Cotswold involved in changing Chinal
16th October 2012

In one of its most recent international projects, Cotswold Architectural Products played its own small part in the transformation of the world’s largest economy, with its latest assignment in Shenyang City, in the Liaoning Province of China, which saw them supply 400 pairs of 15” Parallel stays and 800 pairs of 18” Parallel stays.

When the project is complete, a Five-Star Sheraton Hotel will be constructed. Cotswold’s Managing Director Iain Morgan says that the project was interesting for a number of reasons:

“Parallel windows are not traditionally popular in China, so there was an element of breaking new ground with this project.

“It meant that from pre-design to the sample windows going through the test, we had to provide lots of advice and support to the architect, project managers and the curtain walling consultant.”

According to Iain this type of window is becoming more and more popular as tastes change and China’s rapid transformation intensifies:

“The specification of more parallel windows is just another small symbol of how things are changing in China. It speaks volumes for us that we’re the go to company for advice of this nature.”

One of the reasons why parallel windows are becoming more popular in China, and across the globe in general, is the fact that it allows air to penetrate around its entire perimeter, facilitating highly efficient ventilation and increasing air flow by almost double, compared to a traditional top hung window.

This reduces the dependency for air conditioning systems, reduces operating costs and improves the working environment.

But Iain is also keen to point out that another successful Chinese project is further proof of the irony surrounding the UK China hardware relationship.

“Though not a universal rule, it is a fact that some Chinese companies are buying friction stays, for example, from UK manufacturers. Whilst some UK companies are buying friction stays from Chinese manufacturers because they are cheaper.

“It’s a slightly ironic situation and should be red flag to fabricators in the UK who are buying Chinese hardware. It is quite telling that lots of the hardware being used in the construction of the ‘new China’ isn’t manufactured and supplied by companies in China.

“Reputations are at stake and developers are keen to tap into the experience and manufacturing know-how that companies like Cotswold, have built up over the years.”

On this occasion the developers, Greentown China Holdings Limited, selected Cotswold’s friction stays for the project due to their ‘good quality’ ‘better design’ and ‘professional support’ and ‘on-time service’.

A spokesperson for the developer comments: “Our aim is to provide high quality products and offer professional services to support the productivity, profitability and competitiveness of our customers.

“In this case, as a partner of Cotswold Architectural Products, we are confident of fulfilling this promise.”

www.cotswold-windows.co.uk