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.
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