REYNAERS’ latest RW range is a strong fashion statement by the European aluminium systems major, which has skilfully combined the versatility of the metal and the elegance of wood in an aesthetical end-result that represents all the advantages of aluminium.

Alu-wood, as it is also known, offers the best of both materials. The warm, natural feel and appeal of wood merges smoothly with the aluminium base that not only lasts a lifetime and allows a wide range of designs and colour options but also is highly insulating, environment-friendly and cost-effective.

“The combination of solid wood for internal profiles with a thermally-insulated aluminium core and outer scale results in superior stability and long-lasting functionality, reducing maintenance to a minimum,” says Erik Rasker, Reynaers Aluminium’s chief technology officer. “The innovative hybrid product is ideal for those looking for the appeal of a wooden profile with the benefits of aluminium.”

The new range is available as the RW 100 system for windows and doors and the RW 105 sliding system, and offers a variety of options and possibilities for architects and builders to work with.

The aluminium profiles, used for the outer part of the alu-wood, are thermally broken by means of polyamide strips, which in combination with the insulating properties of the wooden inner profile, reduces condensation to a minimum. The wood profiles are triple coated and finished off with a water-based product, which are both environment-friendly.

The RW 100 ... offers the elegance of wood.

The aluminium base can be combined with a wide choice of solid wood offering several finishing types suitable for various applications including ash-painted cherry, tuliper painted mahogany, natural oak, natural ash, ash painted dark and light walnut and pickled ash. As such, these new highly-insulating alu-wood solutions can be used in any interior and architectural style.

RW 100
The RW 100 system for alu-wood windows and doors consists of an internal profile in wood and an external one in aluminium with thermal break. The internal profiles in solid natural wood are never in direct contact with the aluminium, allowing further insulation and avoiding thermal expansion problems caused by the use of different materials. Due to good thermal insulation values, the alu-wood system can be applied almost anywhere.

“Laboratory tests show the impeccable product quality, with CE mark,” says Rasker. “The profiles have an overall system depth of 82 mm for the frame and 100 mm for the vent. Besides, the use of hardware generates greater functionality due to its ability to act on several closing points, thus allowing a satisfactory adjustment of the doors.”

RW 105 sliding system
The RW 105 sliding system consists of a wooden interior and an external insulated aluminium profile. The RW sliding window is a high-end product with a good insulation value. The profiles have a construction depth of 105 mm for the frame and 64 mm for the vent. The system uses a multi-point locking mechanism operated by one handle or, upon request, a three-point closing or double handle.

Ferrari Theme Park ... Reynaers Middle East’s biggest project.

“At Reynaers, we continuously strive to improve our product range according to the end-users’ requirements. Architects that are looking for the appeal of a wooden architecture will enjoy the new alu-wood RW range with aluminium base systems both for its design and functionality,” says Rasker.

The perfect match of an aluminium profile with wooden finishing goes beyond the warm appeal of wood and also offers increased thermal insulation value, a long-lasting sustainability, low-maintenance and cost-effectiveness, as well as the possibility to cover bigger spans, thanks to the strength of the aluminium structure, he adds.

“Besides, like all Reynaers aluminium products, the RW range offers a huge variety of finishing and colour options, fit for every interior and style, making it the preferred product for architects with high aesthetical and technological standards,” he says.

Ali Khalaf, managing director of Reynaers Middle East in Bahrain, comments: “This is a luxury product that is used mostly in luxury villas and palaces.”

Khalaf points out that while a window cannot be done entirely of wood due to the high humidity and temperature experienced in the Middle East region, the RW range with its high thermal insulation features provides an ideal solution.
“This product has been extensively tested for water- and air-tightness, wind load (AWW test) and other tests to ensure international standards are met,” he says, adding that the company is meticulous about the product design, with every product subject to two to three years of design and research before its final launch.

Reynaers provides all necessary tooling to make the system’s assembly as easy as possible, Khalaf says.

Though the RW range comes in standard colours in wood, Reynaers can provide custom colours to meet client requests, he says.

About Reynaers Middle East, Khalaf says that it takes active part in any designing inputs required by the headquarters in Belgium, as do all Reynaers subsidiaries around the world.

Khalaf ... competition getting tough.

Commenting on effects of the economic downturn, Khalaf says: “Everyone has been suffering in 2010, and I believe all industries have been affected. It’s hard to meet budgetary targets.

“There were times when we used to be approached for projects – now you need to fight for them. Competition has been tough and is getting tougher. Due to fewer projects coming on the market, you see the same companies bidding for every one of them,” he elaborates.

But with Reynaers it’s different, he says. “Due to our presence all over the Middle East, we can offset any negative effects in a country with business in other markets in the region – but the effort we are putting in is three to four times more than before.”

The Middle East markets where Reynaers has been doing well in 2010 are a few, and these are Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. It has some projects in Jordan as well.

Last year, Reynaers Middle East completed its biggest project to date – the Ferrari theme park in Abu Dhabi.

Reynaers is currently working on the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha, Qatar, where it has supplied a significant value of material, mainly large skylights and custom-made suspended curtain-walls. Other major projects include the German University project in Jordan, where the company is supplying doors, windows and curtain-walls and the Mercedes showroom, also in Jordan. It also supplied last month to Majaz Tower in Dubai. Besides these, there are some small- to medium-sized ongoing projects all over the region.

Commenting on Dubai’s market, Khalaf says that though the emirate has been the most affected by the downturn, Reynaers “did a few very good projects there”.

Reynaers Aluminium is a leading European provider of innovative and sustainable architectural aluminium solutions.
These include a wide variety of window and door systems, curtain-walling, sliding systems, sun screening, conservatories, skylights, screens and systems to incorporate blinds and ventilation grids. Established in 1965 and headquartered in Duffel (Belgium), the company has offices in 27 countries worldwide.

Its Middle East headquarters was established in Bahrain at the end of 2004 to provide hi-tech aluminium architectural solutions for the growing construction needs in the region.