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Window Opening System

Product News Monday, December 12, 2005: Design Technology International Ltd

Open the window ... at the push of a button!

Design Technology International, a leading product design and development consultancy, has developed a powered window opening system in conjunction with Mighton Products that allows homeowners to open even large and heavy timber sash windows at the touch of a button. Powersash^TM has been specifically designed for easy, unobtrusive and fast installation by joiners or DIY experts into existing or replacementtimber-framed or PVC-U windows and includes multiple safety and securityfeatures to ensure maximum peace of mind for users.

Although homeowners appreciate the character and functionality of sash windows they often struggle when opening them and certainly in the case of timber sashes some windows remain closed for years; the problem is even worse with over-sized sashes in offices or for disabled or elderly people who may lack the physical strength required. Several companies have attempted to overcome this by developing motorised opening systems but they use bulky surface-mounted motors, as well as requiring expensive, specialised installation.

Design Technology International is the first company to solve this major market need by developing a powerful, low-cost motorised system capable of effortlessly lifting or lowering a double-glazed sash while being small enough to fit discreetly into an existing window frame. Sashes can tilt open for cleaning or be removed for routine maintenance as normal.

According to Lucia Di Stazio, a market analyst at Michael Rigby Associates, which specialises in the window sector: "The market opportunity for Powersash is huge. Around 20% of all UK homes (ie 4.4 million) are older properties, most of which have sliding sash windows. In recent years an increasing number of new homes are being built with sash windows."

"One of the biggest engineering challenges for us was to develop a cost-effective miniaturised solution that could cope with the considerable friction experienced by the drive system - for example timber sashes weighing up to 70 lbs need to be lifted from one side . Powersash uses a 32 W motor from the automotive industry and rack and pinion drive components . fitted with high-density PTFE loaded Delrin wear pads to ensure long-term smooth and quiet operation," said John Hawker managing director of Design Technology International.

Powersash has also been packed with security and safety features. The motor cannot be back-driven, making the windows resistant to forcing and allowing them to be safely left open for constant ventilation. The system is battery powered and will operate normally even if there is a fire or power failure. The battery is automatically trickle charged from the mains supply and the system silently self-tests every six hours and warns the user if the battery needs replacing.

The windows are operated via the wall-mounted control panel or with a remote control handset from anywhere in the room. However to prevent accidental activation by children, Powersash requires a particular sequence of key presses for operation. The windows then close to within 6 inches of their final stopping position and need to be re-activated before closing completely. An alarm sounds during the final closing sequence. A sensor unit that prevents Powersash being activated if an obstruction is detected is available as an option extra if required.

The Powersash system has been specifically designed for easy installation and set up by joiners and window installation companies with no previous experience of installing electro-mechanical products. As part of this, Design Technology International has removed the need for cumbersome wires and limiter switches by developing an integrated solution that performs the same task in software. At set up the unit goes into self-calibration mode to power the sashes up and down until the motor senses resistance when the sash reaches the end of its travel. An encoder is used to count the number of motor revolutions needed to move the sash between these two limits and the window aperture size is automatically programmed into the system.

The patented Powersash system is being marketed and sold by Mighton Products, one of the UK's leading suppliers of window hardware to trade outlets and window installation companies. For an online demonstration please visit www.powersash.com