Later this year, Roto will release two new threshold options for the Patio Inowa parallel sliding systems: Comfort and Flex. These items were shown at Fensterbau in the spring and will be available to customers across the Western Europe region.
We spoke to Subana Akhmedova, Marketing Communications Officer for Roto Western Europe, to ask what the additions mean for manufacturers and why integrated systems are becoming more important.
Hi Subana, why has Roto developed the new Comfort and Flex thresholds?
“Manufacturers are looking for products that offer advantages in two main areas. First, they want to make their sliding systems more desirable. They want to give the end user outstanding performance and benefits such as accessibility. Second, they need these products to be straightforward for them to integrate into production.
With the new Comfort and Flex thresholds, we’re delivering exactly this for Patio Inowa. Our engineers have worked hard to make sure that the hardware, threshold and sealing technology all integrate as one coordinated package. One of the priorities has been to make fabrication and installation even more efficient, so our customers can be confident that every part of the system has been designed to work together.”.
What are the main differences between the two new thresholds?
“They have been developed for different applications. The Comfort threshold is designed for inward-running systems where accessibility is important. It is recessed into the floor on both sides and creates an almost level transition. That means it is suitable for barrier-free construction. So it meets DIN EN 18040 and also delivers excellent thermal performance and sealing against extreme weather.
The Flex threshold is designed for outward-running sashes. It gives manufacturers much greater flexibility because it can either be recessed into the floor on one side or installed as surface-mounted. This means it can be used on both new-build and renovation projects”.
How do these additions benefit window manufacturers?
“Making life easier for manufacturers is one of our biggest priorities. The thresholds are designed to simplify production. There are straight profile cuts and clever snap-fit and clip connections. We also worked to reduce the number of screws needed and keep the amount of liquid sealant required to a minimum. We’ve also ensured that many hardware components are shared across the system.
An important advantage is that Patio Inowa is compatible with the Roto NX Tilt&Turn hardware. This means many manufacturers can integrate it into existing production processes. You don’t have to make significant changes”.
Patio Inowa is known for its weather performance. What makes it different from other sliding systems?
“The key difference is the closing movement. Patio Inowa closes with active locking points around the entire perimeter. This creates a continuous compression seal all around the sash. That includes the central mullion, which is often a challenging area for weather performance. With Inowa, the sealing on the mullion is as strong as anywhere else.
As anyone who has worked with Inowa knows, it gives excellent protection against draughts, driving rain and external noise. It withstands the worst stormy conditions, even on high rise buildings”.
Does that level of sealing affect the ease of operation?
“The best way to answer that question is to try it! Everyone who uses Inowa is impressed by the ease of use. The sash runs on precision rollers and the movement is always smooth and quiet, even with leaf weights of up to 400 kg on Patio Inowa | Max.
The user experience is very refined, with integrated Soft functions that gently slow the sash before it reaches its final position. If high wind loads are an issue for your installation, we can help with Roller Unit Plus, which is designed to provide additional stability.”
Large glazing is still a major trend. How does Patio Inowa support this?
“Architects and homeowners increasingly want larger glazed areas and also slimmer profiles for better aesthetics. Manufacturers need hardware that can support those larger formats without moving outside standard specifications.
Patio Inowa works on sash weights up to 250 kg. For heavier loadings up to 400 kg, we have Patio Inowa | Max. The maximum sash height is 3600 mm and the maximum width is 3000 mm. Large-format configurations in the ratio 3:1 are possible. You can also use Inowa Max to make very wide sliding elements: frame widths up to 4,000 mm.
A strong advantage of Inowa is that the hardware is largely concealed, so it creates the clean, minimalist appearance that is popular in modern architecture.”
What security options are available?
“Both systems can be manufactured to meet RC2. If enhanced security is required on your project, you can specify Patio Inowa in confidence.
You can also equip an Inowa system with concealed Roto E-Tec Control | MVS contact elements. These provide opening and locking monitoring in accordance with VdS Class B. This is ideal for smart building and security applications.”
If you had to summarise the appeal of the latest Patio Inowa developments for manufacturers, what would it be?
“It’s about giving manufacturers a complete system rather than a collection of individual components. Inowa brings together hardware, thresholds and sealing technology in one integrated solution. For a window manufacturer, you will be able to make premium sliding doors more efficiently and deliver the accessibility, performance and flexibility that the market is expecting”.
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