Windows and doors are assemblies of components: coatings, sealants, compounds, glass, hardware—the list of available, incorporated components is long. High-performing fenestration relies on the quality of each element of fabrication. And, because vertically integrated window and door manufacturing is the exception to the norm, the industry’s opportunity to innovate relies on the relationships cultivated between suppliers and manufacturers.
Related Content: Form & Function: Hardware is a constantly evolving sector to meet demands for functionality, aesthetics and technological advancements
Hardware manufacturers in 2020 are experiencing burgeoning demand for technologically advanced and hands-free hardware both as the world moves toward more automation and as touch-free options become necessary safety components in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dan Gray, director of sales for North American group at Roto North America, last year predicted a "proliferation of smart home products enter the market for windows and especially entry doors."
The ability to operate windows and doors from a smartphone via Bluetooth technology is also growing, according to Aaron Mundt, director of product management - casement and commercial, AmesburyTruth. "This technology is expected to grow and expand into other product categories," he says.
Here are three smart hardware products on display this month at GlassBuild Connect:
- Roto Inowa by Roto North America
- Precept Touch - Sliding Door Actuator by AmesburyTruth
- Enginuity Automation for Patio Doors by Caldwell Manufacturing Co.
Education
A Glimpse Behind Roto's Manufacturing Curtain, Sept. 21, 1 p.m. ET
Roto North America will present its manufacturing capabilities on September 21, 2020, during GlassBuildConnect’s #ManufacturingMonday series. With two manufacturing plants in North America, located in Chester, Connecticut, and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Roto reports the ability to build quality into the design of its hardware and bring consistent and reliable delivery service to its customers.
The State of Home Improvement: Current Realities for Contractors, Sept. 22, 2:30 p.m. ET
The Farnsworth Group and Home Improvement Research Institute partnered to provide manufacturers and retailers with consistent updates specifically on COVID-19’s impact on the home improvement industry. Grant Farnsworth presents the findings of its monthly surveys of hundreds of contractors to get a consistent pulse on project behaviors and implications caused by COVID-19. Plus, key takeaways of what this data means for manufacturers.
