What’s new for VS at Quickslide?
Times they are a-changing at leading sash window fabricator Quickslide. Managing director, Ben Weber, talks through five key new enhancements for the brand’s flagship Legacy vertical sliders and how they are produced at their Brighouse HQ.
- Legacy’s new slim-line meeting rail
As exclusively revealed at this year’s FIT Show, Quickslide’s flagship vertical sliders range Legacy is being enhanced this year.
Bringing with it the addition of a new slim-line meeting rail that is over a centimetre narrower than its standard counterpart, this will make Legacy one of the slimmest and most traditionally styled vertical sliders on offer on the market.
The construction of the meeting rail has been considerably altered so we have been able to condense it down, creating this more desirable, authentic slim rail that is even more faithful to the original timber sash window design. Because Legacy is all about marrying the character and charm of traditional heritage windows with the high quality performance of modern fenestration.
- Run-through sash horns
The enhanced Legacy VS will feature seamless run-through horns, with a new refined end cap. Our decision to discontinue plant-on horns for the Legacy VS in favour of premium run-through horns as the only option has meant we can streamline our production process as well as ensure high standards of authentic heritage styling.
Period detailing such as these seamless run-through sash horns, timber-look mechanical joints, an authentic curvy ovolo frame and deep bottom rail make the Legacy VS almost indistinguishable from the traditional timber designs on which it is styled.
Along with the new slim-line meeting rail, these details mean it will now be harder than ever to spot the difference between our Legacy VS and an actual timber sash window.
- New bespoke cutting machine
We have invested £1.5m in a new bespoke Schirmer machining centre with two milling stations, to make the fabrication of its vertical sliders’ complex details more effective and efficient.
This is one is our biggest investments to date. It’s a one-of-a-kind machine that is unlike any off-the-shelf cutting centre, and it will enable us to really stretch the boundaries of what is possible to achieve when it comes to creating authentic, heritage style PVC-U sash windows. In fact, it’s so advanced that Business Micros had to build reinforcing into their software for us.
It took three days and six large lorries to deliver the machine from Germany, followed by a week to assemble it and then a further four weeks to put it into commission. So many people have been involved at so many levels to get this machine here, and now we’re delighted to be at the point that it is part of our production.
- Increased, in-house, colour options
Not long ago, Quickslide invested in a new 18,500ft2 dedicated foiling facility, which has increased its in-house foiling capacity by 30%, allowing it to introduce additional new colour options quickly and cost effectively along with exclusive dual foil options.
Vertical sliders are now available in exterior/interior combinations of grey woodgrain/heritage white and agate grey/heritage white, along with a white woodgrain/smooth white option.
- Smart security
Intelligent sash fasteners, designed by Avia especially for sash windows, can now be requested as part of the initial Legacy VS window spec. Previously only available as a retrofit, intelligent fasteners allow homeowners to look at their phone to see whether their windows are opened or closed, or you can even just ask Siri.
Alerts can also be set up to be sent to Apple devices, providing the ultimate in peace of mind away from home.
From the additional details, to the fundamental design of Legacy, to its manufacture and production: we’re refining everything about our vertical sliders right now. It’s been an exciting journey to get here, and we can’t wait to work with our trade partners to introduce the new Legacy range.
By prioritising the best in design and technology, quality, authentic heritage windows just get better and better, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of it.