Ian Short , Managing Director of Uni- Blinds ® manufacturer Morley Glass explains the importance of high quality systems and components , coupled with world-class manufacturing processes , in creating products that exceed customer expectations .

If you ’ ve heard the phrase ‘ performance gap ’ you ’ ll be familiar with the issue that exists across the construction sector of products and systems not quite living up to expectations .

Whether it is a heat pump not generating the energy it promised on paper or a metal component corroding much earlier than its stated lifespan , it has unfortunately become quite common for products to perform below par once installed . And whilst the performance gap can be due to a number of factors , it is often the installer who has to pick up the pieces when the homeowner or end-user asks for issues to be rectified . So how do we , as an integral blind manufacturer , ensure we do everything we can to help installers save time and money by minimising customer call-backs and protect their reputations ?

It comes down to a continued focus and a combination of factors , including making sure our factory team is well trained , adopting rigorous quality control procedures and supporting installers to fit our integral blind units correctly . But the key for us has always been partnering with the

best suppliers in their fields so we can be confident that our Uni-Blinds ® units will always be built to a high specification .

Integral blind systems from a global leader

Our decision to partner with ScreenLine ® integral blind systems manufacturer Pellini S . p . A . from day one of integral blind production has always ensured we have been able to offer installers the world ’ s most respected products . Their functional and aesthetic qualities give us the perfect foundations for creating high performing integral blinds that operate smoothly and look superb for years , even decades . But that is only part of what makes a great integral blind unit .

A range of glass products we can depend on

Another important factor is the type of glass we use . Our glass is supplied by Glassolutions Saint-Gobain , which means

we can provide several different glass types to offer high and very high levels of thermal insulation , as well as excellent solar control from some of the world ’ s most advanced products . We know these glass products perform because we have worked with Glassolutions for many years , meaning we can trust their U-values and other stated performance figures when producing our IGUs ( insulating glass units ).

Innovatively designed spacer bars

Our choice of spacer bar is also critically important to the integral blind unit ’ s performance . We use a warm edge spacer bar from Technoform which is designed specifically for integral blinds . Unlike spacer bars for standard IGUs , this features integrated locating and guiding elements to help optimise the movement of the internal blinds whilst maintaining low thermal conductivity values within the whole system .

Dual sealing our IGUs

The blind system , glass and spacer bar , however , are not the only elements that we focus on . We also go the extra mile with the way we seal the IGU . This involves dual sealing every IGU to optimise thermal performance and gas retention , and every unit is also filled with Argon prior to sealing to minimise the transfer of heat when in-situ .

The reason why we insist on double sealing is that it helps to guarantee the quality and energy performance of installed windows and doors , long term . The secondary seal we use is particularly important as it gives the IGU greater structural strength , ensuring there is no chance of movement once installed – something that is especially important in larger sealed units used in patio and bi-fold doors .

This combination of products and IGU manufacturing techniques , in our view , helps us to deliver the highest quality integral blind units on the market . We have to think carefully about the long term functionality of the blind and how the unit will perform like any other IGU , and we have developed a specification that balances this well through our experience of making integral blinds , fully supported by Pellini , for 20 years .

www . morleyglass . co . uk