Ricky Richards marks 25 years of Outlook and Docril

Ricky Richards is marking 25 years of supplying Australia’s window furnishing and outdoor fabrication trades with two of its flagship ranges, Outlook and Docril. The company says both have helped Australian blind manufacturers, fabricators and architects deliver functional, energy-efficient outdoor installations over that period, backed by long-standing global partnerships with Phifer Incorporated for Outlook and Citel for Docril.

Outlook at 25

Ricky Richards says the Outlook range was engineered to withstand severe UV exposure while preserving outward views, and has continued to evolve over those 25 years to meet changing environmental and architectural requirements. Today’s product is formulated using Dow Ecolibrium renewable plant-based plasticisers, which the company says reduce carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions compared to standard petroleum-based alternatives. Its colour palettes, including the Classics and Zero ranges, align with popular Colorbond architectural finishes. Outlook carries a 15-year UV warranty, which the company positions as assurance for both fabricators and end consumers.

Docril: solution-dyed Spanish acrylic

Docril is manufactured in Spain using a solution-dyed process in which colour pigments are incorporated into the core of every yarn. Ricky Richards says this gives the fabric resistance to UV fading, saltwater degradation and weathering. The range includes an extensive selection of solid colours and classic designs and is used for awnings.

Case study: Aalta Australia

Ricky Richards highlights a recent project by Aalta Australia as an example of the Outlook range in use. Aalta used Outlook Mode to convert an exposed deck and patio area into a year-round outdoor space.

According to Ricky Richards, Outlook Mode intercepts solar radiation before it reaches glass sliding doors and patio seating, reducing internal heat transfer into the home, keeping indoor areas cooler, lowering air-conditioning costs and reducing glare on TV screens and surfaces. The company says the engineered weave also allows natural cross-breezes through the patio, preventing heat build-up, while providing a barrier against wind drag, light rain and seasonal insects, so the outdoor area can be used for dining and entertaining.

Unlike solid blockout blinds, Outlook mesh provides daytime privacy from neighbouring properties without blocking the homeowner’s outward view of the garden, pool or surrounding landscape, according to Ricky Richards. The company says the mesh, designed to handle continuous tension in zip-guided drop blinds and track-guided systems, maintains a flat lay over wide spans without sagging, twisting or tracking out of alignment.

For the Aalta project, the colour was chosen from Outlook’s neutral contemporary palette to complement the home’s exterior cladding, roofline and window framing. According to Ricky Richards, the weave texture complements natural timber decks, stone paving and outdoor lounge styling, and the project demonstrates how functional sun protection can enhance a home’s architectural aesthetic. The mesh incorporates Microban antimicrobial protection and dirt repellency, which the company says resists mould, mildew and staining.