Indistinguishable from natural woodgrain to the eye and the touch, we find out that innovation in PVC-U foiling technologies is delivering much more than colour choice.
Wood’s appeal is in its grain. It’s more than simply an aesthetic quality, it’s about touch and natural warmth – things which the PVC-U industry has to date had mixed success in trying to emulate. That is until now.
woodec, from aluplast, is a new generation foil, which is almost indistinguishable from a natural wood finish, not only in the way that it looks but just as importantly, in the way that it feels. “I’m not over-selling it to say that if you were holding woodec in your hand, you’d think that it was wood, the finish is exceptional”, says Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast.
He continues: “That’s an important point of differentiation, not only compared to standard PVC-U but also because the market for coloured product is increasingly competitive and genuine points of differentiation, difficult to come by.”
This is for Ian a key point. Colours have been a significant driver within the second time replacement market but the net result is that opportunities to distinguish your offer from that of your competitors’ at point of retail, he argues, has become increasingly difficult.
“We aren’t at a point of saturation – yet. That point may not, however, be very far off and if you can offer something genuinely different, which taps into the warmth of natural timber – but without the associated maintenance headaches – it’s a very strong consumer proposition”, he adds.
This is born out in market research, which demonstrates the importance of colour and finish in driving the market for second time window and door replacements, but also an increasingly congested market.
“There are positives here”, says Ian, “there is massive end user demand for foils but there is also more of it being supplied and very little to distinguish one colour or woodgrain foil from the other.
“woodec is the exception. There is no comparison to a ‘standard’ or ‘traditional’ woodgrain foil.”
aluplast for its part has invested heavily in its colour and finish offer. Its’ foil range includes more than 40 finishes and is the product of significant investment in new foiling lines and in CNC foiling technology at its new 15-hectare manufacturing facility, which means that it can also offer a high degree of flexibility on non-standard finishes.
The look and feel of timber
It’s next generation foils, however, move PVC-U foiling technology a gargantuan leap forward.
woodec is available in six ultra-life-like woodgrains: Turner Oak Malt, a subtle light oak finish; Turner Oak Walnut, a mid-tone woodgrain; the darker Turner Oak Toffee; Sheffield Oak Alpine, a silvered oak finish; and slightly darker, Sheffield Oak Concrete,
They’re available across aluplast’s complete systems range. This includes Ideal 70, Ideal 4000, Flush Casement Options, its next generation window, aluplast neo; and neo smart-slide.
The application of the woodec forming the foundation for aluplast’s launch of its new dedicated Engineered Door. Unveiled late last year by launch partner Regalead’s. The engineered door has design options for both the Ideal 70 and Ideal 4000 profiles. A new and competitive option to the aged composite door market.
An alternative to aluminium
aluplast’s new Engineered door is also available in aludec, delivering a far more contemporary appearance.
This time around aluplast’ has successfully emulated the appearance but the touch of aluminium, including replicating textured powder coated options.
It includes seven aluminium-effect finishes. This includes aludec anthracite grey; jet black; aludec DB703; basalt grey; umbra grey; window grey; and aludec traffic white.
New design flexibility
aluplast has successfully paired aludec and woodec with another new offer, aluplast’s neo smart-slide sliding door system.
It achieves heights of up to 2.5m and a span of up to 6m with just two panels, alongside Passive House levels of thermal efficiency, accommodating units of up to 54mm, with u-values as low as 0.75W/m2K.
“As a finish, woodec and aludec work across a range of applications, bringing increased authenticity to flush sash casements but also complementing architectural and far more contemporary installations, for example neo smart-slide”, Ian says.
“The appeal of woodec and aludec in applications the end-user actually touches and engages with, for example, a sliding door or entrance door are immense.
“They have premium appeal, while emulating original materials with indistinguishable accuracy, works exceptionally well as a finish on products connecting inside and more natural spaces outside the home. It sets the benchmark for next generation foils.”
aluplast will be at the FIT Show, Stand N40, 29 April to 1st May. Alternatively for more information call 01684 273401 email info@aluplast.co.uk or visit www.aluplast.co.uk