New from the UK's leading building envelope specialist, Schueco UK, is the ASS 77 PD, a range of motorised, 'panoramic' sliding doors offering varying levels of thermal insulation. Able to accommodate very wide openings with two, three or four leaves each up to 3.2 metres wide and 3.5 metres high, these premium doors are ideal for high-end residential and commercial buildings.

A key feature of all versions of the doors is the minimal profile face widths of the central meeting stiles (30 mm) and the fact that the outer frame (200 mm deep) is completely concealed in the building structure on all four sides. This not only makes the doors appear supremely elegant, but also maximises the area of clear glass, thus allowing the maximum amount of light transparency.

An innovative design feature sees the track forming part of the sliding door leaf, with the rollers integrated into the sill profile. This allows the threshold to be completely flush and ensures safe and easy access by obviating the possibility of tripping. Glazing from 26 mm to 60 mm allows double- or triple-glazed units for optimum thermal insulation values (as low as 0.8 W/m2K on the .SI version).

All versions of the Schueco ASS 77 PD sliding door are operated without the need for handles by low-noise, profile-integrated electronic drive-and-lock technology. Vents weighing up to 500 kg can be opened or closed effortlessly at the touch of a button and the electronic drive itself may be activated by an integral switch, an external wall-mounted switch or centrally via a whole-building management system.

The Schueco ASS 77 PD.NI, a non-insulated aluminium version for internal use, will be on show for the first time in the UK at Schueco's stand (S310) at Ecobuild 2012 in March. The ASS 77 PD.HI, a highly insulated aluminium version which is expected to be the main focus for the UK market, will be rolled out in early summer, followed at the beginning of 2013 with the super insulated version, ASS 77 PD.SI which will be made from an innovative frame material.

For further details on the Schueco ASS 77 PD range of sliding doors and other aluminium door, window and façade systems from Schueco UK, go to www.schueco.com or email mkinfobox@schueco.com