Central Window Systems, a manufacturer of aluminium and PVC-U products, has assisted Midlands-based window, door and curtain walling installer Excel 2000 Windows in a £2.5m curtain wall installation in Rubery, Worcestershire. The two companies worked together to design and manufacture an aluminium curtain walling system for a group of five residential housing blocks, which were previously fitted with open balconies and cladding.
Once the original cladding had been stripped off, a curtain wall system was applied, giving the building an attractive and contemporary aesthetic of aluminium and glass. Central Window Systems manufactured the front elevations, while Excel 2000 Windows manufactured the rear of the curtain wall installation.
Paul Woods, Central Window Systems’ director, said: “As with many existing buildings, it was a challenge to come up with a suitable solution. In this case, we worked closely with Excel 2000 Windows to find something that would suit the irregular slabs that were already in place, as well as the resin floors that needed to be cut out. These buildings weren’t originally designed to incorporate curtain walling, so we helped to carefully work out a solution that would not only suit the building itself, but also every other trade following on from us.
“Of course, the project came with several challenges. For example, we had to work carefully to install around existing ducting for the mechanical and electrical components. The angle in the middle where the screens met was also quite complicated, and required a lot of thought when we were in the design phase.”
Central Window Systems is the result of a recent merge between Central RPL, one of the Midlands’ largest fabricators of PVC-U products, and Central ASL, a manufacturer of aluminium products to installers. The company has a longstanding relationship with Excel 2000 Windows, a company which has helped the business with several installation projects, mainly through its PVC-U division.
Tracey Harris, Excel 2000 Windows’ managing director, said: “We’ve worked with Central RPL, the company’s PVC-U division, for many years, and we’ve always been impressed with their high-quality products, excellent service and expertise. Their aluminium services were just as impressive; they were an indispensable help on the Rubery installation, from the initial design stages through to the final touches, and we will certainly continue to use their valued services in the future.”
Paul added: “Not many people envisage Central Window Systems carrying out these types of projects. Many of our customers are familiar with our expertise in installing a house full of windows, or doing standard installations on schools and shopfronts, but not many would associate us with bigger projects like this. In conjunction with Excel 2000 Windows, the Rubery installation is a testament to the fact that we’re not just a bi-fold, window and door business – we’re a serious commercial company, dedicated to helping our customers.”
For more information, call Central Window Systems on 0121 500 0505, or visit www.centralwindowsystems.co.uk.
