aluplast Lift-and-Slide a showstopper at this year’s FIT show

Offering significantly reduced manufacturing times, Passive Haus equivalent standard thermal efficiency and modular aluskin aluminium external cladding options, aluplast’s new Lift-and-Slide was at the forefront of a new generation of PVC-U products on show at FIT 2017.

Reporting high levels of interest throughout the show, aluplast unveiled its highly innovative and ultra-thermally efficient new Lift-and-Slide Patio door, at this year’s industry expo.

Capable of spanning openings of 6.5m X 2.8m, the modular 85mm system can accommodate glazing units of up to 51mm to deliver u-values as low as 0.65 W/m2K, meeting Passive Haus standards – a first for the product type.

Also, delivering manufacturing time efficiencies of up to 40% over comparable systems, Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast, said, the new aluplast Lift-and-Slide door, combined a strong architectural aesthetic and advance performance.

“The lift-and-slide mechanism, the u-values that this door can deliver, the flush threshold, it’s weather performance, combined with an exceptional aesthetic, including the aluskin aluminium option, gives the Lift-and-Slide incredible reach”, he said.

“There has been a definite shift within the market to premium products. The Lift-and-Slide can be manufactured highly efficiently. As a modular system, stock holding is kept to a minimum, while it can also be sold as either a standard or with a foiled or aluminium external finish.

“This gives the aluplast Lift-and-Slide huge market potential, something which I believe anyone who came to our standard during the show recognised immediately.”

aluskin is is aluplast’s proven external aluminium facing technology. It uses an innovative ‘click-and-fix’ system to allow PVC-U fabricators to manufacture an aluminium-clad PVC-U casement window without the requirement for specialist equipment – opening-up access to new market sectors.

In addition to the aluplast Lift-and-Slide door, aluskin is also available on aluplast’s new Ideal 4000 casement window, which also showcased for the first time at this year’s expo.

The leading-edge 70mm PVC-U system is defined by a contemporary ‘SquareLine’ profile and the flexibility that it delivers, as a fully integrated product offering including the aluskin aluminium external finishing option.

Part Q approved, and achieving a WER A rating in either its’ standard PVC-U, foiled or aluskin forms, Cocken said that Ideal 4000 had extensive reach across residential and commercial markets.

He said: “The growing volume of foiled product installed in the UK is indicative of a shift to premium product offerings. Our new Ideal 4000 system is a high-performance PVC-U casement in its own-right, delivering a strong contemporary and urban aesthetic.

“But like the Lift-and-Slide, the Ideal 4000 also delivers scope to build on this core offering, through foils and through aluskin to meet the growing value the end user is placing on design and aesthetics.”,

Ideal 4000 is launched in addition to aluplast’s core offer – the Ideal 70 system. With a choice of 24mm to 40mm glazing options, the slim line ovolo profile, easily accommodates triple-glazed systems, with triple-glazed options achieving a low U-Value with standard components. This allows it to comfortably achieve a WERs A++ rating.

With a substantial stand at this year’s show and with continuing investment in its UK distribution centre, customer service and technical support teams, aluplast continues to grow its presence in the UK.

Cocken said: “What the FIT Show has been about for us, has been showing UK fabricators and installers how much we’re investing in new product innovation and what that’s bringing to the UK fabrication and retail sector.

“Our customers can access global leading innovation at what is a very competitive price point. Again, that wasn’t lost on visitors to the stand this year. This is something which provides us with a real springboard for our continuing growth and increasing market share this year.”