Sustainability and your bottom-line

Ecotech

aluplast side-steps the challenges created in using recycled material by isolating it only in the core web of its product where dimensional stability is not critical. This is the approach applied to its core offer – the five chamber thermally efficient and calcium organic stabilised Ideal 70 ecotech, and Ideal 4000 systems.

Two compound screw feeds then push recycled and virgin material simultaneously through the profile  dye to create the profile while maintaining a distinct separation between the two. This separates and at the same time locks recycled material away from areas of the frame visible to the end-user or which perform a structural role, which means that aluplast can guarantee surface and finish quality.

“Recycled content is isolated and all surfaces are manufactured from virgin material –  there are no extrusion lines, there are no pits, it’s a premium finish”, says Cocken.

With a choice of 24mm to optimum 44mm triple glazed options, the slim line systems also easily achieves a WER A+ rating with standard components and A++with specific profiles and IGUs, .

“Sustainability is about more than recycled content but also the contribut

ion product can make through-life. Ideal 70 and aluplast’s contemporary Ideal 4000 delivers a very cost-effective WER A+because of the investment we have already made in its development”, adds Cocken.

Green isn’t the only important colour

Processing approaching 200,000 tonnes of PVC-U globally annually, equivalent to 75 per cent of the whole UK and Irish markets combined and with its worldwide customer base manufacturing more than 10million windows per year, aluplast clearly has the scale to apply to product innovation.

Alongside Ideal 70, aluplast has made singnificant investment into the UK market with the new Ideal 4000, contemporary SquareLine system, also exploits the ecotech process and its new Lift-and-Slide door. These are also available in its aluskin external aluminium fascia system.

It also foils approaching 1.5million metres of product each month. That means that it holds thousands of metres of coloured profiles in stock, including two options for anthracite grey, which are available as standard within just days of orders.It also offers special foils in 15-days or less.

Cocken argues that this flexibility is possible because of the investment that aluplast has made in CNC foiling technology. This eliminates the time lost in traditional foiling in manual set-up and switch over, cutting it from hours to just minutes. This has enabled aluplast to pass on the cost and efficiency benefits to its customers in a highly competitive service.

This includes three smooth or ‘sanded’ finish grey options, in Basalt Grey; Anthracite Grey; and Brushed Aluminium. It has also recently added Agate Grey (RAL7038) in either a flat or woodgrain option, to both the Ideal 70 and Ideal 4000, which taps into consumer demand for warmer, finishes.

“Sustainability is a key part of the story – but a part only. That’s why we continue to invest in our wider offer including additional  foiling lines and CNC capacity” says Cocken.

“Our proposition and commitment to the UK is clear. Our technical lead, means that we’re bringing advanced products to market at lower cost and are passing on those direct commercial advantages to our customers.

“Our foil offer, ecotech, Ideal 70, Ideal 4000, Lift-and-Slide and aluskin – are exploiting the latest innovations in sustainable technologies and generating opportunity at a very accessible price point.

“It’s the foundation for what is a very positive narrative for the PVC-U industry as a whole in its management and recovery of ‘end-of-life’ material.”