Five years since the inception of the Sheerline aluminium range, Ben Hartshorn, technical director at Garnalex, explains why the launch of the SheerGlide inline patio door system marks an important milestone for the aluminium systems company.

At the heart of the SheerGlide system is a new innovation – the patent-pending TwinLock interlock, designed to address the traditional compromise between security and thermal efficiency often associated with sliding patio doors.

Over the last five years, we have been successful in challenging the status quo, with older systems and stockists adopting many of our ideas for the benefit of the aluminium industry.

SheerGlide heralds the competed vision: a fully integrated product suite, sourced from a single, totally vertically integrated, UK supplier.

This enables fabricators and installers to offer a cohesive aluminium system covering windows, doors, bi-folds, glazed roofs and now sliding patio doors.

The advantages of a unified system are clear. Shared components across products help reduce stockholding, while design consistency makes it easier to deliver co-ordinated installations across a property.

This integrated approach can also simplify ordering and production planning, helping manufacturers operate more efficiently and seamlessly on the factory floor – all delivered within five working days.

Simplifying fabrication
Sliding patio doors are widely recognised as one of the more complex products to manufacture. Multiple profiles, numerous components and detailed assembly processes can often make production time-consuming.

SheerGlide has been designed to address this challenge.

By reducing component complexity and eliminating unnecessary duplication, the system helps streamline fabrication while maintaining accuracy and build quality. Features such as Quick Connect Corners also allow frames to be assembled quickly and consistently, helping fabricators speed up production without compromising precision.

TwinLock
One of the most notable features of SheerGlide is its patent-pending TwinLock interlock, which introduces a no-compromise approach to security and thermal performance.

With traditional sliding patio doors, increasing structural strength or security often meant bulkier frames, with two-part interlock profiles. Multiple trims were also required in order to achieve thermal performance.

TwinLock has been developed to address these challenges. A single sash containing the interlock achieves much higher torsional strength. The interlock is strong, slim and fully thermally broken, and is engineered directly into the structure of the door. This integrated design allows the system to provide robust locking performance while maintaining slim sightlines and strong thermal efficiency.

SheerGlide is also capable of meeting the requirements of the PAS 24 Security Standard.

Ultimately, the vision delivers a sliding patio door that achieves security, thermal performance and aesthetics without the compromises that have historically characterised this type of product.

Thermal performance
Energy efficiency continues to be a key consideration for homeowners. SheerGlide has been designed to accommodate both 28mm double and 40mm triple glazing, allowing fabricators to tailor performance depending on the project specification.

With these options, the system can achieve U-values as low as 1.4 and 1.0 W/m²K respectively.

Contemporary design
SheerGlide has been developed with slim sightlines that maximise glazed areas and natural light, creating a clean, contemporary aesthetic that complements modern architectural styles.

The doors integrate seamlessly with the wider Sheerline aluminium range, enabling installers to achieve a consistent design language.

A wide range of colour options is available thanks to Garnalex’s in-house powder coating facility, which operates a Qualicoat-approved paint line to ensure durability and finish quality.

Completing the picture
By focusing on practical fabrication, strong thermal performance and innovations such as the TwinLock interlock, Garnalex can provide fabricators and installers with a sliding patio door that meets the demands of both modern manufacturing and modern homes.

SheerGlide demonstrates how thoughtful design and engineering can deliver products that are practical to manufacture, easy to sell and built to perform.