Virtu-Al composite door gives you the edge

As demand for aluminium gains momentum, Tony Craggs, Managing Director of Virtuoso reveals how the unique Virtu-AL aluminium alternative composite door will help installers keep pace

Our industry is rapidly evolving and one thing that every installer wants is more leads, more sales and healthier profits. The launch of Virtu-AL – the UK’s first aluminium textured, non-woodgrain finish composite door – aims to help installers to keep ahead of the curve and make the most of the enormous popularity of contemporary aluminium products. Aluminium has certainly invigorated the industry and recent figures released by Palmer Market Research suggest that aluminium is well on course to reach a 17-year high by 2020, peaking at 220,000 frames. It’s therefore no surprise that the Virtu-AL door has been greeted with such enthusiasm by installers because it gives them a genuine alternative to anything else out there.

In this industry, it’s all about selling the difference and Virtu-AL is as unique as it gets! We saw a gap in the market for a product that would satisfy the growing consumer demand for modern, aluminium style products and knew we had a terrific opportunity to bring something new to the industry. The aim behind the development of Virtu-AL was very simple; to create a GRP skinned composite door that looks and feels just like aluminium to deliver that all important modern, architectural look for the end user. A complete re-invention of the ‘standard’ composite door, Virtu-AL is the ultimate contemporary entrance door for those homeowners who want aspirational quality of a powder-coated aluminium door.

Encapsulating the best qualities of an aluminium and a composite door, Virtu-AL achieves the premium finish of aluminium but with the performance, security and value for money that homeowners expect of a composite door.

Standing out from the crowd – Virtu-AL incorporates a 4mm GRP skin, which is thicker than many other GRP skins and looks and feels just like aluminium. Underneath this skin is a durable 44mm composite slab which delivers exceptional thermal and acoustic performance. The Virtu-AL door brings a fresh opportunity for installers who are used to selling traditional door panels and composite doors and it gives them something that’s very different from everything else to sell. In a market saturated with ‘me-too’ products, installers can now set themselves apart with this very desirable, higher-end product. The first thing that strikes you about Virtu-AL is just how good it looks and feels. We’ve been actively encouraging people to touch the door because it feels nothing like a traditional composite door. And it looks so like an aluminium door that many installers just can’t believe the door slab is GRP. This is a product that can seriously compete with the look and feel of aluminium. Virtu-AL oozes with all the characteristics of aluminium and is set to capture the hearts of sophisticated homeowners. Created to match and complement other aluminium products, this ‘ultimate aluminium companion’ will help installers to capitalise on the growing aluminium sector and help those homeowners to achieve a unified aluminium look for their home.

Exclusive designs – The Virtu-AL door is available in four contemporary designs, which are totally exclusive to Virtuoso. For a truly premium look, there is an option for anodised glazing cassettes too. There is a choice of seven standard and 14 superior colours. Doors can also be sprayed to match any RAL colour in our state-of-the-art in-house spray booth. We offer a range of traditional or contemporary hardware from ERA Fab&Fix. The ultra-modern new inline flat pull bar, which we were the first to adopt, is my personal favourite. Every standard locking system we use has achieved the 3-star security standard and we now also offer the new Lock Lock security handle from Brisant Secure. We’re really excited to be a launch partner for this fantastic product. The handle is used in conjunction with the 3* Ultion cylinder and has a patented design to withstand cylinder picking, bumping, drilling and snapping. It incorporates a unique spindle block which is activated to prevent the door from being opened from the outside, even if the cylinder is breached. The Virtu-AL door can be easily ordered through Virtuoso’s door designer software – Gateway. Full marketing and showroom support is also available.

Tel: 0191 410 9333