aluplast has launched woodec, a next generation of colour foil which replicates the natural appearance and texture of timber while combining it with the through-life advantages of PVC-U.

Delivering a step-change in PVC-U laminate technologies the new range of surface finishes are available across the German system house’s core Ideal 70 and contemporary Ideal 4000 system, plus its new Smart-Slide inline sliding door and flush casement sash.

This includes three ultra-life-like woodgrains: Turner Oak Malt, a subtle light oak finish; Sheffield Oak Alpine, a silvered oak finish; and slightly darker, Sheffield Oak Concrete.

Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast, said: “The realism is exceptional. When you look at it on a frame it’s almost impossible to distinguish it from a timber product. Woodec is on a completely different level to traditional foils.

“It represents a massive area of opportunity for fabricators and installers. You can touch it, feel it, it replicates the warmth of timber but in a low maintenance product. The shift is without a doubt as significant as the move to colour foils from white PVC-U.”

aluplast launched its new flush fit casement sash in September, which was developed to offer ultra-slim sightlines with a low chamfer running out to the IGU, and to integrate fully with both aluplast Ideal 70 and Ideal 4000 systems.

Following in October was the launch of the company's Smart-Slide Inline sliding door, which combines ultra-smooth running and easy intuitive operation.

Capable of spanning openings of 5.85m wide by up to 2.5M high, the 70mm sliding door system has been developed to deliver efficiencies in fabrication and exceptional through life performance, delivering UF-values as low as 1.3 W/m2K.

At the last count the installed value of PVC-U windows jumped by 8% on the back of growing demand for traditional timber-effect jointing and flush casements (Palmer).

This is most clearly illustrated in the window market, where a 1.2% increase in the market overall to 6.82m frames, was outstripped by the increase in installed value of 5.5% to £2.38bn. Something which according to Palmer, was driven by demand for foils (up 45% since 2013).