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Double Glazing Blogger: PVCu Windows Overseas

Thursday, January 19, 2012

PVCu Windows Overseas

Despite the mass availability of PVCu and it's endless recycle life, PVCu windows are really only a market that exists in the UK, Germany and...well...that's about it really. Apparently there are a few PVCu/vinyl windows knocking about America. I'm sure that some of my American friends who follow this blog will be able to shed more light on this for me. Hint!

Seems silly doesn't it? That one of the most widely used materials in the world is only used for windows in just a couple of countries. Yet when you look at where most of the polymers are made, like Japan and most of the far east, we never hear of any PVCu window market there, even though they export 40% of all of Europe's polymers and a shed load of composite door slabs.

You have to ask yourself why? Is it too expensive for the general public over there to buy? Are they too used to timber and aluminium/other metals to be weaned off it? What marketing is there for PVCu windows, if any at all?

Germany seems to be the leading country when it comes to glazing, of all materials. It's widely considered in this country that we are a distant second to the Germans in terms of build quality, reliability and efficiency. But I do think we are catching up to them, may take a while to get there, but I think we can crack it!

I'm making more of an observation than a point with this post. I think that if some of the biggest profile companies and polymers companies looked at some of the bigger emerging and robust economies like Brazil, China and India, they could tap a new market. A market full of people willing to spend plenty of dosh on their homes after their countries have seen double digit growth for a number of years now.

Wonder how the global PVCu window market will look in 5 to 10 years time?

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

As an American from the states, it's a bit of an aesthetic issue, I think when it comes to PVCu stuff (which we would call vinyl more than PVCu). The biggest/most widely-used window companies here all offer vinyl windows, although vinyl-clad windows are probably more popular because Americans tend to like the look of real wood on the interior of the house, but appreciate having the vinyl on the outside. I'm not 100% sure, but I would also guess that part of it has to do with the wide range of climates we have as well. In the midwest, northeast and northwest, there's probably much more call for vinyl to protect against the elements than in warmer parts of the country where there isn't as much to worry about in terms of leakage and crazy rain, sleet, snow, etc.

January 23, 2012 at 3:36 PM  
Anonymous AM Busch said...

France is turning towards PVCu. Ali still the premium product, but PVC is very much part of the product offering.

January 24, 2012 at 11:07 AM  
Blogger Double Glazing Blogger said...

Anon - thanks for your comment. Your point about the US is a good one. With such varying climates in all parts of the country, different materials will be suitable depending on what area you live in. Pretty much all of the UK is cold, dank and windy, so we need the robustness of PVCu to cope with that!

AM Busch - I had also heard that France was turning to PVCu. Wasn't sure about the scale of the market there. Do you have any ideas?

Thanks for your comments!

DGB

January 25, 2012 at 1:40 PM  

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