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Worldwide Capability

L.B. Plastics is part of the Litchfield Group, one of the UK's most successful privately owned companies. Sheerframe is the brand name for L.B. Plastics' window, door and curtain walling products, which are specified worldwide.

From its headquarters in Derbyshire, L.B. Plastics designs and manufactures Sheerframe systems - profiles, hardware and ancillaries - using its unrivalled experience in thermoplastics extrusion built up over more than half a century.

A combination of high performance and stylish design ensures that Sheerframe is the number one choice for specifiers in both the public and private sectors. Sheerframe is also widely specified in Europe, Scandinavia, the USA, Australasia, the Far East and the Middle East.

In-house resource

L.B. Plastics' world headquarters is in Derbyshire, England. The business is completely self-sufficient having in-house toolmaking, product design, research & development and testing facilities. Few, if any, UK extruders have such an extensive resource.

Many of the industry's pioneering breakthroughs in the past 25 years have originated at L.B. Plastics, from widespread use of co-extruded weatherseals and gaskets, to current leadership in sustainability technologies.

Specifiers have access to everything from DWER calculations, to security testing and full elevation and cross-sectional drawing support.

Pedigree

Design

Sheerframe systems are designed to offer specifiers the maximum choice in window styles. Three core systems provide an unsurpassed range of window options, all engineered to ensure ease of manufacture, efficiency in use, longevity and optimum weather performance.

Development

L.B. Plastics is at the forefront of window design technology, an ongoing programme of product development has seen the introduction of the revolutionary co-extruded technology providing greatly enhanced weather-perfromance with all seals being fully welded.

Other innovative ranges include the most comprehensive curtain walling system designed for PVC on the market, the first fully welded vertically sliding sash window, and the patented, thermally-efficient reinforcement, Thermlock.

Production

L.B. Plastics' 25 acre site at Nether Heage houses state-of-the-art technology for the design and production of window systems. This is complemented by the new 90 acre warehousing and manufacturing site at nearby Derwent Works.

ISO 9001 registered, L.B. Plastics not only designs its own systems - it produces much of its own tooling, blends its own material and applies the most rigorous procedures in extrusion, to maintain total control over quality.

L.B. Plastics holds substantial hardware and profile stocks and runs its own delivery fleet in order to ensure continuity of supply to its international network of approved Sheerframe windowmakers.

Support

L.B. Plastics offers extensive technical support to architects and specifiers. A team of designers and structural engineers, based at Neather Heage, provides assistance in the choice of appropriate window styles, with line and general assembly drawings available on CAD disc if required.

Structural engineering data on wind loading and load bearing capabilities of both window and curtain walling systems can be provided for individual applications, using computer programmes specially designed for the Sheerframe system.

The Sheerframe Specifier Support Department is available to make site visits to offer advice on fenestration issues and the most experienced specifier sales force in the industry is on hand to offer advice on choice of sections and installation detailing.

Sustainability

Sheerframe is the first UK produced lead-free PVC window system. Its innovative multi chamber co-extruded profile design - coupled with high performance hardware - creates attractive, durable, energy efficient windows which truly stand the test of time.

That's optimal sustainability - at least 35 years' service with virtually zero maintenance. And at the end of their long life, Sheerframe windows are designed to recycle, easily. One day, all windows will be made this way.

Approvals

All L.B. Plastics products, including hardware, window systems, PVC cellular trims and general extrusions, are covered by the BS EN ISO 9001/2000 and the environmental standard BS EN 14001.

Window systems are approved to BS EN 12608, the current British Standard for PVCu impact modified window systems, in the following categories: outward opening outwardly glazed, outward opening inwardly glazed, tilt & turn and for the following systems; Sheerframe 70, Sheerframe 5000, Sheerframe 6000 and Sheerframe 7000. Casement and tilt & turn systems are kitemarked to BS7950 Improved Security Performance of casement and tilt & turn windows for domestic applications. Doors are kitemarked to PAS 023 and PAS 024 enhanced security. Vertically sliding sash windows are approved to BS 7412. Top reversibles approved to BS 7412 and BS 7950.

Sheerframe window systems (5000, 6000 and 7000) are covered by the BBA Approvals body to MOAT 17. The product categories covered include:

• Outward Opening
• Outwardly Glazed
• Outward Opening Inwardly Glazed
• Tilt & Turn
• Fully Reversible Casement Windows
• Cavity closers