A long-term partnership with Edgetech has helped fuel 37 years of growth for leading IGU manufacturer Cleartherm Glass Sealed Units, proving that having the right supplier isn’t just important – it’s essential.

For Leicester-based IGU manufacturer Cleartherm, success has never been just about the product, it’s about the people, the partnerships, and the power of choosing the right supplier.

With more than 37 years in business and a reputation for quality, consistency and reliability, Cleartherm is a company that’s constantly evolving. And a 25-year partnership with Edgetech has been central to the business’s journey, especially through its investment in automation.

“As a manufacturer, we choose our suppliers very carefully,” says David Laing, managing director at Cleartherm. “And Edgetech bring not only a truly great product in Super Spacer, but a depth of automation expertise that has helped shape our growth for almost 25 years.”

Warm edge technology

Cleartherm was founded in 1988, and in the early 2000s began to explore how changing technologies could futureproof its manufacturing.

“We saw early signs that energy ratings were going to become more important in the market, and that skilled labour was becoming harder to find,” explains David. “That prompted us to start looking seriously at warm edge technology, and that’s when our relationship with Edgetech really began to flourish.”

It was around 2001-2002 that Cleartherm incorporated a production line to manufacture sealed units using warm edge technology. Then in 2003, following an invitation from Edgetech, David flew to the U.S. to see one of the first hot melt robot lines in operation using Super Spacer. He knew immediately it would be a game-changer.

“I remember seeing that line running and thinking, this is going to revolutionise IGU production. I came back convinced we needed to automate,” David recalls.

“By June 2005, we’d installed our first full auto line. That shift from rigid to flexible spacer, and to automation, was rapid, and it was only possible with Edgetech’s support.”

Automation has since become a cornerstone of Cleartherm’s operation. Today, its new auto line produces close to 800 units in just an 8.5-hour shift – output that can’t be competed with manually.

Super Spacer at the heart

The decision to automate its insulated glass unit manufacturing process using Super Spacer has also been instrumental.

“The reliability and quality of Super Spacer is known in the industry as being second to none,” says Gareth Laing, Cleartherm’s sales director. “There are other products out there, and we’ve tried them in the past, but we only use Super Spacer now, which says everything about how much we trust it.”

“It runs consistently, the reels change easily, and the product just works,” adds David. “That level of reliability, shift after shift, is critical when you’re producing at scale.”

But Gareth also highlights another key factor in the relationship with Edgetech – reliable support.

“We get on well with them, not just on a business level, but on a personal level too. I can pick up the phone at any time and get straight through to someone technical. That kind of access and responsiveness is so important.”

A shared future vision

According to Tony Palmer, head of sales at Edgetech, the Cleartherm relationship is a textbook example of how collaboration and shared goals can deliver long-term benefits for both businesses.

“Cleartherm were among the early adopters of automation in the UK IGU sector, and they understood from day one that warm edge wasn’t just about energy efficiency – it was about manufacturing efficiency too,” he says.

“The industry is still evolving, especially with the pressure to decarbonise and the need to optimise production, and with the backing of our U.S. parent company Quanex, we’re continuing to invest in new technologies and automation solutions that can help companies like Cleartherm stay ahead.”

“If you’re looking at future growth, you need suppliers who understand where the industry is going and can support that journey,” adds David. “There’s no doubt that Edgetech – and Quanex – are one of, if not the market leader around the world.”

“Without automation and the investment in Super Spacer, I don’t think we’d be where we are today,” adds Gareth. “It’s offered us the capacity and consistency we needed to grow – and we see Edgetech playing a key role in our future, just as they have in our past.”