinson aka Jim

38 » OCT 2016 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

Royle from the hit TV show, The
Royle Family.
The sketch features slob Jim
Royle sitting in his armchair
and calling out for son Anthony
and son-in-law Dave to come
and open the bi-fold door in
the lounge. When Jim gets no
response, he angrily jumps up
and proceeds to open the door
himself. Jim’s frustration soon
turns to delighted when he
realises the bi-fold is easier to
operate than he first anticipated
– and if his closing comment is
anything to go by, it’s fair to say
he’s glad he replaced his French
door with a bi-fold.
You can watch the sketch
by visiting Warwick’s Youtube
account https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=CeYrFQwCp_k
Greg Johnson commented:
“We really want to champion
PVCu as a fantastic bi-fold
material and this sketch forms
part of this strategy. We’ve had
some excellent feedback and it
seems as if the sketch has given

a good laugh to many in the
industry. The sketch is a bit of fun
but it has a serious message – our
Innolux bi-folds are premium
quality and easier to operate than
you might think.”
THE PVCU BIFOLD
SPECIALISTS
Established in 1998 and
operating from a 25,000 square
foot factory in Liverpool,
Warwick North West is one of the
largest Eurocell bi-fold fabricators
in the UK. The company supplies
PVCu windows and doors to
installers throughout the North
West and Yorkshire, and prides
itself on its high level of customer
service. Warwick North West
incorporates two companies,
Warwick Development (North
West) and Warwick Sliders, but
a recent re-brand sees the two go
under the one header as Warwick
North West.
www.warwicknorthwest.co.uk
or call 0151 933 3030