36 | NOVEMBER 2019
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
SMART TECH THE
NEXT BIG THING
More than 75% of attendees
at this year’s Glazing Summit think
that smart doors and windows will
be the next big thing.
A poll conducted at this year’s
one-day conference at Edgbaston
Stadium and Conference Cen-
tre posed the question ‘Is smart
windows and doors all hype? Or
is it the next big thing?’ and only
24% thought it was all hype. This
year’s event saw an interesting
discussion on the impact smart
technology is likely to have on the
industry.
“Smart tech is very much here
to stay and it’s clear that those in
attendance at this year’s Glaz-
ing Summit agree,” commented
Andrew Scott, Glazing Summit
founder and CEO of Purplex and
Insight Data.
“Our panel of experts provid-
ed a really good discussion on
smart tech – how it will evolve to
become much more than just a
gadget and how it will ultimately
be driven by what the consumer
demands. There are interesting
times ahead.”
www.glazingsummit.co.uk
Real Aluminium Spearheads
New Product Development
With continued investment
and strong revenue growth, Cus-
tomade Group has announced
the appointment of Tom Allen
as senior product manager with
responsibility for the group’s REAL
Aluminium brand.
Tom joins Customade Group
from a leading national home
improvement company where
has was head of product devel-
opment across aluminium, timber
and PVCu fenestration products.
He said: “The premium sector
of the market is growing rapidly
with more and more homeowners
choosing aluminium for aesthet-
ics, performance, security and
sustainability. REAL is already a
market-leader and we’re driven by
innovation. I’m already looking at
new additions and improvements
to the REAL range. It will certainly
be a busy and exciting time over
the next few months.”
REAL recently launched its
new online quoting and ordering
system, which enables installers
to quote and order REAL prod-
ucts anytime and anywhere when
they are online. A major £250,000
investment has also created an
additional 23,000ft2 aluminium
factory space.
www.real-aluminium.co.uk
APEER OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES
SILKA SMOOTH DOOR RANGE,
INCLUDING NEW SOLID VERSION
Following a highly successful reveal
at the 2019 FIT Show, Apeer has now
officially launched its contemporary, Silka
smooth skin composite door range, which
now includes a stylish solid version that
has been introduced following high de-
mand from customers.
The Silka range, which is manufactured
to the same exacting standards as Apeer’s
other market leading door and window
products at its state-of-the art facility in
Ballymena, Northern Ireland, is a col-
lection of modern, smooth skin doors
that comes with a choice of high-quality
hardware and design options. Boasting the
premium aesthetics of aluminium entrance
doors, but at a more competitive price
point, the Silka Collection will appeal
to today’s increasingly style conscious
consumers who want premium, design led
products for their homes, and also match-
es perfectly with Apeer’s award-winning
‘frameless’ Lumi window system, especial-
ly when specified with the ‘all glass’ trim
option.
Apeer’s marketing manager, Linda Tomb,
commented: “We had a fantastic response to
the initial unveiling of the Silka range at the
2019 FIT Show, and the feedback we’ve had
since then from customers has also been
overwhelmingly positive. Over the sum-
mer months we’ve responded to increased
demand for a solid version to be added
to the Silka collection, and we’re proud to
announce that this option is now available
and ready to order.”
The range, which is also available to
order through Apeer’s online configurator,
Doorbuilder, is comprised of eight door
styles with a choice of six stainless steel,
and two all glass glazing trims – unique
to the Silka collection – plus four fur-
ther bespoke design options that feature
distinctive horizontal lines. Available
in anthracite grey, light grey, black and
cream, customers can also choose from
black or anthracite grey should they
specify the horizontal lines option, with
white available as an option for the inside
facing leaf.
Linda concluded: “The demand for
premium and contemporary window and
door products continues to grow and with
the new Silka collection, our existing and
potential new customers are perfectly
equipped to respond. Silka has the look
and feel of a more expensive aluminium
door, without the premium price tag, and is
combined with the market leading thermal
efficiency, security and design features that
have become the hallmarks of all our doors
at Apeer.”