Clearview National July 2016 - Issue 176 | Page 61

HARDWARE& SECURITY Building Stable Relationships with UK Press Day »»ROTO’S UK PRESS DAY TOOK PLACE at Coventry’s Ricoh on 13 June. The Window and Door Hardware and Roof Windows divisions joined forces to host a presentation for journalists from trade publications across the UK. The focus was on what the Roto brand has to offer now and over the next five years. As well as presentations, the event also included a practical workshop session, allowing delegates to use Roto products at first hand and learn more about them. POPULAR VENUE Known as the home of both Coventry City FC and the Wasps rugby union side, the Ricoh Arena has also become a popular concert venue in recent years, with acts like Coldplay, Take That and Bruce Springsteen performing to sold out crowds. TWO DIVISIONS Speakers were Mike Piqeur, Head of Western Europe, who gave a presentation on behalf of Door and Window Hardware Division, and Simon Cox, UK Country Manager for Roto Roof Windows. Mike Piqeur explained how Roto’s global theme, ‘Stability Connects’, applies in the UK market. Roto projects itself as a stable company with which to do business, one that is focused on building long-term, stable relationships with its business partners, including its client base. 50 YEAR UK PRESENCE Roto has been present in the UK for over half a century and has had a limited company in the country for nearly 30 years now. “Clients need more than a product” The plan for the next few years is to establish Roto as “the most customer focused business” in the sector, putting more of an emphasis on being customer-oriented than ever before. When asked if this meant Roto hadn’t been doing enough in this area up to now, Piqeur replied that although he believed Roto had always had the best customer service in its market, it could now offer even more. BEYOND TILT&TURN In terms of products, Mike Piqeur mentioned that Roto is best-known as the originator of Tilt&Turn hardware, but emphasised that the NT modular system offered much more than a Tilt&Turn suite. An example of this is hardware for French doors on balconies, with an Arrestable Brake Stay that gives the user control over open door leaves, holding them still at any angle of opening. NEW WEATHERPROOF SLIDING SYSTEM Roto’s biggest new product offering for the UK is Patio Inowa. Launched earlier this year at Fensterbau, the system is claimed to be the first sliding door hardware capable of creating an unbroken weather seal around all four sides of a closed sliding sash. Mike Piqeur believes this will be a core product for Roto over the next few years, because it will make it much easier for house builders to meet energy efficiency targets. ROOF WINDOWS Simon Cox introduced the Roto Roof Windows division and provided some very interesting insights into how the British market still favours the centrally pivoted roof window configuration. Roto is making inroads with its top-third and top-pivoting models, including Designo R7 and Designo R8. ROTO Q – “DESIGNED BY INSTALLERS” The Roto Q roof window is described as “the first window designed by the installer”. It features what Roto calls “acoustic confirmation”, in which the mechanism makes an audible click at each stage of the installation process. The system follows the mounting sequence already common in the trade, but makes things faster and easier. No tools are required to install the window, and this also makes things safer because operatives have two hands free at all times. ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDING Energy efficiency is becoming a more important selling point for the roof windows. With standard double glazing for example, a Roto Q window can achieve a Uw value of 1.2 W/m²K. The Q Plus version, which features high-quality thermal glazing, reduces this figure to 0.78 W/m²K. Simon Cox revealed that Roto is supplying Roof Windows to a large passive house project in the UK, which will be publicised at a later date. WORKSHOP ELEMENT For the third part of the event, delegates moved to another room in which a number of products had been assembled. Along with the major roof window models, there were a number of windows and doors fitted Roto hardware systems. MEAL, CASINO AND HOTEL After the main event finished, delegates got a chance to enjoy Roto’s hospitality with an evening meal and the option of visiting the onsite casino before staying overnight at the DoubleTree Hilton. C L E A RV I E W-U K . C O M » J U L 2016 » 61