Thermoseal has potentially doubled the production capacity of its Thermoflex warm edge spacer bar by investing in a third twin-strand extruder.
The new extruder will sit alongside two existing units, and can produce all thicknesses of Thermoflex, including 4.8mm, 6.3mm and 7.3mm, and air spaces up to 28mm, in twin-strand and at a higher speed than with its existing equipment.
“When we first started extruding Thermoflex, we decided we should be in control of the whole process,” said sales director Mark Hickox. “So, we compound the rubber, extrude it, vulcanize it, bake it, laminate it, and then box it ready to go to the customer. No other manufacturer in the UK has the same level of control over each step of the manufacturing process.
“Our continued success has meant that we’ve had to continually upgrade our manufacturing facilities. Rather than increase our manufacturing footprint – which would significantly increase our energy consumption – we’ve invested in a new extruder which can double our capacity without moving to a bigger site.”
The investment also prepares the component manufacturer for increased demand in other sizes, AS Mark explained: “Widespread triple glazing specification is on the horizon, thanks to the lower U-values expected of windows following the implementation of the Future Homes Standard in 2025.
“There are still two years before the new Future Homes Standard comes into force, but we need to be prepared for the changes now,” Mark says. “Some of our customers are already making the necessary changes to their operations, because ordering new equipment and adapting existing procedures takes time, and it’s not the sort of thing you want to leave until the last minute.”
