With the ever-increasing focus on window security, responsibility falls – in part – to hardware manufacturers to meet the challenges of providing high performance solutions that can offer the security levels fabricators require.

Hardware manufacturer Siegenia-Aubi is not fazed by this responsibility but warns that fabricators must accept realistic prices for quality products.

According to UK general manager, Léann Hearne, high performance products backed by extensive service and technical support – as is standard from most reputable hardware manufacturers – do come with a premium. However, that premium ensures fabricators are getting products that are streets ahead in terms of performance, quality and technical backup.

She says, ‘A particular bugbear – and one we’ve raised on many occasions – is that innovation in the window industry is slowed because of a reluctance to pay for the quality it delivers. Manufacturers are constantly being screwed down on price and are therefore unable to deliver products requiring greater investment.’

Siegenia-Aubi continues to enjoy a high profile in the UK and Irish TBT markets and this, according to Léann, is a direct result of a continued focus on developing high quality, high performance products that offer a variety of benefits as standard.

‘A range of our products comes with Secured By Design and BS7950 certification as standard, giving fabricators peace of mind that the hardware is up to the job. These security benefits feature alongside the quality and performance characteristics that have helped Siegenia-Aubi hardware stay ahead of the game in global markets.

‘Our TS-Look silver coating was specifically developed as an environmentally sustainable alternative to yellow passivation. When tested to ISO 9227 (BS7479) TS-Look gives outstanding levels of corrosion resistance; 72 hours protection against white rust and up to 480 hours against red rust – double the requirements of RAL RG 607/3.

‘These performance levels, coupled with the security benefits and expert technical backup we offer as standard, give fabricators a high performance, reliable option when it comes to hardware selection. Additional fittings and hardware variations – including mishandling devices and two alternative sash lifters – help extend hardware life resulting in a more effective long-term TBT window solution.

‘As a forward-thinking organisation we don’t want to water our products and service down to meet lower price demands. As soon as that happens it’s the fabricators who lose out by forfeiting the technical support that we simply can’t provide at lower prices.

Source

Glass Age