Clearview National November 2014 - Issue 156 | Page 74

hardware&security

Debar Give Fabricators
a Clever Alternative
A recent industry report claimed bi-folding door
systems have failed to maintain the growth thy
saw in previous years, and fell by 7% in 2013.
»»However, bi-fold
doors are still seen as a longterm, inspiri ng product in the
industry and Graham Fawthorp,
Managing Director of Debar,
the bi-folding door hardware
solution specialist, explains how
consumers still regard the folding/
slide system as a ‘wannabe’
product to have installed at their
home, and how manufacturers
can persuade consumers that bifolding door systems, albeit can
be perceived to be a luxury item,
do not need to be financially out
of reach.
Debar has been manufacturing
and supplying bi-folding door
hardware both in the UK and
internationally for the last 5 years.
Managing Director, Graham
Fawthorp set up the business after
spending a long spell working
for German based Solarlux, the
global leader of sliding and glass
solution technologies.

Graham has spent over eighteen
years, working in the fenestration
industry, in particularly in the
area of bi-folding and sliding
doors and after leaving Solarlux
he was determined to create a
range of cost-effective hardware
products which overcame the
area of weaknesses; which in his
opinion, were prominent in the
installation of bi-folding door
systems, at that time.
Graham and his small team
started work developing a
combination of integral parts to
add strength, stability and security
to the intermediate door panels
of a bi-folding door system. The
result, Debar’s current range of
door locks, handles, track and
runners, adjustable hinges and
magnetic catches.
Graham explains: “Debar
was born out of the need to
create a range of bi-folding door
hardware which resolved the

74 » N OV 2014 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

type of installation and
user problems I had experienced
whilst working in the sliding door
market. I also had to ensure we
designed the system to make the
overall door system cost effective
to the fabricator, installer and
consumer.
“Debar range of products
were and still are, scrutinised
constantly from both a design
and a manufacturing point of
view to ensure, our customers are
receiving the best cost-efficient
solution to provide a PVCu
bi-folding door. We have also
developing products and systems
which could allow our customers
to gain further financial rewards
by persuade consumers to look
at alternative construction, other
than PVCu. ” Graham said.
Debar recently launched
a number of new products;
including the DeWall timber
bespoke systems. The system
offer fabricators the opportunity
to manufacture a complete
timber bi-fold door system from
scratch.
The system offers step-bystep instructions and has been
developed to assist fabricators
in the production of their own
bespoke timber bi-fold doors,
instead of adapting a door system
from separate designs.
The DeWall system come with
a complete guide of assembly
instructions, including; drawings,
dimensions, routing and draining
instructions, along with ‘of-theshelf ’ hardware components and
full technical support.
Graham explains: “The benefits
of producing a timber bi-fold

door through the DeWall system
can be surprisingly huge. When
looking at ways to offer an
upgrade on a bi-folding door
system for a consumer, fabricators
should not be afraid to take a
more traditional approach and
offer a timber solution.
“With the growing number
of homes now being fitted with
timber look-a-like composite
doors and coloured or woodgrain
effect windows, installing the bifolding door in an alternative type
of material, other than PVCu,
can still blend into the style of
the property, still maintain its
aesthetic appearance and offer
stronger stability in the usage of
the door system.
“We have developed the new
system, to give fabricators an
option to offer an alternative to
PVCu, giving confidence they
will be getting 100% support
from Debar to construct the
system.” Graham continued.
DeWall timber bespoke systems
can offer a fabricator a perfectly
produced door system. Maximum
door height can be up to
3000mm, width up to 1100mm
and weight load up to 120kg. The
system is able to allow for various
thresholds and is attractive in
design due to its slim sightlines.
The doors are completed by the
inclusion of Debar’s product
range to construct the perfect
timber bi-fold door.
For more information regarding
Debar or Debar’s range of
products contact 01274 673547
or visit their website on
www.bifold-hardware.com