Louvolite talks to Blinds & Shutters about the vertical louver blind and the changes and developments that have seen it progress over the years

From the mid 1960s through until the mid to late 1990s the vertical louver blind was the overwhelming product of choice when installing shading to new high profile office buildings.

The unique ability for vertical louver blinds to provide the local operator finite light and shade control over their individual work space could not – and quite frankly still cannot – be matched.

 In those early days vertical blind headrails bore more than a passing resemblance to girders and the ‘extensive’ choice of fabric colours was white or beige. Louvres were typically 127mm (5” in old money) and the operating systems – whilst capable of doing everything that was asked of them – really needed to be handled a little more delicately than we are used to with modern advances in system development and production.

 As the fledgling window blind industry developed and expanded, the fabrics and systems offered progressed and became more refined in operation and more performance focused. Fabrics used within the commercial sector met the critical FR standards that were /are in place – indeed fabric developments were at the forefront  of the drive to meet European legislation regarding  glare control and the growing trend (as it was in the late 80s early 90s) of working with word processor units of even the odd computer. This of course culminated in the EU Health & Safety Directive 90/270 and fabrics designed to comply with this directive such as Louvolite’s SPC fabric collections.

 In addition to SPC products, the industry became more sensitive to the performance of fabrics and fabric specification information improved dramatically as leading fabric producers detailed full solar and optical performance figures for all fabrics associated with commercial use. In order for the specifier to fully understand the difference in fabric performance, the correct information had to be provided to allow the appropriate decision to be made.

 Likewise, vertical blind systems developed to incorporate more modern manufacturing techniques and take advantage of new CAD techniques for design and thermoplastic engineering materials for production. Systems were designed which incorporated gear mechanisms to protect the system from being over rotated and negate the possibility of louvres coming out of line, modifications to bracket styles allowed for quicker installation times leading to efficiencies on large contracts. Moulded component parts would now be created incorporating UV stabilisers to ensure long term performance without components becoming brittle and breaking.

 The late 1990s saw a reversal of roles for the vertical and roller blind product in the commercial arena. Historically, with the exception of blackout blinds, roller shades were typically a domestic product and even with vertical blinds being used increasingly in the home they were still viewed by many as for use in offices, banks and hospitals.

 Open sunscreen fabrics became heavily promoted by the large manufacturing companies that produced them and offered the architect specifier a different face to their buildings. Yes the roller blind product was either up or down but the screen products offered a degree of openness that allowed the employee to retain a view outside whilst enjoying a degree of shade.  The fabrics originally created to better reflect the glare and heat of the sun as vertical louver blinds were adapted to perform as roller shade products.

 Conversely the vertical louver blind became the product of choice for the domestic market with the growth in unit sales being seen dramatically outstripping other forms of window decoration.  However, in addition to this incredible growth vertical louver blinds still play a major part in furnishing windows within the commercial sector. For those blind manufacturers servicing the general commercial market place the requirement for high quality, good value and versatile window furnishing recognises the benefits that are associated with vertical louver blinds and continues to specify them in huge quantities.

 Recent system developments will help re-enforce the vertical blind product position as probably the most successful individual shading product of the last few decades.

 Louvolite is revitalising its ‘market leading’ vertical blind programme to incorporate a number of features which will significantly improve the manufacturing efficiencies gained by Louvolite customers. In addition the company is introducing a number of headrail options which will have a dramatic impact on the products being offered to both the domestic and commercial market.

 Three new headrail finishes are being offered for the Louvolite Vogue system, Piano Black, Champagne Gold and the re-branded Brushed Aluminium. These fabulous headrail finishes are offered alongside fully co-ordinated component parts to allow individuals or companies to achieve high impact interior finishes with their preferred shading products. These new programmes will be equally at home in high end commercial applications where interior treatments make a statement in addition to being functional or that stylish abode where only the best will do.

 These new offerings will further re-affirm Louvolite’s position as ‘market leader’ and assist its manufacturing customers in offering the most attractive window shading proposals available today. Look around you, your world is changing, the humble vertical louver blind is changing too – perhaps we will all get back to the straight and narrow.

• Louvolite