ALUMINIUM Extra
Lumi : just what aluminium was made for
Despite a six year gap between launch and the introduction of an aluminium version , aluminium is perfect for Lumi , says its designer Asa McGillian .
“ The original Lumi window , manufactured using pultruded GRP and which we still sell in significant numbers , was often specified in the belief that it was aluminium ,” reflected Asa McGillian who , as managing director of New World Developments , has been the driving force behind the Lumi window system . “ It might have taken us six years to do so , but now we have an aluminium version too ,” he announced proudly , and somewhat ironically .
The avant-garde , ‘ frameless ’ styling always caused buyers and specifiers to assume that the frame was aluminium , with some turning the product down when they found to the contrary , irrespective of the aesthetics and class-leading performance levels . Asa is philosophical about this and offers a surprising admission ; he agrees that it was a commercial mistake to have not chosen aluminium for the
original window : “ We could have sold more , but I was obsessed with producing the perfect window … in terms of its styling but also the passivhaus-levels of performance ; which would have been far more difficult to achieve in aluminium ,” says Asa candidly . “ We offered 0.8 W / m 2 K as standard , back in 2015 , a specification that continues to this day and which is still specified in remarkably high numbers , with enquiries increasing in recent weeks ,” he insists .
Lumi # 1 was and continues to be massively over-engineered , with frames manufactured in pultruded GRP to provide the linear rigidity coupled with superb insulation , triple glazing and massive seals throughout . It was designed without compromise to provide the very highest performance and of course , it commands a commensurate premium . It also provided Asa and his team with invaluable experience of how to eke out the very best energy efficiency performance generally , experience that has been put to great effect in the development of Lumi Aluminium .
“ Lumi Aluminium comfortably achieves the 1.3 W / m 2 K required by the new Approved Document L , so it performs very well indeed and would have satisfied many of the buyers that would have specified Lumi in the early days , had it been aluminium . Since we rectified that and produced a Lumi window in aluminium , I have to admit that sales have been impressive . My colleagues do dig me about that , from time to time ,” said Asa .
Lumi Aluminium gives the brand an even greater foothold with architects and specifiers , who often insist upon aluminium , whilst all bases are covered by tapping into the boom amongst homeowners influenced by ‘ Grand Designs ’, with Lumi launched at the exhibition of the same name in 2015 .
The lighter and slimmer aluminium version retains Lumi ’ s distinctive designer looks , is simple to handle and install , with no beading or gaskets to cut and fit on-site . Profiles are constructed with aluminium outer and inner , bridged using hidden PVC-U sections that are rolled-in to provide a highly effective thermal break . Insulation and strength of the profiles are further enhanced by internal sections that are foamed with PU during manufacture . Frames are available in a choice of colours , in double or triple glazed units .
“ I am known for being a perfectionist ,” says Asa , “ So my team understand where I was coming from when we launched Lumi . But we have made up ground following the boom in residential aluminium , so we now have a product in every sector : Highend ultra-performance ; home improvement with our Lumi 2 PVC-U version ; and now of course , Lumi Aluminium … we got there in the end .”
www . lumiwindows . co . uk
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM AUGUST 2022
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