Here, VEKA Group Marketing Director Dawn Stockell discusses the thought process behind the product:
In a relatively flat market, Vertical Sliders are positively bucking the trend. Market research shows that sales of Vertical Sliders to the home improvement market have increased by 32% to now take 10% market share of frames at 443,000, with this figure predicted to keep rising.
The Imagine Vertical Slider is particularly versatile and would be equally at home in a historic house, or a slick city development. The benefit for heritage projects, in particular, is the combination of timeless aesthetics and modern performance. There’s no need to compromise on quality in order to get the look of a traditional timber sash window.
Thanks to slim sightlines, realistic woodgrains, three styles of sash horn and the option of mechanically jointed timber-like welds, specifiers and property owners can achieve a classic look, with all the benefits of an ultra-modern material.
PVC-U needs virtually no maintenance in comparison to the endless cycle of sanding and painting that timber requires, and it will not swell, warp, crack or rot. As well as ease of maintenance, the Imagine Vertical Slider offers impressive style, energy efficiency, insulation and security, not only when compared to old timber sashes, but also compared to its modern counterparts. I genuinely believe this is the industry’s most technically advanced PVC-U Vertical Slider.
While these factors are appealing for homeowners, for public sector buildings they are nothing short of vital. The Imagine Vertical Slider allows traditional style to be maintained, while also allowing energy use and costs to be minimised; which is crucial in the management and maintenance of public and municipal properties.
As recent case studies of VEKA Group customers across the UK prove, the profile behind the product is already the number one choice for both commercial and residential applications, whether specifying for a new build or a renovation project. Halo customer Masterframe recently provided 220 Vertical Sliders for a historic town hall revamp, while SWC of Scarborough provided 46 Vertical Sliders and three French Doors for a stately new build in the Yorkshire Dales.
Case studies like this these are music to our ears at VEKA and I can’t wait to hear feedback on the next generation Imagine Vertical Slider as it makes its way into ever more varied projects. This product has been years in the planning, to ensure its intelligent design combines form and function. It includes a myriad of innovative features for simple fabrication; such as the fact that the outer balance chamber is co-extruded in black - meaning there’s no need to mask and paint, which in turn means time is saved, quality defects are reduced, and the finish is more durable and professional.
For installers, the Imagine Vertical Slider is available in 14 colours from stock, meaning you can offer your customers fantastic choice and enviable lead times.
Speaking of colour, coinciding with the Imagine Vertical Slider launch is the unveiling of our new and improved Variations offering, which offers a more simplified and streamlined approach to our colour options. With laminated profile now making up 40% of VEKA Group sales, and 40% of Vertical Sliders also ordered in colour (with around a third of those laminated both sides), we wanted to simplify the whole process.
95% of VEKA Group colour sales will now be from stock; 27 colour combinations across 14 colours, and as working out ex-stock colour availability can be a confusing and time-consuming task, the new brochure has been designed with clarity in mind.
VEKA Group is well known in the industry for listening to its customers and responding accordingly, so the latest duet of new Imagine Vertical Slider and Variations colour offering further proves how it remains the number one choice for fabricators and installers.
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