Upping the Value with Screen Technology
Screens can be an opportunity for window and door manufacturers to separate themselves from the competition
Above: Quanex security screen door with Meshtec technology
A screen is just a screen. Or is it? At a time when window and door manufacturers are continuously challenged to improve the functionality and performance of their window systems, it can be easy to put screens on the innovation backburner. Many customers expect basic functionality and quality, and perhaps not much more.
But for manufacturers, there may be untapped potential in their window and door screen offerings—both in the value they can bring to their customers and their impact on their production operations.
Adding value with mesh technology
Doors and windows are the single greatest point of vulnerability regarding the security of a home. Strong entry doors, windows and security monitoring devices can only go so far in securing these openings, and then only at the cost of energy-saving cross ventilation.
Advanced screen technology has the potential to improve security and better protect a home’s inhabitants. Screens made with high-performance, high-tensile mesh technology have the potential to deliver outstanding durability, providing consumers with a screen system that they can enjoy for a lifetime—all with the added benefits of securing the home against unwanted break-ins, insects and UV rays. Higher-quality meshes can be paired with other security-enhancing features, including multipoint lock systems that resist common forced-entry tools.
For window and door manufacturers, these kinds of security-boosting technologies can help to change the perception of the value of window and door screens while helping to elevate the quality of screen offerings for the fenestration market.
Transforming your operations
When evaluating your screen offerings to your end customers, it’s also worth closely examining your internal manufacturing process and whether or not it might be worth outsourcing your screen manufacturing to a reliable supplier who offers differentiating technology.
There are various reasons why making screens can be a headache for the average window and door manufacturer. First, quality control on screen production can be challenging to maintain. Many companies that make their screens in-house do it by hand, via manual processes that depend on highly skilled workers consistently performing critical parts of production. Human error can influence this process and can cause breakdowns in quality issues.
Screen fabrication is also a labor-intensive process. At the standard size of 1/16 inch, successful fabrication can be a delicate, time-consuming process. Screens can also be easily ripped or damaged, making production and packaging a critical consideration—one that can also slow down your overall production volume. A missed screen on an order can cause a complete job to go unpaid until the issue is rectified.
Finally, because no residential window or door is complete without its accompanying screen, screen production has the potential to artificially cap what you can produce in a given shift. For example, if you’re making 600 windows daily but can only make 500 screens for those windows, you can only ship 500 orders to your customers.
There is an opportunity for window and door manufacturers to bring new screen technologies to the market, and it’s worth consideration. Finding and working with the right screen partner can transform your business.
