Commercial window, door and curtain wall systems continue to become more complex as systems companies continue to develop higher performance systems to meet the increasing demands for insulation. Aluminium systems, the specifiers first choice for commercial and high rise residential use, now use wide polyamide insulation strips to achieve high levels of insulation capable of achieve a class ‘A’ for insulation.

With ever increasing demands for higher insulation in frames and structural mullions, aluminium and polyamide has developed as far as it can and new composite materials are now rapidly entering the market.

Aluminium remains the choice for the external face of the emerging composites for its strength and exceptional low maintenance and life expectancy using powder coatings or anodised finishes. Traditionally timber has been used as an internal structural element with high performance thermal breaks between the two materials. But new materials are also emerging, systems using PVC and glass fibre are already entering the market and are set to offer the specifier long life expectancy coupled with higher insulation levels.

Crown Aluminium already supply two aluminium timber composite systems, complimented by polyamide insulated aluminium, steel and stainless steel systems. As all these systems become more complex, installers are looking for specialist fabricators, such as Crown to supplement their current supply of products for specifiers. Dealing with all the major UK systems companies, Crown Aluminium can supply these emerging fabricated aluminium composite products, on time and on budget.

Crown aluminium use the latest technology and work closely with all systems providers to offer bespoke products to suit any application. For further information on Crown and their services please visit their website at www.crownaluminium.co.uk or contact their offices by phone on 01453 753222.

Crown are one of just a handful of companies in the UK who are manufacturing commercial doors, windows and curtain walls in various materials for Secured by Design building projects.

For products to achieve the SBD standard and carry the SBD label, they must first be tested by an independent UKAS registered institute by either the systems company and/or the fabricator clearly identifying sizes and hardware configurations. Tested products then form a library of products which can then be fabricated by a SBD licensed fabricator only. If the product is fabricated by a non-member they will not be approved by SBD and that could jeopardise the whole project not receiving an SBD licence on completion.

Compliance to SBD is often specified by clients in order to minimise crime in an existing or new project, whilst also potentially lowering insurance premiums for the building owners.

The standard has proved to be so popular that there have been recent instances of some companies professing to supply products to meet the standard that are not being sourced from licensed sources. ACPO (The Association of Chief Police Officers) who are behind the SBD initiative are now taking a firm stance on unregistered fabrication and taking steps to prosecute under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Crown Aluminium have now taken the step of labelling each manufactured product to show its origin and reference to its test pass. For all further information on Crown Aluminium and services offered, please visit their website at www.crownaluminium.co.uk or contact their offices by phone on 01453 753222.

Crown Aluminium are well known for offering a nationwide fabrication and engineering service for the supply of windows, doors and curtain wall systems from the major systems companies in the UK. Adding to their wide range of services the company is now set up to manufacture timber aluminium composite windows, doors and curtain wall systems from the award winning ‘Hybrid’ range of systems from Senior Architectural Systems.

Roger Phillips of Crown explains, “Over the last few years we have invested heavily in automated equipment and software, this has enabled us to take on a far wider range of systems as much of the machining is now automated and stored on our systems. There is no doubt that the use of composites is quickly growing in the UK and we wish to be able to offer our customers a broad range of systems to meet their needs. I believe Crown’s success is based on our partnering ability, both with the systems provider and our customer, this allows our customers to concentrate on programme responsibility and installation.”

Crown already supply aluminium systems from the major UK systems companies, together with steel systems and unitised systems, ‘Hybrid’ will complement their portfolio and help their customers reduce the long lead times for composites which are often imported from northern Europe.

With ‘Hybrid - Series 2’ recently launched, Crown can now also offer a continental style composite window which will meet specific commercial requirements in the UK.

Crown Aluminium are now registered with ACPO to fabricate product that meets the new standard for 'Secured by Design'.

In the last 12 months there has been a change in the way products are tested to meet the standard. Originally the products were tested by the systems companies or the original designers, then the method of fabrication was passed to the fabricator to follow. This method has worked well but there is a need now for complete traceability for projects to be completed and awarded a 'Secured by Design' certificate which should help the building owner resist crime and attempted break-ins. This should ultimately lead to reduced insurance costs for the building owners.

Crown Aluminium have gone through the registration process and have worked closely with Schüco International to build a list of tested products which Crown can manufacture and pass onto clients who require this service. Should products be required that have not been tested, Crown Aluminium will advise and offer the customer a testing service to ensure conformance with the new standard.

Becoming and maintaining ACPO status may not be economical for most fabricators as the Secured by Design product is only required on ground floor applications. Crown Aluminium therefore becomes an ideal partner who can offer this fabrication only service.