Aluk has officially launched its new F82 bi-fold after introducing it to the industry earlier this year at the FIT Show, claiming it will become a new benchmark in the market.
The Luminia F82 bi-fold is the flagship product in Aluk’s premium Luminia range, and is now available exclusively from a network of Luminia Select Partners across the UK.
Said to be targeted directly at the higher end of the market where demand is buoyant and still growing, Aluk says it has all the aesthetic and performance features needed to justify a premium price with strong and sustainable margins.
According to Aluk, the F82 ‘ticks every box’ for the homeowner and developer offering contemporary slim sightlines, effortlessly smooth operation, stylish hardware and low ‘U’ values. Crucially, AluK says that it also allows installers to differentiate their product offering from both the ‘me-too’ doors in the mass aluminium bi-fold market and the less streamlined alternatives.
The F82 is said to have slimmer sightlines than other doors available, while at the same time offering bigger expanses of glazing, thanks to slim, symmetrical sightlines on the frame, cill and jamb of only 97mm.
The contemporary look created by these uniform sightlines extends to the bespoke flush hardware which has been designed and developed just for this door. This includes a new flush pop up T-handle, unique to Aluk, which removes the need to add surface mounted door handles. There is also a flush handle for the traffic door, and specially designed, heavy duty rollers which reportedly deliver ‘effortless’ operation. The F82 has achieved PAS24 accreditation at 2,600mm wide, meaning that it can be installed in new build properties where Approved Document Q is required.
Aluk says that it has ensured that the door always opens and closes smoothly, with the new heavy duty compact rollers offering a heavier maximum sash weight of 150kg as standard. It also boasts class leading thermal performance, thanks to ‘U’ values of 1.3W/m²K with a double glazed unit, and 0.7W/m²K when triple glazed.
All of the configurations in the F82 are available as open-in or open-out doors, and in double and single door options to ensure a suited offering for the homeowner. It is available from stock in four standard single and dual colours – grey, white, brown and black. Further popular RAL colours are available to order, with the additional option of custom RAL colours if required.
The F82 has been designed to be ‘quicker and easier’ to fabricate than other competitor doors, with fewer separate profiles, a single gasket requirement and only two types of corner moulding. According to Aluk, this means that it is more cost effective to install and requires less preparation and less time on site.
AluK’s managing director, Russell Yates, said: “We’ve been inundated with enquiries for this door since the FIT Show – not just from our own customers but also from retail buyers and commercial specifiers. We know from the response that it offers a unique combination of style, performance and security, and that there are buyers waiting and eager to buy.
“We’re delighted to have 15 of the UK’s best known and most highly regarded aluminium fabricators already lined up in our new Luminia Select Partner network to start fabricating the door for us, and we are working closely with them to give trade buyers all the sales and marketing support that they need.”
