Pro Installer April 2020 - Issue 85 | Page 41

APRIL 2020 | 41 Products Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk Aztec’s new mechanically jointed door aces ten-year test Long-standing Halo fabri- cator Aztec Windows (Coventry) Ltd has created a fully mechani- cally jointed door, and has been putting it through its paces at VEKA’s Burnley test centre. Always keen to move with the market, Aztec has been working on this door for more than 18 months, in response to a rise in customer enquiries for ‘tim- ber-look’ PVCu doors. Director Michael Hagan ex- plains, “We’ve created an ex- ceptional quality door that will withstand the hard knocks of re- al-life, regular use. We created an oversized prototype of the door (1100mm x 2200mm) complete with laminated glass, in order to test it at its most extreme and challenging dimensions. We then sent it up to VEKA HQ, and the ever-helpful technical team put it through its paces in the lab. “VEKA’s mechanical testing rig put the door through 63,000 cy- cles, which is the equivalent of it being opened and closed for just over 10 years, and it kept going. Nothing moved, nothing shifted, no joints parted. It performed absolutely perfectly. This means our customers can be confident in the immense strength of the joints, especially if they want to glaze on site - which is necessary for a door, due to the weights involved. “Along with the mechanical joints, we have also developed a deep midrail at 174mm and a deep bottom rail at 164mm. Both of these features are geared towards making the doors look as traditional as possible. “These specialist high quality doors will be made to order for our discerning customers, but I think we’ll have to create one for our showroom too, to show off the attention-to-detail that can be expected. We supply to the trade as well as serving our own domestic customer base, and I look forward to seeing the many varied projects this versatile door could be used for.” VEKA UK Sales Director Neil Evans said: “After more than 30 years in business, Aztec shows no sign of slowing down. Using Halo profiles, the team already offer the mechanically jointed FlushSash and Lipped Casement within the Prestige Collection®. It’s great to see them utilising the same tooling and machinery to meet rising market demand for a mechanically jointed door. This would seem to be the next logical step in timber-look PVCu and I suspect they’ll soon be inundated with enquiries. “Here at VEKA, we’re always ready to help customers with new product support; from R&D and performance calculations, to prototype testing, marketing sup- port, and everything in between – our tools and expertise are great resources to be shared with customers.” www.vekauk.com DISTINCTION DOORS LAUNCHES NEW GLAZED CASSETTE Leading composite PROFILE 22 COMPLEMENTS 19TH CENTURY PROJECT Over 100 Optima Flush Casement windows, by Profile 22, have been fitted in the first phase of a new residential development consisting of 14 new build red-brick town houses in the historical Houldsworth Conservation Area in Red- dish, Greater Manchester. Due to the historic importance of the area, the windows needed to be sympa- thetic to the character of the local architec- ture, as such, were fabricated in cream on white to deliver an architecturally sensitive appearance. Like all Profile 22 products the Opti- ma Flush Casement Window System is produced to BS EN 12608 and manufac- tured to BS EN ISO 9001. It adheres to the requirements of the Environmental Management System BS EN ISO 14001 and the Responsible Sourcing standard BES 6001. The manufacturing facility operates a health and safety programme in line with OHSAS 18001 to ensure a safe environ- ment for employees, supply chain partners and residents. The Optima Flush Casement windows were manufactured by Profile 22 fabri- cator Total Glass and installed by Roch- dale-based New Look Windows. www.profile22.co.uk door supplier, Distinc- tion Doors is pleased to introduce its new 9D Quarter Glazed cassette. Launched in response to customer demand, the new snap-fit projected cassette will be a popular choice for the company’s Stable (RES05 Door and will offer increased design flexibility for five other door styles: New England ES10; Rustic Renown RR17; and three contemporary options - ESC39, ESC40, REC39. The 9D Quarter Glazed launches with an obscure glazing range – Clear, DD- Cots and DD-Stipp, and provides customers with consistency in colour and design, while consumers will benefit from its superi- or aesthetics. Colour options include Black, Blue, Green, Red, White, Distinction Anthra- cite Grey and Distinction Chartwell, alongside stains, Rosewood and Gold Oak. Bespoke colours are also available upon request. Distinction Doors coats its cassettes using paint with the same batch number as its associated door blank to ensure a perfect colour match, where applicable. The 9D Quarter Cassette will be available for 44mm doors only. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk