Clearview National April 2015 - Issue 161 | Page 84

CONSERVATORIES

Out of this
World
The fenestration industry is
renowned for developing
new technology and
products, but this latest
invention from Optiplas
Limited is proving to
be out of this world.
»»The Optiplas panel has been
developed and patent applied for, to
allow glass workshops to produce glazed
conservatory roofs and door panels, which
offer a U-value of 0.2W/m2k. Formed by
being vacuumed into a solid square structure,
the materials were original developed to be
used in space age technology and contain
unique properties which drastically reduce the
amount of heat transfer co-efficient.
Optiplas has created a unique way of
encapsulating the panel into a glass unit of
any size or shape. The panels can be used
in conservatory roofs and also in doors to
provide a higher performance better than that
of any other glass or composite panel on the
market.
Nigel Robinson, Optiplas director,
commented: “The technology used to
produce the panel is not new, but the process
of how the technology is used to create the
encapsulation and production of the panel
within a sealed glass unit is a concept which
no-one has ever used before and this is what
makes the manufacture of the Optipla s panel
unique.
“The benefits to the consumer are evident,
with the sealed glass unit’s performance
providing an overall U-value of 0.2W/m2K,
when standard units achieve 2.9W/m2k. This
is going to provide greater heat loss/retention
for the homeowner. The conservatory roof
system will provide around 90% coverage of
a roof with a U-value at 0.14W/m2K.”Nigel
adds.
The unique design of the glass panels is
not the only advantage when installing an
Optiplas panel; when fitted in a conservatory,
the units imitate the appearance of a solid roof
structure, without the weight load.

84 » A PR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

Nigel explains: “The benefits to an installer
fitting a conservatory roof fitted with
Optiplas glass mean they are able to offer the
homeowner a roof which appears to be solid,
without the heaviness of fitting it and one
that they are able to fit in one day rather one
week. A conservatory roof fitted with Optplas
glass units can weigh up to 60% lighter than
if fitted with any solid roof structure currently
available in the market.”
“The glass units are internally painted to
any RAL colour that the homeowner chooses,
which on the inside of the conservatory
reproduces the appearance of a solid roof,
and from the outside still retains its glass
appearance, reflecting the sky above.” Nigel
comments.
The Optiplas panels have undergone
rigorous testing, to ensure their performance
and outperforms other glass units to give a life
expectance of 30 year plus.
Intellectual property has been applied for
in multiple countries across the world for
the encapsulation design of the glass units
and Optiplas Limited is planning to develop
a core of insulating glass manufacturers,
throughout the UK and Ireland, to licence and
manufacture this distinctive style and design
of producing an insulated glass unit.
Nigel adds: “With the government pushing
further for more eco-friendly products to be
included into new and existing construction
projects, we believe producing an insulated
sealed glass unit using Optiplas panels can give
manufacturers a massive advantage over other
IG producers.”

“Being able to produce a glass unit of
a U-value of 0.2W/m2K is a massive step
forward as far as we are concerned. We intend
to limit the amount of licences we offer to able
manufacturers and installers the opportunity
to gain a strong foothold in the market place
and profit from recommended margins.”
The Optiplas glass unit panel has currently
being fitted to a number of installations
in South Yorkshire, by Barnsley based
manufacturer, JSS Installations.
JSS Installations is the first to manufacture
this elite new unit and Jason Smith, managing
director comments: “We have been working
with Nigel on the Optiplas project over the
last two years to develop and produce the glass
units and have been able to sell the product
into a number of conservatory installations.
Firstly, because of the appearance of having a
solid roof and secondly, because of the overall
U-value benefit the units offer a homeowner.”
Nigel and myself decided to incorporate
Optiplas Ltd to manufacture and market this
new and innovative product and have recently
had confirmation from the Intellectual
property office with regards to the acceptance
of the registered trade mark Optiplas.
For further information regarding licensing
Optiplas, call 01226 341234