Rehau launches Artevo

Rehau has launched its largest window system to date. According to Rehau, it’s designed to give architects, designers and specifiers the opportunity to incorporate ‘huge profiles’ that maximise natural light with all the performance benefits of PVC-U. 

The new system, called Artevo, will replace the company’s Geneo range. Using the Rau-Fipro-X material as its basis, Rehau has been able to redefine what’s possible in terms of size, production efficiency and originality from today’s polymer window systems.

Artevo launches as a growing body of research emphasises the importance of natural light for both homes and workplaces. In 2022, University College London published a review on ‘daylighting’ and its close connection to higher academic attainment. Harvard Business Review has also reported on the significance of natural light for workers, asking whether it’s now the ‘number one office perk’.

With Artevo, says Rehau, the built environment can now design and develop buildings in direct response to this research. The new system can accommodate floor-to-ceiling heights up to 2.6m housed in a modern ‘cubic’ look. Integrated force zones also provide increased performance and stability, making it easier to create larger sashes without the need for steel reinforcements.

“Artevo is all about architectural freedom,” said Russell Hand, head of product & technical at Rehau UK. “We’ve made several important improvements by evolving the Geneo system for today’s market. These include slimming down the profile size to 80mm whilst at the same time increasing its performance and capability for large spans. Now a building’s original plan can be realised without having to make concessions on design or performance as it nears completion.”

When combined with triple glazing the new system is suitable for Passivhaus projects – the built environment’s highest standard for energy efficiency. Artevo can be fitted with sealed units up to 72mm thick, when used in the flushed-mounted sash, and can also provide a high level of acoustic performance. During testing, the system was able to achieve sound insulation R_W of up to 48dB.

Rehau’s new system is also available with LowE foil, a patent-pending technology developed by the company’s engineers. LowE foil is a thermal insert fitted within the chambers of the Artevo window profiles. Replacing traditional foam thermal inserts, this V-shaped, reflective foil can be pre-inserted in the profile, reducing heat radiation by up to 5% while also preventing convection within the profile chambers. This results in an impressive Uf value of up to 0.81 W/m²K.

In-keeping with the high levels of thermal and acoustic performance, Artevo has been manufactured with sustainability in mind. All Rehau main profiles contain up to 75% recycled content, benefitting from the work carried out by PVCR, Rehau’s dedicated PVC processing facility in Runcorn. In addition, Rehau is now also using recyclates in the glazing beads for Artevo, which is a first for the company.

“This new system is designed to deliver added value throughout,” said Russell. “This starts with the way our windows are made. We know customers want to use the best materials and achieve the highest levels of performance without it costing the earth. This is why ‘evolution’ features in the product’s name – we’ve taken everything that made the Geneo system so successful and adapted it for a market more conscious of design, health and environmental impact.”

Despite modern windows becoming ever bigger, Rehau has been keen to make life easier for those fabricating and fitting them. Artevo is up 40% lighter than comparative systems, making it easier and cheaper to transport and install.