Setting a new standard

Glass Times editor, Luke Wood, talks to Phil Gregory, design and development manager for Veka, about the new double-rebated, double-flush Omnia system.

Luke Wood (LW): In a nutshell – what is the new Omnia system?

Phil Gregory (PG): Veka is continually at the forefront of the industry when it comes to innovation, and we believe Omnia will set the standard for windows over the next 10 years. It is the UK’s first double-rebated, double-flush system, offering a complete suite of design opportunities for casement windows, tilt and turn windows, residential and French doors, using just nine different profiles.

We have developed Omnia to support our customers in meeting homeowner demand for flush and heritage-style windows, it offers the perfect solution to overcoming the challenges traditionally associated with fabricating and fitting heritage style windows, while maintaining the levels of performance that consumers have come to expect from PVC-U.

Omnia is designed to transform fabrication processes, by offering the highest levels of technical performance alongside a hidden co-extruded gasket system that is automatically mated with the extrusions during manufacture, meaning no more time-consuming hand fitting.

As well as the automatically mated co-extruded gasket system, Omnia supports various mechanical jointing techniques, including timber weld and Veka’s patented, highly-cost effective ProJoin Gen 2 method. In practice, this means that recreating the look of a classic mortice and tenon joint is easy – which will be ideal for those working on projects in conservation areas and in response to the increasing demand for authentic detailing.

LW: What was the main reason behind its development?

PG: We first began visualising the system that would later become Omnia when a customer challenged the finished look of her new windows.

She had purchased flush-fitting windows, but as we all know, existing systems in the UK are only flush on the outside. She said she didn’t buy the windows for her neighbours, but for herself – so why weren’t they flush inside? The conversation stuck with me and was the starting point for Omnia.

We recognised that this customer was not the only one, demand for flush products and heritage-styling were increasing and so we pulled together a small team of experts to come up with a new solution – one which would not only provide the industry with a double-flush system, but one which also eased the challenges of fabricators. Omnia is the result of a three-year-long period of research and development.

LW: What were some of the most important design details as part of the original brief – what was it that you really needed it to do?

PG: One of the most important considerations was to produce a solution that could be integrated into any fabrication facility, including existing production methods and third-party products such as hardware.

Once we had a concept we believed in, and which would achieve this, we began to involve more stakeholders to understand how Omnia could benefit them. We got their feedback and implemented it, to make sure the solution could work for as many people as possible.

What we have created here is everything an installer needs, all in one place – for the first time in the industry, there is a full suite to make all the different window and door types, and they will all match in their appearance.

LW: How long did it take to bring to market?

PG: Omnia is the result of years of research and development. We initially began looking at the next evolution of our systems in 2019, building a brief for what this solution could be. In 2020, we began looking into trends and legislation to see what the future might hold for windows and doors, because we wanted to ensure longevity of the system – though changing standards are not easy to predict.

In 2021 we presented our first concept for Omnia to the board, and we’ve launched the system to the market in early 2024.

LW: Can you explain more about the system’s manufacturing efficiencies?

PG: Omnia has been developed with smart design features that optimise efficiency, manufacture and installation.

It is manufactured with Veka’s time tested profile details which reduce bespoke tooling requirements – another big industry win. Meanwhile for installers, the suite’s 70mm depth makes for an easy swap out of old units.

One of the most important considerations was to produce a solution that could be integrated into any fabrication facility, including existing production methods and third-party products.

Common features in the design reduce tooling requirements and changes during manufacture, these along with common reinforcing sections and mouldings reducing stock requirements. Also, several clip design features and jig-less assembly techniques create fabrication efficiency benefits.

LW: What is the initial feedback from customers?

PG: Omnia has received a thoroughly positive response since its launch to the industry in April – something we anticipated but are nonetheless thrilled to see. We believed we had a good idea when we presented Omnia for the first time, but the enthusiasm and belief we’re seeing today is overwhelming.

We’re so pleased, because we worked on problems until we found solutions to meet the high expectations that we put on ourselves. We’ve built more than five decades of market-leading experience and expertise into Omnia and we know it is the right design at the right time.”

LW: Veka’s MD, Neil Evans, has said that flush windows will account for the majority of windows in the next 5-6 years – where are we currently in terms of the percentage of flush products going into homes?

PG: Flush window sales currently make up 24% of all PVC-U window sales, and 62% of all installers sell flush windows – which accounts for nearly two thirds of the entire installer market. With innovations like Omnia available on the market, available in a wide range of finishes and simpler for installers to fit, we anticipate these figures will increase in years to come.

LW: Flush products are typically foiled – what percentage of your products are foiled and can you tell us a bit more about any investment in your foiling facilities to cater for any uptake in demand in the future?

PG: Colour plays a huge part in the flush market, with foiled finishes accounting for 81% of all flush window products. We recently undertook research with homeowners across the UK and Ireland to get a better understanding of consumer preferences when it comes to coloured PVC-U, and found demand isn’t going to decrease any time soon.

The colours consumers are most likely to seek out in their windows right now are dark greys including anthracite and gale (37%), black or black-brown (24%), or darker wood effects such as black cherry or rosewood (12%).

The lighter, agate grey comes in at 4%, as do lighter wood effects such as golden oak (4%). Demand for solid colours (83%) is higher than for printed effects (17%), while the colours that have seen the biggest sales growth (2023 to 2024) are cement grey (93%), slate grey (34%) and agate grey (31%).

Our colour range is designed to appeal to every taste and enhance every style of masonry. But more than that, the colour ranges we’ve developed give fabricators the choice to sell into any market they’d like to, and installers the opportunity to meet a huge range of customer preferences, meaning we play a huge part in growing their business.

LW: Can you tell us about any additional product development, related to Omnia or otherwise, that we might see in the coming months?

PG: At Veka, we’re constantly looking at the next innovation and continuously working on improving our current offering, and we look forward to bringing more transformational solutions to market in due course.”