As aluminium creates opportunities across an increasingly diverse range of window and door applications, specialist fabrication knowledge can make all the difference. Martin Halford, Managing Director of Mercury Glazing, explains how Mercury’s long-established vertical slider expertise is supporting customers looking to capitalise on the aluminium market.

Aluminium continues to create new opportunities for installers, and one area where we see particular potential is the vertical sliding sash window.

At Mercury, this is a product category we know extremely well. Since 2002, we have been a specialist vertical slider fabricator, building up considerable experience not simply in manufacturing the product, but in understanding the markets and applications in which it is used.

That experience was established initially through PVC-U, but as the market has evolved, it has provided a natural foundation from which to expand our vertical sliding offer into aluminium.

The material may be different, but much of the specialist knowledge behind the product translates.

We understand what customers expect from a sash window, the importance of maintaining the right aesthetics and proportions and the practical considerations that can determine whether a product is suitable for a particular project. It means that when we manufacture an aluminium vertical slider, we are bringing more than two decades of sash window expertise to the product.

Our aluminium vertical sliding sash window is manufactured using a choice of the Smart VS600 and new VS400 systems, combining the traditional aesthetics of a classic sash window with the inherent advantages of aluminium. Its authentic styling makes it particularly well suited to historically sensitive properties and heritage applications, including projects in conservation areas.

Design flexibility is further enhanced by an extensive choice of colour and finish. The windows can be specified in virtually any colour, with a choice of finishes including textured options, giving customers the flexibility to achieve the right aesthetic for both traditional and contemporary projects.

Its slim profiles help retain the character associated with traditional sash windows, while aluminium provides the strength, durability, weather resistance and low maintenance increasingly demanded by modern projects.

But one of the interesting things about the aluminium sash window is that its potential extends well beyond heritage.

Its flush opening, with no projection into or out of the building, makes it particularly practical for commercial applications such as schools and hospitals, while its excellent natural ventilation characteristics also make it suitable for high-rise buildings.

An innovative tilt operation facilitates external glass cleaning, while concealed drainage and a concealed coupling option help maintain the clean appearance of the window. The system accommodates 28mm sealed units and can be manufactured up to 1600mm wide and 2800mm high, with a maximum sash weight of 50kg, giving customers considerable scope across a wide range of applications.

For us, this versatility is particularly important because aluminium now has a much broader reach, from premium domestic and heritage refurbishment through to education, healthcare and larger commercial projects.

Having specialist aluminium products within our portfolio means we can help customers access more of those opportunities. Just as importantly, they are supported by the fabrication experience behind Mercury.

That same approach is reflected in the continued development of our wider aluminium portfolio. Today, we offer one of our most comprehensive aluminium trade ranges to date, spanning windows, bifold and sliding doors, entrance doors and commercial aluminium products.

We have also recently expanded the portfolio further with the introduction of the Stellar Aluminium window and door range, giving customers even greater choice and further opportunities across domestic and commercial markets.

For Mercury, growth in aluminium is about combining new opportunities with established expertise. Our experience across specialist products and markets means customers can broaden their aluminium offer with the confidence that the fabrication knowledge and support behind every product is already well established.