Alunet Systems’ recent new product event brought more than 200 fabricators, installers, and industry press together at the iconic Hangar 1 at RAF Cosford on the 3rd April. The day was a launchpad for innovation, with a fitting venue, that helped unveil a groundbreaking brand-new window range kickstarting their revolution with their new Aluna+ brand.
At the event, the Alunet team gave insight into the next generation of Aluna, including several core features relating to what makes Aluna+ so different to anything else currently available on the market. The day was not all about physical product: Aluna+ was introduced across several exciting projects.
‘+’ is more than simple product development and a name badge for a new range, according to the company. “It is the embodiment of the refreshed culture within the business, it is how Alunet Systems now work with their customers, putting them at the centre of what they choose to design, develop, market and sell.”
Steve Stone, Director at A&B Glass said of the event: “Exciting times ahead now for A&B Glass! We were introduced to Alunet Systems via Eurocell and very quickly they became a key partner in our business strategy going forward. We obviously joined at the perfect time in terms of the launch of Aluna + and enjoyed a very informative well-planned presentation at their event. Their attention to detail, excellent communication skills and 100% complete focus on their customers is outstanding.
“It has been a hand-holding exercise for us due to our 40 years of PVC-U background, but with the full support of the Aluna team we feel exceptionally comfortable driving aluminium going forward. It is what I class as the perfect ‘Old School Business Model’ – they answer the phones, listen and deliver!
“It is refreshing to work alongside a team that is not afraid to push new boundaries within the aluminium market and understand the needs of their customers. Well done Alunet!”
Chris Armes, technical and design director at Alunet Systems describes how vital this forum was: “Having a small number of existing core partners effectively join the team on our design journey really accelerated the pace of development and launch, taking what historically takes years down to months through the confronting of opinion, tackling roadblocks in concept stage making them easier to change, and debating solutions through the eyes of the people that matter the most, the fabricators.”
Aluminium fenestration products have remained unchanged and rather stagnant over recent years. The market has obsessed over thermals and meeting future legislation. Whilst this is important to remain relevant, Alunet Systems believe it is as equally essential to focus on their fabricators’ requirements first and foremost and have concentrated on creating future-proofed new systems and services that outperform legislation, lead the marketplace, and help their customers to generate profit by making fabrication even easier!
With slim sightlines as standard, available in casement, flush, and tilt turn, the completely new 75mm window system is a revolution in aluminium window design and will prove to be the easiest, quickest and most fabricator-friendly window on the market!
With a unique patent pending universal sash/transom profile the Aluna+ window system puts the fabricator first from the outset. Designed cleverly to reduce the need for excessive stock holding, Aluna+ harnesses simplicity in its design, helping release cash at source for the fabricator, cash that can be used to help grow their business in partnership with the wider Aluna family.
Compliant with Building Regulations straight out of the box, Aluna+ boasts no foam, no fuss thermal efficiency with performance being managed using engineered polyamide thermal breaks. Material of choice for thermal breaks have been healthily debated as systems houses focused on simply meeting future regulations, however, opting to engineer and design a bespoke low lambda polyamide prevents the risks associated with other materials such as PVC which naturally have far higher coefficients of thermal expansion.
The point that clearly resonates with the fabricators who attended the launch event is that performance that beats legislation is delivered using standard 1.2 double glazed units. Competitive products fight to hit a U-value benchmark using glass units to help generate overall performance. Alunet Systems have again put their fabricators first by designing the performance directly into the product and therefore lowering the cost of the required glass unit. It is handing back value to the fabricator and in doing so providing 20% more light to the end user!
Aluna+ adds more than simple thermal performance, the real game changer for fabricators is that the entire system is designed with over 30% less parts. This is a massive ‘+’ for the system versus others, a reduced stockholding for fabricators means they can maximise their manufacturing space & ensure they sweat their efficiencies. With over 30% less parts required to produce all types of window design also means far less valuable cash is tied up in a fabricator’s working capital.
Modular cills and ancillaries are another core feature of the product suite enhancing thermals further and providing yet more reductions in required stock. Still not content, Aluna+ delivers further value by adding up all of these features and providing a reduction in fabrication waste – an over 5% saving.
Chris continues: “We wanted to ensure that Aluna+ resonated with existing and potentially new partners but also, we wanted to really change the way aluminium is designed and driven through fabricators. We believe our product is luxury, value-driven and full of opportunity for our customers to make profit, in designing the system to have less collective parts we are making it far more cost-efficient in labour time, stock holding and manufacturing. We truly have listened to what our customers have asked for and we believe that we have delivered the simplest window to fabricate on the market!”
Phil Rotheram, Group Commercial Director at Alunet System agrees: “Aluna+ will redefine the future of fabrication. Efficiency gains in time, ease, stock holding and space will help support our fabricators and help generate better returns on their investments with us. With U-Value performance beyond legislation, one universal cleat and one punch we are maximising the earnings potential per unit for our customer, what we have with Aluna+ is a revolution in approach and a significant step change in our product designs and services.”
Chris Armes concludes: “We as a team believe that our fabricator partners deserve only the very best. Our recently launched new range dramatically enhances the already impressive whole house Aluna range, our new designs will be sure to grab the market’s attention. The best just got even better, and our fabricator partners’ anticipation is already building for what promises to be a journey of significant product innovation, in all honesty, as a team, as a business and as a brand, we have only just started!”
