VEKA Implements Green Technology for LEED Qualification

"Our commercial products are manufactured using co-extrusion technology, which means that two extrusion lines feed one die which gives us the ability to introduce two materials into one shape," says Kevin A. Seiling, director of engineering for VEKA.

According to the company’s announcement, the window systems made with these profiles will contain at least 40 percent pre-consumer, recycled PVC material and are comprised of the company’s scrap start-up material, obsolete inventory, cut-offs, clean customer buy-back material and other compatible recovered material, i.e., siding. The recycled material will be used for the substrate of the products, which are not subject to any weathering conditions that the exterior surface might face.

The exterior of the co-extruded products will be the same virgin compound formulation that VEKA has used for its residential products for more than 25 years in North America.

"Obviously, LEED is of great importance to this product line because of the heightened awareness of "Green" products and how they directly relate to energy conservation and the environment. Because of the material’s recycled content, these products will be eligible for up to two LEED credits toward a building’s certification. VEKA will maintain it’s rigorous in-house quality inspections and testing, which includes impact and dimensional stability as well as strict adherence to AAMA certification and third-party inspections of profiles manufactured in all of their North American facilities. Products made from the new combination of materials will also carry Dade County certification, which is one of the most stringent requirements in the country," says Seiling.

This announcement follows VEKA announcing its DP-100 certification for the Tilt/Turn product line for commercial applications.

"We are very excited about the new in-roads we are making with these new products," says Steve Dillon, VEKA’s corporate director of marketing. "It’s no secret that these types of products have been around for some time in Europe and that environmental awareness has been at the forefront of all European technology for the past 15 years. We feel the time is right to introduce this product to the United States and we will continue to develop new ways to contribute to vinyl sustainability in all of our product lines and processes."