Passivhaus performance patio

Aluplast will unveil its ‘ultra-thermally efficient” new Lift-and-Slide Patio door, at the FIT Show.

Showcased for the first time, the Aluplast Lift-and-Slide door can be manufactured to deliver U-values as low as 0.65W/m2K, meeting Pasivhaus standards – a first for the product type.  

Capable of spanning openings of 6.5m x 2.8m and sashes of up to 300kg, Ian Cocken, Aluplast’s director of sales and marketing, said that the ‘heavy-weight system’, also delivered end-user appeal ‘en masse’.

He said: “The Aluplast Lift-and-Slide Patio is an incredibly flexible solution, although easy-to-operate also delivers masses of design flexibility, giving it wide reach into retail and specification markets.

“It has end user appeal because it leaves views uninterrupted by uprights – a major advantage over bifolding doors. Given the UK’s often inclement summertime weather in reality bifolds are often only opened a couple of times a year.

“The uninterrupted sightlines offered by the Aluplast Lift-and-Slide Patio, coupled with a strong architectural quality, makes for a powerful retail proposition.

“Ultra-low U-values also allow it to out-compete any other lift-and-slide system and capable of achieving a Pasivhaus standard, it’s also going to have equal appeal with architects.

“It’s a very exciting product and one with the potential to yield some very high margin returns for fabricators and installers.”  

The modular 85mm system comes in in two main options. This includes a standard aluminium system and a premium ultra-energy efficient GRP option accommodating glazing units of up to 51mm.

The performance of both can be further enhanced with the addition of a thermally efficient upper guide rail and insulating foam inserts.

The system has also been designed to minimise stock holding and to deliver time savings during installation and through life, using a smart glazing system.

In addition to GRP and foiled finishes, the Lift-and-Slide Patio is also available in aluskin, Aluplast’s ‘clip-and-fix’ aluminium fascia.

“As a modular 85mm system, the Lift-and-Slide patio offers very slim sightlines and, as highlighted, has an architectural quality. Manufactured or sold alongside our contemporary new Ideal 4000 window system, which will also be showcased at FIT, it makes up a very strong combined offer,” Ian said.

The leading-edge Ideal 4000 70mm PVCU system (which will also be officially launched at FIT) is defined by a contemporary ‘SquareLine’ profile and the flexibility that it delivers, as a fully integrated product offering. This includes the aluskin aluminium external finishing option.

It allows PVC-U fabricators to manufacture an aluminium-clad PVCU casement window without the requirement for specialist equipment – opening-up access to new market sectors.

Delivering strong aesthetics and contemporary sightlines, it can also achieves WER A+  and A++  window rating in either PVCU or aluskin finishes.

This 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 accommodates triple-glazed systems, with triple-glazed options achieving a low U-value with standard components. This allows it to achieve a WER A++ rating.

“Aluplast has made a very sizeable investment in the UK,” Ian said. “This has also included the launch of a new UK sales office and distribution centre, with expanded sales, technical support and customer service teams.

“We have a very strong product portfolio going into the FIT Show this year. These are products selected or developed specifically for the UK market, which allow our customers to capitalise on the commercial advantages delivered by Aluplast’s global-leading R&D programme, here at home.

“This is epitomised in the Aluplast Lift-and-Slide Patio. It can be manufactured to meet Pasivhaus standards but as a modular system, in common with Aluplast’s wider product portfolio, it’s been designed to deliver manufacturing and installation efficiencies, while maximising sales platforms.”

Aluplast C42