Pro Installer Guide to Installer Support - Issue 02

Just Add Glass Alan Fielder, Director of Sales and Marketing at Edgetech UK, a Quanex company, talks about how the leading warm edge manufacturer has taken the market to another level with a growing range of products for customers. T he new energy rating system for windows now includes A++. But the question we have to ask ourselves is can we achieve this with double glazing or should we move towards triple? While certain parts of the industry are happy to move towards three panes of glass, there’s a big contingent that’s happy with two. And as price differentials are so great between double and triple glazing, there’s a real appetite to create cleverer and cleverer doubles. We know this because it was one of the key findings from last year’s Triple Glazing Question that we hosted for the industry. There’s a real willingness to push the boundaries of what can be achieved from double glazed units. So how can we squeeze more and more from a double? Over the years the advances from systems companies and glass manufacturers combined with spacer technology has given rise to highly efficient and cost effective double glazed units. Super Spacer®, Edgetech’s flagship warm edge spacer bar, has played its part in pushing performance forward. And for the next generation, as marginal gains become even more important, Edgetech has launched Super Spacer Alpha®. It’s a radically different shape from the rectangular Edgetech Super Spacer and the T shaped TriSeal™. These both offer very high levels of energy efficiency. But the innovative new chamfered shape of Super Spacer Alpha performed even better with a thermal transmittance of 0.13W/m2K when tested by IFT Rosenheim, making it the best performing warm edge spacer in the world. Designed by Edgetech’s team in Coventry this could be the biggest shake up in spacer technology that the UK has seen. The chamfered shape of Super Spacer Alpha has been designed to reduce the amount of sealant required on application to enable cost savings of up to 20% for customers. Super Spacer Alpha has been independently tested and passes the stringent requirements of EN1279 even with the reduced sealant depth, a true testament to the product engineering and design. The product is also backed by a 40 year performance guarantee that’s double the length of even the longest industry guarantee. Super Spacer Alpha also reduces condensation by up to 70%. It was this combination of energy efficiency and production benefits that won high praise from judges in the Made in the Midlands’ award. Winning the Manufacturing Have You Entered For Installation Of The Year? T here are just a few weeks left to get your entries in for the 2015 REHAU Installation of the Year competition. Entries close on 23rd November, before four shortlisted projects go forward for live voting on the REHAU website from 1 December, with the eventual winner being announced in January. REHAU says that it is looking for the most exciting and inspiring domestic installations completed by customers over the last 12 months, and is even guaranteeing a prize for every company who submits an entry. The eventual winner will receive a digital SLR camera to help them take even more great shots in the future and will of course also be able to claim the prestigious ‘Installation of the Year’ title. 14 AUTUMN ‘15 A Pro Installer Guide to Installer Support The only restriction on projects which can be entered is that they must be in a domestic property. The installations can be in cottages, castles, houses or apartments and they can be new builds, renovations, replacements or extensions. REHAU is hoping to get as much variety as possible and, with lots of entries already submitted, the marketing team say that they’re delighted to see multi-fold doors, vertical sliders and foiled windows in amongst some lovely casement window projects. A new website is live at www.rehau.co.uk/ competition where installers can see the criteria for submitting entries, post photos and get lots of useful tips and advice. Innovation of the year category, Super Spacer Alpha has been recognised as a truly innovative product. However, it’s not just Super Spacer Alpha that’s been added by Edgetech of late; during the last 12 months an array of additional products have been launched by the team in the Just Add Glass range. Today everything manufacturers need to make better IGUs is available from Edgetech with TruPlas rigid warm edge spacer, Bostik edge sealants and the high quality TruSieve desiccant. Most recently Edgetech has expanded its range of ancillaries to include Georg ian bar, lead, cloth tape and aluminium spacer bar. As well as improving IG performance Edgetech has looked for ways the industry can diversify to enhance the offering for the homeowner. TruShield, a next generation glass protection system which forms a highly effective, durable and versatile protective layer is one example of this. It means the glass stays cleaner for longer, and that leads to better thermal performance because light transmittance isn’t compromised. TruShield can be applied to glass in three ways: by hand, semi-automatically, and fully automated. For larger companies Edgetech developed the fully automated system in conjunction with Bassra so TruShield production can run at up to three metres per minute. For smaller volumes TruShield can be applied by hand in an easy five step process. There’s no complex training, and Edgetech provides ongoing support. But the biggest revolution for windows is the way they’re installed. Edgetech’s TruFit pre-compressed foam sealing tape for window and door fitting has challenged current methods of fitting windows. TruFit provides an effective thermal barrier for window and door installation. This ensures true energy rating performance and a longlife weather seal. Thermal imaging analysis has shown how much heat can be lost at the edge of windows installed using traditional sealant. When the same windows were fitted using TruFit sealing tape, an average of 23% less heat was lost. It’s also proven to be up to 20% faster to use - making window fitting quicker, cleaner and neater, as well as saving money. So whether it’s manufacturing better IGUs, installing windows or keeping them performing better throughout their lifetime, Edgetech has it covered in the Just Add Glass range of products.

Pro Installer Guide to Installer Support - Issue 02 | Page 14