A growing number of fabricators are returning to making their own IGUs. Tony Palmer, head of sales at Edgetech, comments on the phenomenon.

It feels like we’ve been through more crisis situations in the last few years than you see in the average decade.

Each time things seem at risk of getting back to normal, some new challenge emerges that the market and society in general have to scramble to adapt to.

That’s brought huge changes, in fenestration and beyond – and in our sector, one of the most surprising we’ve seen has been a movement towards fabricators opting to make their own IGUs.

For years, the trend seemed to be going in exactly the opposite direction – companies seeking to streamline their operations by just focusing on their core products, while buying in the rest of the end product from specialist providers.

So why the turnaround? From the companies we’ve spoken to, it seems to be driven by fabricators who made their own IGUs in the past but then shifted to outsourcing.

A number of these fabricators appear to be deciding that now, on balance, it’s better to bring it back in house. When we ask why, most reply with one of two responses, or a combination of both – quality and supply.

These companies believe they can provide a more consistent, higher quality service if they begin manufacturing units in house again.

At Edgetech, we know our IGU manufacturer clients have worked phenomenally hard to continue providing excellent quality and service during these unprecedented times and are continually investing in their businesses.

Despite the enormous challenges, they’ve kept their quality up, and their lead times as short as possible given the highly challenging circumstances they’ve found themselves in.

When you have the right supply partners in place, outsourcing can be the better option. However, in other cases, in these exceptionally busy times, for fabricators who are struggling to source the quantity and quality of units they require it may make sense to begin making units themselves.

If you’re in either position, Edgetech can help – we can recommend trusted unit manufacturers we’ve worked with for decades, or our experts can work with you to cost effectively set up manufacturing yourself.

For over three decades, our Super Spacer product has been the leading foam warm edge spacer on the market, offering easy application, 100% memory and exceptional thermal efficiency and condensation resistance.

Thanks to its flexible construction, Super Spacer makes manufacturing units quick and easy, and can significantly streamline your operation.

Super Spacer units can be manufactured in under 20 seconds using high-speed automated applicators, and even using our most basic, entry-level manual application tools, we’ve seen some people assemble a fully finished unit in under 90 seconds.

With its durable edge seal, and continuous vapour barrier, it offers outstanding all-round performance. Its low thermal conductivity means it’s able to offer excellent thermal efficiency, while its high desiccant content and moisture-absorbing flexible foam matrix reduces the risk of condensation.

Super Spacer also offers superior UV-light and oxidation resistance thanks to its high-quality materials, as well as delivering excellent shape retention and colour stability.

Speak to the experts

At Edgetech, we’ve been striving to help businesses make high-performance, energy efficient insulated glass units since 1989.

Our internationally respected Super Spacer product has been installed in millions of homes, businesses, and other commercial buildings in the decades since.

Today, we’re part of billion-dollar building products powerhouse, Quanex, where we work with colleagues all around the globe to push the boundaries of warm-edge excellence.

If you’re considering returning to IGU manufacturing – or are entering the sector for the first time – we’re therefore excellently positioned to help you get off to the best possible start.

If you’re interested in learning more, we’d be delighted to hear from you.