uPVC Windows in the US

From Introduction to Dominancein 20 years

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

- George Santayana

uPVC Windows in the US

From Introduction to Dominancein 20 years

Those who do remember the past can profit from it.

- Me

First they ignore you.Then they mock you.Then they attack you.Then you win.

- Nicholas Klein

Why have uPVC windows, and the plastics industry in general, faced such an uphill battle?

1970sSome Names Familiar to You…

Dynamit-Nobel/Trocal

Kommerling

Veka

Bradford

Primary Targets

Northeast US (predominantly heating)

Replacement Window Manufacturers

Residential Market

1980sImitation May Be The Sincerest Form of Flattery…

ChelseaAcroVinyl Building ProductsDayton Extruded PlasticsCertainteedThermal ProfilesKesslerFiberlux

1980sBut Nothing Says I Love You Like Acquisition or Elimination…

Chelsea AcroVinyl Building Products Dayton Extruded Plastics CertainteedThermal Profiles Kessler Fiberlux

1980sBut Nothing Says I Love You Like Acquisition or Elimination…

Chelsea (Tessenderlo)Acro (Deceuninck)Vinyl Building Products (Deceuninck)Dayton Extruded Plastics (Deceuninck)Certainteed (St. Gobain)Thermal Profiles (Defunct)Kessler (Defunct)Fiberlux (Defunct)

Manifest Destiny

New Construction – “Builder Grade”

Southern Market – “All we need is something to hold glass.”

California Market – The Last Bastion of Aluminum

California Association of Window Manufacturers

Almost exclusively aluminum fabricators

Single-glazed annealed

Non-thermal break aluminum

Essentially, they made glass holders

1990s

California Energy Commission (est. 1974)

California would run out of electricity within 15 years

It takes about 20 years from design to production

There were no new production plant designs even started

“Gentlemen, we have a problem”

Options

Require shading devices (awnings, trees)

Require more efficient appliances

Require more ceiling and wall insulation

Require manufacturers to produce energy-efficient products

What Changed?

The Two Agents of Change:Enticement and Enforcement

American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)

Transition from aluminum association to materials neutral

Focus became unified testing and reporting standard

Focus strictly on structural testing (air, water, load, FER)

Product/Component certification

North American Standard

National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)

Founded to keep the government from doing same

Focus on thermal testing and reporting

Test for U-Factor, SHGC, VT, Air Infiltration, CRF

Values are cited by EPA for Energy Star® certification

Leveling the Playing Field

US Market Share - 1991

65%

20%

10%4% 1%

Aluminum

Timber

uPVC

Steel

Fiberglass

US Market Share - 2011

7%20%

70%

2%

1%

Aluminum

Timber

uPVC

Steel

Fiberglass

uPVC Windows in the US

From Introduction to Dominancein 20 years

Those who do remember the past can profit from it.

- Me