Morley Glass has reported an 80% year-on-year increase in sales of its ScreenLine SL16 system as installers capitalise on growing homeowner interest.

Unlike standard integral blinds, the slim Venetian system is compatible with IGUs with an overall thickness of 24mm because it is designed to fit within a 16mm cavity. It achieves this thanks to its slightly narrower slats, coupled with a reduced depth header and bottom rail, and it offers the same high performance as all the other ScreenLine integral blind units manufactured by Morley Glass.

Exclusively available in the UK from Morley Glass as part of its Uni-Blinds range, the manual and motorised control SL16 is said to have opened up significant new opportunities for installers. Most importantly, it provides an integral blind solution to homeowners who are looking to retain their existing window and door frames and vertical sliding sashes.

In both these cases, they will often require a 24mm IGU rather than the 28mm thickness used more commonly in new windows and doors.

Ian Short, managing director of Morley Glass said:

“As end-user awareness of integral blinds grows, so too is understanding of how and where they can be fitted within new windows and doors and as an upgrade for installation in existing frames. These are amongst the main reasons why we’ve seen increased interest and sales growth over the past 12 months, with the SL16 busting the myth that integral blinds are only compatible with IGUs in thicknesses of at least 28mm.

“We’ve also seen further increased interest since we launched the new motorised version of the SL16 – the SL16MB – which allows the blind to be controlled using a remote control handset, a wall-mounted control unit or a smartphone app when integrated with a smart home system. This offers all the benefits of our premium MB System, including an ultra-smooth, quiet and reliable brushless motor to raise, lower and tilt the slats.”

Available in nine colours, the SL16 has additional potential for windows and doors in new build projects where the goal is to install Part Q compliant glazing with a laminated outer pane, without going beyond a 28mm IGU thickness. Whilst the reduction in cavity width resulting from the use of a 6.8mm outer pane, rather than 4mm glass, makes it too narrow for standard integral blind systems, this is not so for the SL16. It will fit and function comfortably within a more robust PAS24 and Secured by Design grade unit.