Awnings out

RICKY RICHARDS

The Docril Collection sold in Australia by Ricky Richards brings a fiesta of colour which has been carefully selected to complement domestic, commercial or architectural projects, whilst reducing solar heat gain by up to 90%, helping to create a cool and comfortable living environment.

Behind this collection is Citel Technical Textiles in Spain, the manufacturers of Docril. Ricky is very proud to be partners with them for over twenty years; with the two companies having met in Germany at the R & T tradeshow and worked together ever since.

Like Ricky, they are a family business, unlike Ricky they are now in their sixth generation. “Ricky Richards as a company has almost four decades of experience in the textiles industry and we pride ourselves on that here in Australia.” Says Darren Best, National Sales Manager at Ricky.  “But to think a company has been around and run by the same family since 1875 is nice to know. And it is extremely nice that we can depend on their experience and pass it on to the market here.”

Over the twenty years the Docril collection has developed into the portfolio that it is today with a three-yearly seasonal changeover to include new colours and designs that have been created by the Citel team. Both companies work together when it comes to the options that are available in Australia depending on trends.

“Always bear in mind though if you see a Docril fabric somewhere in the world, we can bring it in for you,” says Best.

“The Docril Collection fabrics are all solution dyed acrylic. The solution-dyed process incorporates the colours into the molecules of the fibre, which creates a stronger bond than what would be achieved by dyeing the thread or the fabric itself. The colour of a Docril fabric doesn’t just sit on the surface; it goes all the way through. This means that it has an extremely high resistance to fading and makes the fabric ideal for applications such as external blinds, external awnings, outdoor upholstery and marine projects.”

“Available in multiple widths: 120cm, 150cm, 200cm and 250cm, Docril fabrics are coated with Dupont Teflon, which means that they are extremely easy to clean. The Dupont Teflon coating gives long lasting protection from dust, soil and stains and repels water by beading up liquids allowing it to just roll off the fabric. This collection of fabrics also has exceptional resistance to high temperatures, chemical reaction, corrosion and stress cracking.”

“As an added bonus, Docril fabrics are supported by a full 10-year warranty.”

“There are many benefits to working the same supplier for so long. We trust each other so much, get to share our industry knowledge, help solve problems together and of course it gives our customers great confidence in the fabric because we have had no need to switch suppliers when we are so happy with the quality of the product,” says Best.

BM BLINDS

BM Blinds sales representative Phillip Macready describes awnings as the original air conditioner, keeping you and your home cooler. BM Blinds offers a full range of custom-built awnings of the highest quality. Awnings come in many different designs, each offering its own unique benefits to suit many applications.

“The convenience of having external window coverings allows you to have the sunshine in when required and to block it out during our long hot summers. Awnings stop the heat before hitting the glass of your windows and doors, reducing the amount of heat that enters your home. In addition to heat control, an awning will also reduce the glare on televisions and computer screens and helps prevent fading of drapes, carpets, and home furnishings.”

“Awnings can be operated manually or motorised for ease of use. Over the past few years motorisation has become the norm. The convenience of picking up a remote control to operate multiple awnings makes life much easier. A strategically placed awning can lower your household energy costs by around 20%. In winter an awning can be raised to let the sun in so you can benefit from the extra warmth and light that the sun provides.”

“To sum up, awnings provide so many benefits to your living conditions. The cost of the awnings is long forgotten in the years to come due to the ongoing shade control they offer.”

SHANN

Melissa Vine National Product Manager – Window & Industrial Fabrics for Shann, confirms that Parà, the manufacturer of the renowned Tempotest acrylic fabric range, “is this year celebrating 100 years of producing sun protection fabrics of aesthetic value and high technical quality.”

“Founded in 1921, The Parà Group has a strong Italian stylistic identity and a constant ability to innovatewith quality and distinctiveness, resulting in beautiful fabrics like the famed Tempotest awning fabric.”

Distributed by The Shann Group, Tempotest is constructed from premium solution dyed acrylic fibre and outstanding technical features that easily withstand our diverse climate.

“The gorgeous colour palette of the Tempotest Premium Collection reflects Australasian character and blends effortlessly into the environment.  The high technical quality and innovative Teflon Extreme finish of Tempotest ensures continued performance in residential and commercial sun protection and exterior decoration applications.”

A new addition to the range, Parà has launched an awning fabric manufactured with recycled PET.

“The first fabric of its kind for sun protection that is also GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified, Tempotest Starlight blue manufactured with 85% recycled PET bottles.  In fact, by recycling 328 plastic bottles, Parà can create 21m² of beautiful fabric.”

“The stunning collection for awnings is created through a sustainable process that allows an energy saving of 60%, 45% less CO₂ emissions, and a reduced water consumption of 90%.”

“And nothing is compromised.  The Tempotest Starlight bluecollection is the proof that a sustainable product can be created without any loss of performance.  From a recycled and GRS certified PET yarn, Parà have created a fabric that is characterised by exceptional elastic recovery and better resistance to strong forces and strains that make it particularly suitable for large structures.” 

“The UPF 50+ protection factor guarantees maximum UV protection and a longer product lifecycle.  And, thanks to Teflon Extreme by Parà innovative finishing, the fabrics are water/oil repellent and resistant to mould and stains.”

“The Tempotest Starlight blue colour range is also perfectly curated for commercial and municipal applications and projects where committing to and meeting sustainability standards are a must.”

WEINOR

The new Modern Basics Blue sustainable collection from Weinor Australia features 85% recycled PET, around 60% energy and 45% carbon emission savings in the weaving process. The spinneret dyeing process used also consumes around 90% less water than conventional dyeing methods. 

“The new awning fabrics not only impress’ with their sustainability, but the contemporary aesthetics of this awning fabric are attention-grabbing,” says Weinor Australia Managing Director Simon Meyer.

“The collection is perfectly suited to this year’s market trends in awning fabrics with the Pantone colours of the year influencing colour trends with shades of yellow and grey emerging, along with bold colours and grey or black and white stripes.” 

There are 16 patterns in the new Modern Basics Blue collection, including modern plain fabrics in subtle shades of grey and sand or bold colours from yellow to orange, as well as grey block stripes with coloured accents and modern interpretations of creative stripes in bright sunshine colours. 

Modern Basics Blue is described as “an extremely resistant woven fabric developed especially for outdoor use” and is certified according to the internationally recognised Global Recycled Standard(GRS). “A high-quality protective finish ensures that dirt won’t stick to it and the fabric stays as beautiful as on day one,” says Meyer.

“Certification according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 also proves that the material has been tested against harmful substances. The UPF 50+ high sun protection factor indicates that 98% of UV radiation is blocked.”

“To top it off, the Modern Basics Blue® collection has won a number of awards including the iF Design Award 2021, the Green Good Design Award 2021, the R+T Innovation Award 2021, the R+T Sustainability Award 2021 and the Red Dot winner 2021 in the Red Dot Award: Product Design category.” 

“With many businesses looking to move towards zero carbon emissions and promote sustainable living, combined with the increased need for alfresco dining due to the pandemic, Modern Basics Blue offers the perfect solution for those looking to create beautiful outdoor spaces that are kind to the planet.” 

“People are spending more on their home due to less expenditure on travel with movement restrictions. We have definitely seen a volume increase in states that have had lesser restrictions and now that lockdowns are lifting in Sydney and Melbourne, we predict that residents and businesses alike will be investing in good quality awnings and awning fabrics such as the sustainable Modern Basics Blue collection from Weinor.”

DICKSON CONSTANT

In recent months, Glen Raven has been focused on improving service and delivery times instead of new releases,

However, Yann Simon Regional Sales Manager – South Pacific, says the company’s Spark and Infinity fabrics continue to perform well.

He confirms Spark is a flame retardant awning fabric that attracts demand from the architecture and design industry and manufacturers around the world.

“This polyester-based fabric is very light, very strong and complies with the Building Code of Australia for commercial projects and residential condominiums. The French maker, Dickson-Constant, has worked hard on the ease of fabrication as well so the assembly does not differ from the best-selling Orchestra fabric range.”

Meanwhile the Dickson Resilient System integrated in the Infinity range “has been overwhelmingly successful in the European and Australian markets,” he says.

“The highly resilient yarn used in the weft direction of the solution-dye acrylic weave (available in 165cm, 200cm, 250 cm and 320cm widths) provides unparalleled stability. Most importantly, awning manufacturers can avoid vertical seams, setting a new standard in the awning industry. This product offers both aesthetics and performance without any trade-offs: reduced sagging, limited waffling and great durability – it comes with a 10 year warranty.”

Dickson Constant

WHY OFFER A RESKIN SERVICE

Dickson Constant’s Reskin program is positioned as a useful solution tohome and business owners whose awnings need a revamp.

The program is positioned as a way to “overhaul your customer base’s awnings.”

“No matter what type of awning you have in front of you, you can carry out whatever is required to give it new life.  You can replace dirty or torn material from the wide range of awning fabrics that Dickson offers. Timber boxes can be freshly painted to your customer’s preferred colour. Broken or bent arms can be replaced, as well as motors and gearboxes.”

“You can also give a fresh look to your customer’s shopfront,” says the company. “A potential prospect may have taken over a shop that already has an existing awning and they don’t want to go to the expense of replacing the whole unit.  If it is in working condition you can easily fit a new cover.” 

“This overhaul will give your customer’s shop a complete make over and make sure the business stands out.  This is more cost effective than having to replace the whole unit.  There is nothing worse than seeing a business with a torn or tatty cover – first impressions count, and you will be surprised at the difference you can make.”

Purple Café Owner Danie Ross says: ‘I have been thinking for a while to change my faded PVC fabric on my folding-arm awning.

“I am glad I did as this brand new black and white stripes fabric from Dickson truly uplift the Purple Café image! Customers have noticed the fresh look and I keep on receiving compliments.”

“I was amazed it took Q Blinds only over one hour to re-cover. It is a valuable investment for me who is a small-business owner and the recover process did not disrupt my operations at all.”

Brendan Hall, divisional manager Blinds & awnings at the Nolan Group comments:

“As we have seen over the last 18 months in Australia, consumers are ready to invest in Blinds and Awnings to improve the look of their home or business. Offering a Reskin to a customer is a quick and relatively simple way to drive additional sales.”

“Often undertaking a Reskin will lead to more business as the fresh looking blind will highlight the other blinds that may need replacing. Dickson, together with The Nolan Group and their customer Q Blinds, created a fresh look for Café Purple (Burleigh Heads QLD) using Dickson Orchestra Stripe C022 in Black and White Stripe.”

“Winning a Reskin job for your business can be as simple as dropping a business card in with a prospective customer or as with Café Purple, asking the question when you’re picking up your daily coffee.” 

Yann Simon, Regional Sales Manager at Dickson Constant parent company Glen Raven concludes:

“Dickson-constant and its partners successfully run seasonal Reskin campaigns in Europe. The awning business is reliant on the weather and the seasonality of sales can be realigned with a well-thought Reskin service during the low season.

“Furthermore, you can initiate rare business opportunities that could be missed otherwise. Our distributors in Australia can supply any awning dealers with the right marketing tools to quickly generate a new revenue stream with the recovering service using Dickson solar fabrics.”

Dickson-Constant is a specialist and French manufacturer of technical fabrics for the following markets: solar protection, interior and exterior upholstery, flooring and fitting out boats.