AluK unveils innovative new slider collection
The latest consumer research from fenestration specialists Keystone suggests that sliding patio doors are still the preferred option for buyers. Overall, in the first three quarterly surveys produced by Keystone in 2024, 38% of homeowners say they prefer sliders, 30% prefer French doors, and 25% prefer bifolds (7% no preference).
That trend was one of the key drivers behind AluK’s investment in not one but two new aluminium sliding doors this year, as well as the easy to fit Quik Clip™ bead.
The AluK S140 is a contemporary, premium feel slider with the slim sightlines (44mm at the interlock) and flush aesthetic that retail buyers love, coupled with impressive thermal performance that commercial buyers know they can trust. It has a 140mm frame depth, so can accommodate double or triple glazing and thicker acoustic glass. 3rd party verified U-Values are just 1.3Uw double glazed and 1.1Uw triple glazed – both based on unambiguous, standard CEN sizes.
The new door has been specifically designed to be easy to manufacture and fit, with reduced stockholding compared to the previous ALUK BSC94 slider (34 profiles compared with 59 on the BSC94), easy preps for the rollers with no CNC machining required, a simple add-on for trickle vents and the Quik Clip™ bead as standard.
Paul King, Managing Director of Rhino Aluminium, is extremely positive about the S140. He said: “We have found the new door to be a great solution to the latest regulations and our clients’ requirements. Fabrication is easy and we hear nothing but good feedback from our installers and end users. Great work AluK!”
The Quik Clip™ bead that comes as standard with the S140 is proving equally popular with customers. It is a foolproof design which takes just seconds to clip securely into place, with no need for force or special tools – and with no impact on the sightlines of the door. Side by side tests show that Quik Clip™ can save almost 4 minutes over conventional beading on the time it takes to glaze a door panel on the S140.
Jason Holt, Aluminium Production Manager, at Titan Trade Windows, commented: “This is the best clip-in bead I’ve seen, and I’ve seen many. Very easy to put in and remove by hand, no need for a Don Carlos or Moon Knife.” Phil Bates, Managing Director at Climatec, added: “Quik Clip™ has been a key innovation for us, especially on those large jobs when time is of the upmost importance. Our installers also love the concept of saving their energy not having to struggle pushing wedge gaskets in.”
AluK’s new, pre-glazed in-line S67 slider with 35mm interlock is just as fabricator friendly as the S140 and can be manufactured by one operator from start to finish in just 90 minutes.
It uses straight cut sashes assembled around the glass without the need for bonding or silicone lubricant, so it is easy to integrate into any factory with only minimal investment.
And it is quick and easy to install as well. The pre-glazed sash obviously eliminates the need to glaze on site, the rollers are easily adjustable from 0-4mm, and there is a 67mm frame depth which means installers don’t need to cut back plaster lines when they are replacing existing doors.
In terms of aesthetics, the S67 is a slim sightline door, with an interlock of just 35mm. It is highly configurable with up to 3 tracks and 6 leaves and comes with a low threshold option of just 22mm, so is ideal for a seamless inside/outside connection.
As customers would expect from AluK, it also delivers when it comes to performance. The S67 is fully Part L compliant with double glazing (1.4 W/m2K), exceeds UK standards for wind and water tightness, and can achieve 30-40dB acoustics with glazing from 24-32mm.
https://uk.aluk.com
