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Welding technologies have drivensignificant changes in window manufacture, particularly in the premium market. Richard Hammond, Sales Director, Universal Trade Frames discusses.
How they’re welded or jointed is a defining feature of any window. Mechanical and timber-type welded joints have been almost as influential in defining PVC-U window design as system innovation.
“Change has been dramatic”, says Richard Hammond, Sales Director, Universal Trade Frames. “We saw massive growth almost out of nowhere in mechanically jointed PVC-U windows alongside the launch of premium high-end systems.
“That’s driven onward demand for premium products. The response to the Residence Collection from end-users has been phenomenal.
“Originally R9 was only offered fully mechanically jointed, and glass bonded, however, this created a problem for installers because glass bonded frames are very heavy, complicating installation and increasing cost.
“Cost is always a limit on market potential, if you can control overheads, you control costs and when it comes to the Residence Collection, how it’s made assumes critical importance for installers.”
The Residence Collection without the hassle of fitting a glass bonded product
Universal Trade Frames’ has carved out a position for itself as a specialist supplier of premium products. This includes the complete Residence Collection, including R9, R7, and R2. It also supplies Optima Flush from Epwin; the Spectus Vertical Sliding Sash Window; and the Spectus Fully Reversible and Tilt-and-Turn options.
“The Residence Collection, sits at the top of that premium space.
“We supply the complete Residence collection including R9 R7 R2 and the RD range manufactured as a non-glass bonded HeritageWeld product as standard, which means it has a mechanical joint appearance, but under the surface, hidden away it’s fully welded.
“That delivers a major advantage to installers because it means it can be fitted in exactly the same way as any other window, saving time and money on site and maximising margin.”
HeritageWeld Residence Collection windows from Universal Trade Frames replicate the traditional 90° external and internal butt weld inside and out.
Richard goes to lengths to emphasises this. “It’s not just the outside and then a mitred internally. It’s a 90° butt joint both sides, every time”, he says.
“It looks exactly the same as a mechanically jointed flush sash but with the important difference that as a fully welded window, you get the strength synonymous with fusion welding, totally eliminating the need for glass bonding.”
What are the benefits of a non-glass bonded R9 window
“It’s about removing weight from the install, making it easier for installers to fit because it allows R9 the Residence Collection to be glazed on-site in the same way as any other PVC-U window”, Richard explains.
This he argues is key, bringing what can be a two-man fit because of complexity in handling back to a one man fit, delivering significant cost savings and increasing margins.
It also gives installers flexibility on glass supply. They don’t have to buy units through Universal Trade Frames but can source glass locally from their local supplier.
“The other benefit is when it comes to replacement. Accidents happen during installations and in use. Units are fairly reliable but can still also fail”, Richard explains.
“If you have a glass-bonded window it’s a nightmare, you have to replace the sash. If it’s a HeritageWeld window from us, you don’t need to sweat it. You replace it as you would any other unit.
“Most importantly it delivers the opportunity to up-sell at point of retail. If you know the basics about HeritageWeld, highlighting the benefits to the end-user is easy. You can win business on the strength of the weld.”
Part of a specialist premium offer
Operating from a 30,000 square foot state of the art manufacturing facility in Shrewsbury, Shropshire Universal Trade Frames combines cutting-edge fabrication with a world class 98% OTIF.
In addition to the Residence Collection its premium product ranges include the Spectus Vertical Sliding Sash Window; Epwin Flush Casement; and Solidor composite doors; in addition to its standard offer.
“While R9 and the wider Residence Collection is probably the outlier, Optima Flush definitely has its place in the flush casement market, Richard says.
“We’ve tried to pitch our offer to give our customers the opportunity to upsell to the Residence Collection or to make sure that they still walk away with the business if their customer’s budget doesn’t quite stretch that far by offering Optima Flush.
“The real win is that our customers can source either from us alongside other premium and specialist products, including the Spectus Vertical Sliding Sash Window.
Universal Trade Frames delivered a major upgrade of its VS in May with the launch of a slim meeting rail option with sightlines of only 37mm.
“It’s about the right products and single source supply”, Richard continues. “If you’re installing the Residence Collection, it’s likely that you’re going to have a requirement for Optima Flush and a VS window.
“Our customers can get them from us through a single order, single delivery and single invoice. It makes things simpler.”
For more information about Universal Trade Frames product and service offer please call 01743 442244, or email info@utfl.co.uk.
