Energy-saving windows for everyone - Alpen High Performance Products, Inc., USA
Highly insulated windows play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions in the building sector worldwide. The US government is therefore supporting an ambitious project by Alpen High Performance Products Inc.
The government wants to “democratize highly efficient windows”, explained Energy Minister Jennifer Granholm after a visit to Alpen’s production facility in Louisville, Colorado, on March 8, 2024. She believes every developer and homeowner should have access to energy- saving solutions and that companies committed to reducing CO2 emissions should be supported. This certainly applies to Alpen, explained Tom Hassell, Supply Chain Manager at the company, in an interview with Roto Inside.
Pioneers of energy-saving window technology
“Our windows were installed years ago in homes and buildings that have since become more energy efficient. These include the Empire State Building and projects in some of the harshest climates in the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic Circle,” he reports. Alpen began with the vision of producing high-quality windows and doors. Whether it’s renovation or new construction – the company offers its customers optimal solutions for every application and structure.
Motivated team
Most of Alpen's window and renovation systems are included in the “2024 ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient List,” reserved for products that are recommended for the construction of very energy-efficient buildings. Tom Hassell is convinced: “This is the result of more than 40 years of striving for improvement and working with a highly motivated, diverse team.” He emphasizes: “The people at Alpen share a special spirit of innovation, and now we can expand our production capacity.”
Highly automated manufacturing
Alpen’s production facilities in Louisville, Colorado, utilized for the production of insulating glass and energy-saving windows, are being modernized through high, partly state-funded, investments. An additional line for insulating glass will be built at the second production site in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. The new, highly automated, facilities will be among the first of their kind in the United States, explains Tom Hassell. “We will be able to produce significantly larger quantities of our insulating glass and windows.”
Roto for all opening types
In 2016, Alpen began producing Tilt&Turn windows and doors utilizing Roto hardware. Today, applications based on the Roto NX Ttilt&Turn system account for around 30 % of window sales. Tom Hassell reports that they have become particularly popular in residential construction due to their ease of use and premium sealing properties. As a new partner at the time, Roto North America helped Alpen determine appropriate Tilt&Turn system configurations. The foundation of their joint success is beyond question:
“Alpen and Roto North America have the same mindset.“
Their desire for continuous growth is what characterizes both companies and helps them develop their high performance products. As end consumers demand for ever higher energy efficiency increased, Alpen sought out Roto North America two years ago to discuss Roto X-Drive hardware solutions for Casement & Awning windows as well.
Tight even with large formats
Casement & Awning windows have been manufactured at the Louisville site since the company was founded, but today customers want ever larger, energy efficient, windows, reports Tom Hassell. Alpen was thereforelooking for a fitting that could be produced flexibly, because:
“Only a window with perfect hardware has a strong performance.“
Once again, Roto North America proved to be a strong partner in the development of a new solution. Alpen can now manufacture window sashes for the Aspect+ line weighing 200 pounds without any significant additional effort. “Thanks to Roto North America, we can optionally equip our Casement&Awning windows with an additional corner drive, which improves performance and security.”
Roto X-Drive system as a “game changer”
Tom Hassell confirms that Roto North America is the partner Alpen was looking for. “Topics like availability, response time, flexibility, punctual delivery, and a reasonable price are important, but our partners also need to be innovative.” The Roto X-Drive system with corner drive, for example, is a “game changer” and improves the performance of Alpen’s Casement & Awning windows both technically and aesthetically.
Growing together
Tom Hassell is looking forward to the major development steps that Alpen will be taking in the coming months. “Enormous opportunities are opening up for our customers and, of course, for ourselves. Being accompanied by Roto North America will help us overcome any challenge. We will grow together and provide the market with increasingly modern windows.” This fulfills Alpen’s mission to make the greatest possible contribution to the energy efficiency of buildings.
This article was published in Roto Inside 56.
