Clearview National April 2015 - Issue 161 | Page 84

CONSERVATORIES Out of this World The fenestration industry is renowned for developing new technology and products, but this latest invention from Optiplas Limited is proving to be out of this world. »»The Optiplas panel has been developed and patent applied for, to allow glass workshops to produce glazed conservatory roofs and door panels, which offer a U-value of 0.2W/m2k. Formed by being vacuumed into a solid square structure, the materials were original developed to be used in space age technology and contain unique properties which drastically reduce the amount of heat transfer co-efficient. Optiplas has created a unique way of encapsulating the panel into a glass unit of any size or shape. The panels can be used in conservatory roofs and also in doors to provide a higher performance better than that of any other glass or composite panel on the market. Nigel Robinson, Optiplas director, commented: “The technology used to produce the panel is not new, but the process of how the technology is used to create the encapsulation and production of the panel within a sealed glass unit is a concept which no-one has ever used before and this is what makes the manufacture of the Optipla s panel unique. “The benefits to the consumer are evident, with the sealed glass unit’s performance providing an overall U-value of 0.2W/m2K, when standard units achieve 2.9W/m2k. This is going to provide greater heat loss/retention for the homeowner. The conservatory roof system will provide around 90% coverage of a roof with a U-value at 0.14W/m2K.”Nigel adds. The unique design of the glass panels is not the only advantage when installing an Optiplas panel; when fitted in a conservatory, the units imitate the appearance of a solid roof structure, without the weight load. 84 » A PR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M Nigel explains: “The benefits to an installer fitting a conservatory roof fitted with Optiplas glass mean they are able to offer the homeowner a roof which appears to be solid, without the heaviness of fitting it and one that they are able to fit in one day rather one week. A conservatory roof fitted with Optplas glass units can weigh up to 60% lighter than if fitted with any solid roof structure currently available in the market.” “The glass units are internally painted to any RAL colour that the homeowner chooses, which on the inside of the conservatory reproduces the appearance of a solid roof, and from the outside still retains its glass appearance, reflecting the sky above.” Nigel comments. The Optiplas panels have undergone rigorous testing, to ensure their performance and outperforms other glass units to give a life expectance of 30 year plus. Intellectual property has been applied for in multiple countries across the world for the encapsulation design of the glass units and Optiplas Limited is planning to develop a core of insulating glass manufacturers, throughout the UK and Ireland, to licence and manufacture this distinctive style and design of producing an insulated glass unit. Nigel adds: “With the government pushing further for more eco-friendly products to be included into new and existing construction projects, we believe producing an insulated sealed glass unit using Optiplas panels can give manufacturers a massive advantage over other IG producers.” “Being able to produce a glass unit of a U-value of 0.2W/m2K is a massive step forward as far as we are concerned. We intend to limit the amount of licences we offer to able manufacturers and installers the opportunity to gain a strong foothold in the market place and profit from recommended margins.” The Optiplas glass unit panel has currently being fitted to a number of installations in South Yorkshire, by Barnsley based manufacturer, JSS Installations. JSS Installations is the first to manufacture this elite new unit and Jason Smith, managing director comments: “We have been working with Nigel on the Optiplas project over the last two years to develop and produce the glass units and have been able to sell the product into a number of conservatory installations. Firstly, because of the appearance of having a solid roof and secondly, because of the overall U-value benefit the units offer a homeowner.” Nigel and myself decided to incorporate Optiplas Ltd to manufacture and market this new and innovative product and have recently had confirmation from the Intellectual property office with regards to the acceptance of the registered trade mark Optiplas. For further information regarding licensing Optiplas, call 01226 341234