Preview
62 | MAY 2017
Preview
Nearly 100 New Exhibitors
WINDOW BONDING SET FOR UK TAKE-OFF |
This year ’ s FIT Show is proving to be a hit with new exhibiting companies , who see the opportunities that they confidently expect will come from being present at one of the best trade shows in the business .
The show , which takes place at Birmingham ’ s NEC from 23rd to 25th May , has attracted no fewer than 99 new exhibiting companies , illustrating the huge interest it can generate within the industry .
Companies exhibiting for the first time include Gwentbased AluK , for whom – as the name suggests – aluminium lies at the heart of everything it does .
Door companies Longden Doors and Mexin Doors
|
have both booked their spot for 2017 , so too has the newly formed price comparison site for window prices for homeowners , Comparemywindows . com , as has sealants company European Chemical Industries . |
The decision to move the show to the NEC has clearly proved popular with the industry , with its larger exhibition space and the bonus of great facilities nearby , including bars , hotels , restaurants and health clubs . |
Global chemical company Sika is using the FIT Show 2017 to launch its range of specialist adhesives for bonded window designs , aimed at the independent fabricator / installer and the volume window manufacturer .
Relatively new to the UK , bonded windows replace traditional methods of fixing insulated glazed units into sashes with an ultra-strong , quick-to apply adhesive . For domestic windows , the main advantages include speed of application and a dramatic reduction in post-installation problems linked with traditional fixing methods .
Since the glazing is bonded into the sash , the finished window has a significantly increased structural strength and is also completely secure as the glazed unit cannot be levered out of the frame .
For independent fabrication and installation companies the Sikasil AS66 adhesive is supplied in a battery-operated gun that can be used both in production and on site . The one component adhesive cures as rapidly as a 2-component system , regardless of climatic conditions and can be used with all popular frame materials including PVCu , aluminium and wood .
While the gun-operated adhesive provides an excellent option for small to medium-size companies , the wider benefits of window bonding will be realised by manufacturers producing large volumes of windows or glass facades where the glass , bonded into the frame , will function as a structural element .
In this scale of operation , significant improvements in production efficiency will result from the ability to fully automate the
manufacturing process . The Sikasil WT 480 adhesive being launched at FIT is designed for this scenario and promises : cost reduction alongside improved , consistent quality and increased technical performance including increased wind loading , improved air-tightness and thermal efficiency .
Allowing the glass to function as a structural element opens the door for design flexibility and greatly improved aesthetics resulting from much slimmer profiles . As the sash no longer needs to bear the structural load , there is no need for metal reinforcements in PVCu – the profile can be significantly reduced , allowing maximum daylight from the window aperture while thermal performance is improved by the elimination of thermal bridging in the frame . David Fraser , sales manager at Sika Industry in the UK , observed : “ Our adhesives are widely used in Europe and have an impressive track record in markets where window bonding is a commonly used technology . We are now seeing increased interest from UK specifiers and believe that the technology is about to take off in this country . Our technical experts are ready to provide advice and guidance for window manufactures , large or small , who are considering taking the plunge and investing in a genuine step forward in window design .”
Sika will be exhibiting its adhesives and explaining the context of window bonding technology at Stand H15 of FIT 17 , NEC Birmingham , 23-25th May .
http :// gbr . sika . com / windowbonding / en / window-bonding . html
New Balustrade Hardware
Barrier Components Ltd is due to launch a raft of new balustrade hardware at the FIT Show this month , following on from the highly successful launch of the BarrierSabco frameless glass balustrade system last year .
Barrier Components , which is celebrating 30 years in business this year , will be exhibiting a selection of components including Standard Spigots in 316 stainless steel , Tilt-
Loc Spigots ( 2205 Stainless steel ), Pre-Assembled Posts , Mega Grip 3kN balustrade , Glass Rail Capping , Juliet Balcony Kits and 316 stainless swimming pool hinges and locks . The company has exhibited at every FIT show so far since 2013 and this year alongside these new components it will feature a range of frameless glass seals , Vistafold 120 and Patioslide 100 & 200 folding and sliding door kits along with three new straight sliding door hardware sets for framed and frameless glass doors on the stand .
Barrier Components Ltd is a leading architectural hardware supplier based in Purfleet in Essex . The business constantly strives to source new and innovative quality products from around the world to provide a one-stop shop and respected technical support to customers . Visit the stand ( G48 ) at FIT this year .
www . barrier-components . co . uk