SUN PROTECTION AND MORE…

THE SHANN GROUP
Melissa Vine, National Product Manager – Industrial Fabrics, at The Shann Group, says new colours for the well-known Atmosphere range are a key new development.

“Colour is the most critical element for most consumers when choosing external screen fabrics for their outdoor spaces. It has to match their décor and express their design and style. Atmosphere has always featured a curated and on-trend colour palette to work with the majority of colour schemes and external finishes and now Shann are about to add two new colours to the palette: Polar and Icon. Taking cues from stunning Hamptons beach style, Polar is a brilliant white, featuring the latest in UV resistant fibre for even better performance. Icon is at the other end of the colour spectrum, a statement dark grey with charcoal notes, a perfect complement to inky-black and dark coated aluminium and steel. Both colours are coming soon to the Atmosphere range.”

“And while colour is important to consumers, performance is equally important to us and our customers. Atmosphere external screen mesh fabric has always been a market leader in terms of quality and performance and with the introduction of superior UV resistant fibre in the whites and lights, Atmosphere will look good and perform for years to come.”

Vine adds that external track guided blind systems like the Urban Track and straight drop awnings are “forging ahead in terms of popularity and accessibility” driving a significant increase in sales of Atmosphere external mesh.

“Atmosphere has been designed for optimal outdoor living, with a 1% openness option creating more privacy and 5% openness providing great views. The ability to enjoy outdoor living spaces all year round is a key feature to any exterior space and Atmosphere provides protection from the elements by creating shade, cutting direct sun exposure or allowing light in or making the most of the winter sun. With its superior performance characteristics, lay flat properties and quality features, Atmosphere external screen mesh is the smartest choice for external screen mesh fabrics.”

DICKSON CONSTANT
Anthony Rousselle, Category Manager Solar Protection, Dickson-Constant Glen Raven, Inc, says a new fire resistant awning fabric is set to launch in May. “Spark FR professional awning fabric meets fire regulation requirements where a fire-resistant certification is required or for any professional who wants to be equipped with a high-security awning.”

Woven from a 100% polyester fibre, it is certified according to the main fire standards in force: Euroclasse Bs1d0, M1 for France, B1 for Germany and C1 for Italy. It has also been tested for ASNZ 1530.2 & .3. “It also benefits from all the Dickson know-how and provides optimal protection by blocking 100% of UV rays on the nine available references. The solution-dyed process ensures an excellent resistance of the colour in time and enables it to be guaranteed five years. Spark FR will be available from May in 120cm width.”

Meanwhile, water-resistant awning fabric Orchestra Max is coated on one side with a UVresistant acrylic resin, reinforcing its water-resistant properties. “It enables its users to take advantage of their terrace all year round, without having to take down the awning at the first sight of rain. Orchestra Max is particularly suitable for permanent installations with high exposure to climate changes and pollution. It is designed primarily for retail, hotels and catering outfits. It is positioned as a stateof-the-art solution for particularly demanding homeowners.” The Max finish forms an extremely dense protective layer that keeps dirt on the surface. Rain or simple rinsing is sufficient to clean the fabric.

Catering to wide widths, Infinity is a large-width fabric for a seamless awning. “With Infinity, Dickson offers a new definition for broad-span awnings. With its extra-large width of 3.20 metres, the Infinity fabric offers the possibility to create a seamless and 100% aesthetic awning using the fabric in the weft direction.”

“Weaving with a reinforced weft yarn gives it a similar resistance in warp and weft. The awning formed of a single piece avoids the extra thickness and reduces distortion. Woven from 100% solution-dyed acrylic fibre, Infinity fabrics block at least 90% of UV and are Oeko-Tex certified. Available in 15 plain colours, Infinity is guaranteed 10 years.

Dickson Constant has recently launched an awning re-skin campaign to help dealers promote this service. “We are offering ready-to-use content, including source files for personalisation. Each media is available in two versions, one targeting the end consumer, the other one for Horeca professionals. Collateral includes emailing, ads for magazines, leaflets, web banners, videos, photos, Facebook posts and also a guide on how to talk about awning re-skin on your website.”

COPACO PACIFIC
Grant Norton Managing Director of Copaco Pacific Pty Ltd (a joint venture between Blindware and Copaco NV), notes high demand for outdoor sunscreen fabrics in Australia, both for commercial and residential installations. “The construction industry has been buoyed by a growth in nonresidential building, expected to grow from $36 billion in 2016-17 to $39 billion in 2019-20 [source: Australian Construction Industry Forum], offsetting the continued downturn of the residential cycle. This growth in commercial construction means there is a real need for premium fabric for awnings for quality commercial construction,” says Norton. “In addition, stronger broad demand for straight drop awnings in residential applications means demand has also grown in this sector, especially for use of wider width and more stable screen fabrics to match the growing trend of wider windows and wider opening sizes in general.”

Norton believes there is a gap in the market where supplies are limited for wide width, high quality, premium awning fabric. “With the Australian market somewhat fragmented and dominated by cheaper imports, Serge 600 Screen Fabric, manufactured by Copaco in Belgium and now distributed across Australia by My Sun Shades of Sydney, has been designed to be an extremely durable, effective collection of exterior screens.”

“The fabric is woven with PVC coated fibreglass yarns, making them perfect for outdoor use in our tough Australian climate where high temperatures are the norm. Being fibreglass based, Serge 600 is more temperature stable and will retain its appearance for many years in the harsh Australian sun. Serge 600 is stocked in Australia in eight stylish colour options to suit almost any colour scheme, and is the perfect fit for both premium outdoor commercial and residential projects. Norton told WFA Magazine that Blindware and JV partner Copaco NV of Belgium will partner with My Sun Shades for distribution of Serge 600 screen fabric in Australia, leveraging their existing strong market position in exterior products.”