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Textile technology innovations continue to support the poly/acrylic awning fabrics category, meeting stringent demand for a range of benefits including stability, colour fastness and UV protection. Belinda Smart reports.
BLINDS BY PETER MEYER
The Weinor collection of acrylic and polyester fabrics are called My Collections and are the exclusive range of fabrics used on Weinor’s range of folding arm awnings, retractable roof systems, conservatory awnings and exterior roller blinds. “Weinor’s new fabric range consists of three different colour ways with a total of 143 patterns,” says Blinds by Peter Meyer Managing Director Simon Meyer. “Weinor fabrics are made from polyester or acrylic and are spinneret dyed. This guarantees outstanding durability, consistently radiant colours and great UV resistance.”
“Thanks to the Teflon fabric coating and state-of-the-art nanotechnology, the surface is resistant to oil, water, dirt and prevents rot. The My Collections range is also impressive in terms of environmental compatibility. The fabrics do not contain any substances harmful to health and they meet all the required environmental standards. Highquality pigments are stored in each individual fibre. The result: especially good colour fastness and high UV-resistance. This is what makes Weinor fabrics stand out from products made by other manufacturers, where only the finished yarn is dyed. Other benefits that Weinor fabrics offer include: they repel dirt, water and oil, provide the best-possible protection from UV rays and can lower the temperature of living areas. With over 140 fabric patterns to choose from, there’s one to match everyone’s unique personal taste.”
NOLAN GROUP
Dominic Nolan, Marketing Manager at Nolan Group confirms the company has released innovations in the poly/acrylic awning fabric space to meet specific market demand.
Dickson Spark FR
“Recent tragedies have pushed the construction industry to act on a global scale in terms of FR compliance,” says Nolan. “With the increased focus on flame retardancy in the Australian Building Industry, Dickson has developed a 120cm wide solution dyed polyester called Spark FR.”
Spark FR has been tested in Australia to 1530 parts 2 and 3, with certificates available upon request.
“Spark FR is now used in specific commercial applications around Australia, but with the increased stringent requirements by fire marshals in each state, Spark will almost become a necessity in some multi-level commercial projects.”
Infinity
Infinity 320cm is a recently released, innovative solution dyed acrylic that has been specifically designed to be used on folding arm awnings without any joins (it can be railroaded).
“The use of a unique core yarn in the weft ensures there is 50 per cent less elongation, which means no bagging to the fabric when the awning arms are out. This provides two key benefits: a clean seamless look and reduced manufacturing time by eliminating sewing joins.”
LUXAFLEX
“When customers are choosing an awning for their outside area, two of the main considerations are the strength and stability of the product. In an intense climate such as Australia, weather can be volatile and take its toll on external awning fabrics, meaning these fabrics need to withstand the heat and sun, whilst also fending off the rain and wind and ultimately offering privacy and sun protection.”
“Polyester fabrics and fibreglass fabrics have physical differences that make them uniquely designed for specific applications, yet despite being distinctively different, one of their most impressive factors is their strength and resilience. The combination of superior quality coatings, Enduris Glass Core Technology and innovative weaving techniques make the allnew Luxaflex Spectra Fibreglass Sunscreen unparalleled in strength and durability. Even in extreme temperatures, fibreglass’ high melting point allows the fabric to stay thermally stable when exposed to intense heat or extended exposure.”
“The use of outdoor awnings offers the ultimate in comfort and lifestyle, providing air flow control and sun protection for more enjoyable entertaining. Whilst polyester can sometimes be affected by heat, losing its dimensional stability leading to stretching, the use of a quality awning screen, such as Luxaflex Spectra Sunscreen, has a deformation resistance that allows the fabric to remain flat and unwrinkled and can eliminate up to 95 per cent1 of solar heat penetration while allowing diffused light to pass through. It is exceptionally fade resistant, inherently flame resistant, rot resilient and offers excellent UV protection from the harsh Australian sun for many years to come.”
“Aesthetically, Luxaflex Spectra Fibreglass Screen has a finer glass core yarn than typical polyester sunscreens, resulting in a much sharper view through. With a sophisticated twill weave construction and unique diagonal pattern, the fibreglass sunscreen fabric hangs beautifully straight, even after being left up for extended periods.” Nolan Group – Dickson Spark FR
GOODEARL & BAILEY
Goodearl & Bailey’s Clare Corban confirms Infinity is revolutionising broad-span awnings. “With its extra wide 3.2 metre span, Infinity allows you to create seamless sun protection for optimal aesthetic results. Its unique high-resistance weave ensures even weft and warp elongation, allowing for singlepiece construction to prevent thickening and reduce distortion.”
“While traditional awnings are made from assembled strips of fabric in the width direction, Infinity fabric is made to be used in the weft direction.”
“The seams used to assemble the strips of fabric in traditional awnings are visible by transparency and the thickening is a potential source of distortion. With its extralarge width of 320 cm, Infinity can be used in the weft direction for awnings with a maximal opening of three metres. With no seams, there is no thickening and therefore less risk of distortion.”
“To avoid any elongation on weft, Infinity benefits from a reinforced weft yarn, drastically reducing elongation. Infinity enables a simplified making process and reduces the distortion risks for a perfect aesthetic solution. The fabric is woven from 100% solution-dyed acrylic, available in 15 solids colours, and guaranteed for 10 years.”
“Available in 11 solid colours, Dickson Infinity fabrics are woven from 100 per cent solution-dyed Sunacryl High Tenacity acrylic fibre.”
“The colour is locked right into the very core of the fibres during manufacture, in contrast to the traditional yarn-dying process whereby colours are applied to the finished yarn and remain on the surface. Dyed all the way through, this type of yarn ensures exceptionally long-lasting, ultra vivid colours.” “Finished with a special Cleangard treatment, the ultra-modern process for protecting outdoor fabrics called NPP (Nanotechnology Protection Process), is based on an extremely dense assembly of nano-molecules that create a genuine water barrier and prevent dirt from building up. This ensures optimal beading and outstanding water resistance.” “Woven from an innovative fibre resulting from the latest technological advances and benefiting from all the knowhow of Dickson Constant, Spark FR is ideally suited for all commercial projects that require a flame retardant fabric.” It provides a number of additional benefits:
Meanwhile, Brella Classic awning fabric has added new colours for summer to its offering, says Corban.
“The summer palette for these fabrics is inspired by the latest colour trends, exterior architectural influences and the vibrant Australian landscape.”
“Introducing the all new Base Vogue range now offering two new contemporary underside base colours, Gunmetal and Oyster. The Base Vogue collection is Australian Made and comes with the Brella Bionic Finish to ensure lifelong durability, appearance, performance and effortless maintenance. The Brella Bionic finish is internationally recognised as the most effective, environmentally friendly, all natural textile weather proofing system, APEO- free and solventfree. Brella Classic patterns and plain colours also naturally co-ordinate with the Colourbond range of colours.
To make room for these new patterns, a number of colours are being discontinued, says Corban. Deletions: C322 | R202 | I320 | Velvet Brown | Marsala + Lime.
Note: Classic S232 will now only be offered in new Gun Metal Base and no longer with the traditional “green underside” NEW code BV32.
“Please mark your sample book and advise all your sales team as stock is limited. Before ordering, check in with the Goodearl + Bailey customer service team.”
1See http://www.endurisglasscore.com/ for details.
