FF INFO 66 EN

HOW

GREEN IS YOUR DOOR?

Springtime 2.0!

Padding your sales Garage door production made easy!

CE-updates

FlexiForce

in Assa Abloy Bert Fransens, CEO FlexiForce Group

SUSTAINABILITY

DESIGN

GB FlexiForce INFO magazine #66, May 2013

CONVENIENCE

SECURITY SAFETY

www.flexiforce.com

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MAKING LIFE EASIER

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Every time.

Trust the Number 1.

Easy to install

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Years

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LIFTMASTER ® COMBINES SOPHISTICATED DESIGN WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY The innovative MyQ™ Technology – a patented two-way communication system – enables to monitor and control your garage door from anywhere in the world via your internet-enabled mobile phone or computer.

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Content

MAGAZINE

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26

14

Content

NB! All mentioned prices are gross, list pricing, based on our price list 2013-Q2 valid till 1-7-2013. Your discount applies.

22

Editorial: Meaningful and cost reducing innovations

5

Interview: Bert Fransens, CEO FlexiForce Group, on Assa Abloy and more...

6

News: News and updates on FlexiForce companies and products

8

CE-update: New rules coming up. ITTR testing expanded

13

FF-University: Springtime 2.0 Back to school

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Opening News: News on door automation

18

How GREEN is your door? Sustainability in building construction

20

Closing the door

24

Garage doors made easy!

26

Pimp your garage... and your car: CarTon by Floris Hovers

28

Padding your sales

30

New products

34

The information presented in this booklet is subject to change. We regularly update, expand our product range, offer new services. We share all our news, even daily, with you via our website, our online product catalogue (no login needed!), our YOUTUBE/Vimeo channels FF-TV, our Flickr-photo stream and through the FlexiForce social media platforms on Twitter (twitter.com/flexiforce), Facebook (www.facebook.com/flexiforce), LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Follow us to stay up-to-date with our news and information!

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656S

–26% 440S

RSCH

–11%

–1%

FFNL12

725V

–7%

–5%

www.flexiforce.com 4

Editorial (Frank Goedhart)

MAGAZINE

Editorial Meaningful and cost reducing innovations

The economic climate of today, at least in Europe, is not encouraging for trying new things. We notice that today our customers are very busy with fighting for every door in the market and therefore the time invested in new solutions or alternative products is limited. That is understandable of course. As you can see in our logo, we stand for “innovations for overhead doors”. Yearly we introduce a lot of new products that somehow offer our customers advantages. Apart from introductions with upgraded features, like for example the Evolution garage door openers, or introductions of totally new products, like the panic bar for pass doors, we spend a lot of our R&D time and efforts in rationalisation. That is: Reducing the costs of a product without impact on the function of it. Or replacing three different products by one. This kind of innovation is very meaningful, because it leads to lower costs for our customer and with that, a more competitive door.

“ Innovations that lead to lower costs for our customer” We would like to share with you some examples of the impact of these cost reducing innovations: The price of steel has, since 2006, gone up roughly with over 20%. Following the steel market, it will not be a surprise that the price of that part of our steel products that remained unchanged, also increased roughly with matching percentages over that period. The products however that we re-designed, show a different picture: 2006

2013-Q2

Steel price increase > 20% Product

Price

651LH

Product

Price

%

€ 9,33

656SL

€ 6,87

-26%

440REGL

€ 39,92

440S

€ 35,64

-11%

RESV/RESH2125

€ 81,00

RSCV/H20

€ 79,99

-1%

€ 6,97

FF05NL12

€ 6,46

-7%

€ 51,15

-5%

FFNL12 725

€ 53,91

725V

These are only a few examples of our continuous push for solid cost reductions. Obviously, we have more ideas on this for the near future. Contact your sales team to receive specific advice on how to improve your costs by switching to alternative products in our catalogue today.

In this INFO magazine, we bring you again news and updates on our company and products. Bert Fransens, CEO of FlexiForce Group highlights how being part of Assa Abloy helps FlexiForce in serving you even better. We went back to school to learn about torsion springs, we inform you on the future of GREEN buildings and more.

All in all hopefully interesting content that might inspire you for new ideas or solutions. If you need more information, would like to share ideas or if you want to discuss anything else, do not hesitate to contact me personally. Enjoy reading!

Frank Goedhart Group marketing manager T: +31-6-51519209 E: frgo@flexiforce.nl http://nl.linkedin.com/in/nlfrankgoedhart

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Interview Bert Fransens

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Consistent FlexiForce strategy, in Assa Abloy In April 2011, FlexiForce Group was acquired by Assa Abloy.

A lot has happened since then, so time to sit down with FlexiForce Group CEO, Bert Fransens, to hear his view on the effects of the acquisition for FlexiForce and for FlexiForce customers.

Bert, what has been the major change for FlexiForce since the acquisition?

Well, as former owner, I can say that there is of course a certain period of time needed to get used to the fact that a new owner wants to be involved in the business, especially when there are, for example, investments involved.

Also more reporting is needed then in the past, when we were used to talk monthly with the board of FlexiForce Group in a more informal way. But, we all knew that when we sold the company. Much more important than this, is that Assa Abloy as an owner, challenges us as management to speed up business growth and pursue new ideas. I personally like such a strong pursuit of improvement, growth, opportunities very much. Assa Abloy sees what FlexiForce is capable of, so they really push us, while encouraging us to follow the

Do you have any examples on this?

Sure! As you know, we started FlexiForce LLC in the United States, because we believed in the importance of our presence in that mature overhead door market.

This greenfield operation was growing slowly and it would have taken us a very long time to build up significant market presence. With the backing of Assa Abloy, we acquired Helton Group, one of the top 4 hardware companies in Northern America. With the integration of Helton and FlexiForce, we now serve the US-market from two distribution points, one in Abbotsford (BC) Canada and our own start-up in Dixon (IL) USA. We started production of struts and tracks in Dixon now. The total turn-over of FlexiForce is now almost divided 50%-50% over Europe and the Americas, which gives us a foothold in the two main, mature, door markets.

“ Our strategy remains to focus on supporting our customers in being competitive” consistent strategy that we have been following successfully for years: Supplying hardware solutions to our customers. But now, with more financial backing and all kinds of other support, more things are possible than in the past, enabling a better service level and further improved product portfolio.

www.flexiforce.com 6

Another example is that we see a major opportunity in the Turkish and Central Asian market. We needed to be there to secure our position in that Emerging Market at an early stage of the growth. With support from Assa Abloy, we opened up our own warehouse and sales office. I can continue with more examples.

Interview Bert Fransens

MAGAZINE

The speed of doing things have increased tremendously in FlexiForce. These are exciting times for me and for our teams in management, sales and R&D.

understandable strategy, that ensures that we will keep on serving our customers the best way we can. Nothing is changing in that.

What advantage does your European customer have from all this?

So, you seem to be quite happy being part of Assa Abloy?

Our customers are profiting from us being a strong, financially healthy and reliable hardware supplier. The expertise of Assa Abloy on many aspects, like lean manufacturing, a Voice-Of-the-Customer approach to R&D, quality control, sustainability and more, have learned us to perform better in various ways.

Look at our RSC residential system. With the mentioned insight and best practices in Assa Abloy, we came to this development. The result is the best hardware system that FlexiForce has ever presented. And maybe even the best system available in the market today.

Yes, I am. We all are. When the news came that we sold FlexiForce, we contacted many customers to make sure that they were fully aware of our strategy and of the positive effects that we see from this move. We even challenged them to call us personally whenever they felt that FlexiForce was not performing anymore according to what they have been used to. Many of those customers, today are good sports by confirming that we kept our word and maintained to be an independent strong supplier. We believe in the small to midsize door companies and in their competitiveness against bigger, but often slower, global door companies. Together we can be successful. We have many

“ I see too many companies in this market losing the game by handing in margin, time after time” But also simply the fact that we are financially strong enough to keep on doing what we did for many years. Keep a solid stock level in all FlexiForce subsidiaries all over Europe. Invest in hardware set production in Hungary, Poland and now also in Italy. There a not many companies in the door industry today that can invest enough money to secure the service levels that small to midsized door companies need to remain or even become more competitive in their local market. These core FlexiForce customers recognize themselves now that not all hardware suppliers in the market are as stable and strong today as FlexiForce is.

We think that the consistency that comes from this is helping our customers in knowing what they can expect from FlexiForce, not only as experience from yesterday. Reliability today and for many more years to come!

There could be a fear that Assa Abloy will determine more and more the position of FlexiForce in the market.

Your customers could become nervous about this. What is your view?

more plans and exciting products coming up ahead. We would like to partner-up even more with our customers through co-creation, EDI-exchange of orders (already 45% of our orders come in digitally), special logistic packages and services. Bundle our hardware with advanced door automation solutions.

We have lots of ideas to improve the cooperation and we are even more willing to listen to the ideas that our customers have to improve the relationship.

Sometimes I have the feeling, that not our customers are worried about «FlexiForce as a company in Assa Abloy», but that it is more our competitors feeding these so called «worries» into the market. I can repeat all being said, but maybe better is that I invite any customer that still has doubts, to call me personally, so that I can explain how we would like to work together to grow our mutual businesses. We have believed for over 33 years in this market approach and we keep on doing that.

Contact Bert at: befr@flexiforce.nl

When we started to work with Assa Abloy, we both agreed on one thing: The more independent FlexiForce can operate from all other Assa Abloy companies, the better it is. For who? For FlexiForce customers first of all. There is a strong recognition in Assa Abloy on the unique market position that FlexiForce has built up over the last 33 years. The last thing they want, is to jeopardize this part of the value chain. The fact that FlexiForce is a successful company, with a crystal clear position in the market, is enough for our new owners to let us do our thing.

So, when we increased our pricing slightly in the last price list, it was not because Assa Abloy told us to do that. It was because I, as profit and loss responsible for FlexiForce, want to run a healthy company. I see too many companies in the door market today, losing the game by handing in margin to their customers, time after time. Now there are examples of companies not making any money anymore, companies that even go out of business. I do not want that to happen to FlexiForce. We provide a good product, with hopefully a good service level, for a fair price. It is a tough market today for everybody, but I hope that door companies and suppliers to the industry will have the courage to find ways to secure healthy price and margin levels.

HELTON FF USA

Is there any conflict in the market between FlexiForce and other Assa Abloy door companies?

As you know, FlexiForce is not a door company. We are supplying hardware parts and operators to the people that make the door. And since our existence, it is often the case that our 1.500+ customers have been competing with each other in regional markets. We have no influence on that. Assa Abloy follows a multi-channelling strategy, which means that they serve the direct channel to the end-user with door companies, the in-direct dealer channel with other door companies, and the independent market through FlexiForce. As I said before, our strategy remains to focus on supporting our customers to be competitive.

Even compete against other Assa Abloy companies. This is a strong and

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News

MAGAZINE

News IDA EXPO in Nashville, USA We have said it before and we say it now: How wonderful it is to have a specific overhead door exhibition, once a year, concentrated in two days only! Instead of the European habit of stretching it up to even seven days. The chance to meet everyone in the industry is very high. Again this year, FlexiForce presented herself to the Northern American market, now by a joint booth with Helton Industries.

“Two forces joining as one”. Given the crowd we attracted the message of our two points of distribution is well appreciated. A lot of attention also for the DASMA “center-piece-award”-winning Scorpion, inspired by the Arizona desert.

Made out of hinges, brackets, screws and more! See you again next year?

The award-winning Scorpion FlexiForce at the IDA EXPO

Ep Jansen retires from FlexiForce It is with a mixture of gratitude but also melancholy that we announce to you that Mr. Ep Jansen, after 30 years of service, is retired from FlexiForce. Ep has been with FlexiForce since 1983 and has been involved in the development of FlexiForce from a local supplier with three employees housed in a chicken barn, into the company it has grown to become; the world leading hardware supplier to the overhead door industry.

Customers will surely know Ep as a true and open support partner, always looking for ways to satisfy the relationship and grow the business. On behalf of the complete FlexiForce team worldwide, we would like to thank Ep for all his dedication and hard work for FlexiForce over so many years and wish him and his family all the best!

FlexiForce International Management Meeting End of January, FlexiForce Group’s international management team was gathered in the Netherlands, to discuss strategy, markets, new products and other updates. Bert Fransens, CEO, says: “It is always very good to have FlexiForce management from all over the world coming together. We learn a lot from each other and we always focus on how to continuously improve our service to our worldwide customers”. This picture was taken in the Amsterdam Arena, home of soccer team Ajax. Could the fact that Ajax recently became Dutch Major Division champion be related back to this visit?

From left to right: Hans Lubbers (FFNL), Gert-Jan van Holland (Group), Jeff Rauch (Westgate), Linda Lin (FFCN), Maikel Veenboer (Group), Ton Peterse (Group), Bert Fransens (CEO), Mike Rauch (Helton), Julian Lopez (FFES), Imre Olah (FFHU), Mert Kaptan (FFTR), Julio Gonzalez (FFIT), Jan Moszczynski (FFPL), Yvonne Visscher (Group), Frank Goedhart (Group), Marco Fritz (Group).

Ep Jansen

www.flexiforce.com 8

News

MAGAZINE

Additional production facility at FlexiForce Hungary

Full vision sections

FlexiForce Italia

FlexiForce Hungary: Additional production facility

FlexiForce Hungary: Improved service for full vision sections

FlexiForce is investing in setting up a new, additional production plant, of 15.000m2 in the city of Debrecen in Eastern Hungary. The new facility will provide us with extra needed capacity for the production of industrial hardware sets and related hardware products.

Considering the increased demand for our “made in Hungary” full vision sections, we re-thought the process of making these sections, resulting in better quality and higher delivery performance. A new production lay-out is implemented (new roller tables, profile racks, packing machine, etc.) and the packaging is now reinforced and more “export-proof”. Our higher production capacity will reduce the lead times on this product. Your sales team can make you a specific offer on this service.

“It is extremely good to see that, despite economical downturn, we need to expand our production capacity today” says Imre Olah, Managing Director of FlexiForce Hungary Kft. “Plans are to be ready end of this year for production start. Our current location will stay focused on our regional distribution centre function and on the production of residential hardware (sets)”.

FlexiForce Italy and Turkey: Industrial Hardware Sets

With this expansion, FlexiForce will become more efficient, with more available capacity. Good for our customers!

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In Italy we have invested in a set-up for the production of industrial hardware sets. For our customers in Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia this means an opportunity to outsource hardware production flexibly to our team in Brescia.

Contact julio@flexiforce.it for more information. In Turkey the same service is ready and available soon.

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Winning combination!

On residential doors, we introduced a winning combination of products “on the shaft”. Designed to fit together perfectly. And designed to offer you product price efficiency combined with significant installation time wins. An unbeatable offer!

Take the 563SCL wall plate (click!), the 656SCL spring break device (click!) and the new FF200 spring fitting (click!) in which, without heating the wire, the FlexiForce powder coated spring fits. The only conclusion can be that this is what integrated product design should be all about. And, once installed, within 160mm head-room, even the appearance is excellent. See the easy installation on the newly updated 656S-movie on YouTube.

For bending in garage door springs in the new spring fittings without pre-heating the wire, we have a new tool available (see picture, page 34). Ask your sales team for more information.

FF200

656SCL

563SCL

422CXZ: Light residential hinge Applying our new light residential hinge, 422CXZ saves you money (-30%). It is a more residential looking side-hinge, a perfect and price efficient alternative for 423CZ10R (Kingspan), 425CZ (Thyssen) and 421CZ10R (Epco). We investigated how it fits on available panels in the market. It fits on Epco, Kingspan, Tecsedo, Thyssen, Hierros Costa, Tekla, Metecno panels. This drawing shows how it fits to Epco. We have similar drawings available for the other panels. Start saving money!

www.flexiforce.com 10

News

MAGAZINE

FlexiForce on Pinterest Pinterest is the fastest growing social media platform today.

It is no more than a pin board on which you can pin web pages, web photos and web videos that you like.

And categorize those. We use it for leading you easily to all our available information on our web pages, social media sites and downloads. For example, all information on RSC can be easily found and clicked on in the pin board “FlexiForce RSC”. Try it and follow us at: http://pinterest.com/flexiforce/

Thanks for your social interest!

Over 500 people follow us on Twitter. Almost 500 likes on FlexiForce Facebook fan page. Increasing interest in our movies on YouTube and Vimeo. More and more downloads of high-res pictures from our Flickr photo stream.

And almost 300 followers on LinkedIn. We thank you for your interest in our social pages. We like it especially, because this is not a push from our side, but an explicit wish from you to start following us and use our updates to your benefit. We are open for new ideas on how to develop these pages! Let us know. Not there yet? Start following us on www.facebook.com/flexiforce!

New manuals available Keep a close watch on our downloads/manuals page on www.flexiforce.com. New manuals and updated versions are available all the time. For example now you can find new manuals on: • SideStep/DoubleStep (inwards/outwards turning) • SafeStep including the new top-profile solutions • Door closer 1034FLN, panic-bar 1034-PB, door closer switch 1034-OSE • RSC residential hardware system, springs in rear and springs in front • Evolution garage door openers • Spring filler tube 1075PN etc.

New releases on FF-TV We have uploaded new videos on FF-TV, which can be watched on Youtube or on Vimeo ( https://vimeo.com/flexiforce): • Liftmaster Evolution video for the end-user (want to use it with your logo’s in it? Let us know!)

• Evolution installation video • updated springtime video • updated video on 656S series spring break device • 1034-OSE wireless pass door switch installation video • Overview FlexiForce door automation • How it’s made: Production know-how in FlexiForce Following us on YouTube will give you the advantage of e-mail notification on new videos.

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Small product changes, updates Maintaining a product portfolio of over 1.500 different articles, means that there is a continuous stream of small improvements, upgrades and changes. For example when the production tool needs to be replaced, or when an extra hole suits a certain application. We try to keep you informed of these changes, mostly through our website and social media. But below, to be sure, a small overview of recent changes: • The specifications of cable drums FFNL10 and FFHL120 are slightly changed due to new tooling. The maximal high lift size of FFHL120 drum is now 3.010mm instead of 3.050mm. The maximal door opening height of FFNL10 drum is now 2.970mm instead of 2.628mm.

• 419CB replaces 419BUS on the roller holder of top roller carrier 419SL/R. Better cable guidance is the main advantage of this new product.

• The slotted hole pattern on the 419SL/R will change slightly, but this has no effect on your normal way of installing it.

• In our locks, 635BL, 635AL, 635BL80, 638-40BL, 668BL, we switched back to the well-known, European lock mechanism, to offer you the advantage of stylish outside with high-quality inside mechanism. A running change that comes into stock soon.

• FF600 spring fittings are slightly changed due to new tooling. Soon we will introduce FF600N allowing automated securing of the wire.

FFNL10 419SL/R

419CB

635BL

Customer picture: XXL windows by FlexiForce From AFI in France we received this picture where an almost full vision door is created with our 2245-series XXL windows. Size 892x435mm each. Nice!

www.flexiforce.com 12

CE-update (Maeike Blauw)

MAGAZINE

CE-updates Residential ITTR

EU member states

by Maeike Blauw

LM80EV

CE-certification Declaration of Performance

LM60EV

1035RES rubber Liftmaster Evolution

CE-marking

EN 13241-1

There is ongoing news on the CE-certification and norms for overhead doors. Some important topics to update you:

RSC residential hardware system included in FlexiForce main ITTR. All customers that have a residential ITTR from FlexiForce, will receive automatically additional information showing that without any costs, RSC is now included into that report. Not received? Contact your sales team. Be assured that you can switch to RSC without losing your CE-approval and certificates.

Liftmaster Evolution garage door openers tested on peak force We recently tested peak force performances of the new Liftmaster EVOLUTION range of garage door openers for ITTR-CE under supervision of SKG in Barneveld. Find all the details in our ITTR. Some extra-ordinary results: • LM60EV tested at 120kg door weight with 1041L-low threshold and 1035RES rubber. This means a solution for the low threshold doors without using expensive IR-beams!

• LM80EV tested at 223kg with 1041L and 1035 rubber.

Ask your sales team for more details on this testing.

Epco 60mm and 80mm thick panels Additional testing has lead to adding the 80mm and 60mm panels of Epco to the general FlexiForce ITTR. Ask your sales team for an update if you want to apply these panels.

New rules in the CPD have impact!

Per the 1st of July 2013 the current Construction Product Directive (CPD, 89/106/EEC) will be replaced by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR, 305/2011). The goal is to simplify and clarify the existing framework and improve transparency and effectiveness. The CPR harmonises assessments and tests, declaration of product performance and the conformity of construction products. But NOT national building regulations. For you as a door manufacturer, dealer or installer this means that important changes are coming up!

One of the changes will be that the CPR will be obligated now in all EU member states.

Furthermore it will be mandatory to draw up a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and to affix a CE marking, under harmonised standard (hEN) EN 13241-1 for industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates.

Declaration of Performance (DoP) Within the new regulation the standard Declaration of Conformity (IIA) will be replaced by a DoP stating the performance of each specific door (sizes, lift system etc) with a unique reference number, in the language of the EU country (or required language). In relation to the essential characteristics (f.e. classes for wind load resistance, water tightness, air permeability, thermal resistance, peak force etc.) with the declared performances in accordance with EN 13241-1. Furthermore with this DoP you take the responsibility for the conformity of the door with the declared performance. In case of power operated doors, you still have to draw up additionally to the DoP, a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) referring to the Machinery Directive, Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD), product standard for doors, EN 13241-1 and other applicable standards.

So, two separate documents.

CE-marking CE marking indicates that the installed door is consistent with the DoP and should be affixed on the door for which the DoP is made. Also here, when affixing the CE-marking you indicate that you take responsibility for the conformity of the door with the declared performances. Finally the CE marking should also contain the reference number of the DoP and the level or class of the declared performances. A major change to the production label.

Please check this information and the impact for your local situation carefully with local authorities and legislation.

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FlexiForce University (Ton Peterse)

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University: Springtime 2.0 Back to school How we completely re-thought our approach in torsion springs,

by Ton Peterse

Torsion springs are vital for a perfect balancing of overhead doors. When FlexiForce started production of torsion springs back in 1997, we adapted to the known technology and calculations of torsion springs, that originated mainly from the United States.

There are a lot of factors influencing the quality and functioning of a torsion spring on a door: Temperature of the oven during relaxing of the deformed spring wire

Length of the spring

Calculation of the door weight

Quality of the spring wire

Wire diameter

“ To set new, higher standards in the quality of FlexiForce springs” www.flexiforce.com 14

FlexiForce University

MAGAZINE

Calculation of the right lifting system and open door weight

Spring diameter

Treatment of the spring wire, by for example shot-peening

Handling of the spring with relation to damaging the wire

Number of turns tensioned on the shaft

The status of the outside skin of the spring (no cracks or damages)

Time of the spring in the oven

FlexiForce is European market leader in torsion springs for overhead doors. In FlexiForce we have produced over 500.000 springs last year (!), of which 70% where pre-assembled. We produce torsion springs in FlexiForce subsidiaries in the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Canada. Because technology and calculation methods have evolved since we started producing springs, and because European door systems do differ from United States ones, we decided to go back to school. We took the opportunity to re-think the complete process of calculating, producing and testing torsion springs, with the goal to set new, higher standards, in the quality of FlexiForce springs on overhead doors. In other words, to provide you with the best possible spring for your door! “Best” is explained as: the right selected spring (not too heavy, no too light) to balance perfectly the door, during a well determined and specified life-cycle.

15

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FlexiForce University

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Calculation, from tables to formulas: SpringForce.

We took the opportunity to start the spring calculation from scratch. Instead of using tables, based on IPPT-values, we have set-up a model with accurate formulas, that result in more precise spring calculation, considering all aspects.

The specific calculation of HL (High Lift) and VL (Vertical Lift) systems we did, resulted in lighter springs (-10% and more!) compared to the old model of calculation, where these springs were derived with a fixed percentage from Normal Lift springs. Cheaper springs with the same quality is the end result of this for HL and VL doors. The Goodman diagram is integrated, showing that springs that are loaded during a shorter turn, last longer.

In the calculation we brought a better “open door weight” in as standard parameter. Resulting in savings on NL system springs. We made a difference between residential and industrial doors, where in the past residential doors were

calculated as “small industrial doors”. Even garage doors with springs in rear are now different from doors with springs in front. The number of in-active windings on the spring fitting is entered into the calculation. All these new calculations were intensively tested and were backed-up by our partner IST (Institute of Spring Technology) in the UK. The result of all these new calculations is available for you today via SpringForce, our online spring calculation system. SpringForce provides the unique opportunity to connect your ERP system with our online spring calculation. With EDI-exchange you calculate and order springs digitally from your ERP, via SpringForce, back to your ERP system. Saving a lot of extra work and time. Try it!

Trust but verify: New testing facilities Testing springs is a matter of patience, because you have to wait until the spring really breaks. To be able to verify constantly our spring calculation ideas and the production and wire quality, we have invested in a state-of-the-art spring testing installation. Designed by ourselves, it features the possibility to test and monitor eight springs at a time. The amount of data that we receive from these testing programs are inevitable to secure our day-to-day spring quality (see movie on the test-bench on FF-TV). We even created simulation rigs for testing the relaxation of springs and for measuring the open door weight effects. All data is being logged into our computer systems. This testing facility is really bringing torsion spring into the high-tech era.

“ Bringing torsion springs into the high-tech era”

www.flexiforce.com 16

FlexiForce University

MAGAZINE

Production quality Our factory production Control (FPC) quality system is revitalized on the torsion spring section. For example, we now buy only spring wire that is at the top range of the tensile strength norm that we use to buy. This results in a spring with a more secure specification and quality. The specification for the shot peening treatment is updated and refined. Exact life-span increase testing, done at a third party laboratory is integrated in the spring calculation. Every oven temperature cycle is now measured and recorded, giving us the certainly that the spring batches are produced according to quality standards. In pre-assembling the spring, we switched to the automated “bending” of the spring wire into the cone (fitting), without heating or damaging the wire. In the assembling line quality circles and reports lead to a strong focus on continuous improvement.

Today Today, with all above mentioned actions in place, we are convinced that we are now not only leading the market by the volume of springs we produce, but even more important, also by the quality of the springs we produce. We invite you to try our springs. We invite you to come to our Inspiration Center in the Netherlands where we can explain you in detail how we test, produce and secure quality. A good impression is also given by our recently updated movie on torsion springs. Find it on www.vimeo.com/flexiforce. We are happy to discuss with you how we can offer you a torsion spring solution by digitally ordering your springs at FlexiForce. Challenge us to become your spring supplier! And be sure that we are continuously doing research and testing to upgrade our springs tomorrow to an even higher level.

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Accurate door weight as bases of spring calculation To calculate torsion springs for doors, the exact and accurate door weight is extremely important.

The door weight, being balanced by the torsion springs, is the weight that is “hanging in the cables”, the so-called lift-weight. This is determined by: • The weight of the panels including the end caps, bottom- and top aluminium profiles and seals.

• The weight of the hardware parts installed on the door panel, like hinges, rollers, locks, slide bolts, bottom brackets etc..

• The weight of accessories, like windows, pass doors and reinforcement profiles at wider doors.

All these weights add up to the total door weight, hanging in the cables when the door is closed. This weight needs to be balanced by the springs.

Some door companies base the weight of the door on the average panel weight per m2 given by the panel supplier. We think this is too rough a bases for the calculation, and it needs to be checked regularly with weighing different production batches of panel that you receive. A mistake in the theoretical door weight of +_ 2 % already has an impact on the balancing of the door. To be absolutely sure about the door weight, we recommend to weigh each door blade when it is produced and check if you calculated the springs within a 2% band width of this outcome.

If not, re-calculate the springs.

A perfectly produced spring, calculated by just clicking the default values given in Create, SpringForce or FFLogic, without checking how accurate this value is, still can lead to a poorly balanced door. Worth a check!

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Opening news (Marco Fritz)

MAGAZINE

Opening News Updates and news on FlexiForce door automation products,

by Marco Fritz

Door automation is a vital and still fast growing part of the FlexiForce product offering. We are convinced that door automation will play an increasingly important role in the development of doors in the near future. In securing the house or commercial building against intruders. In offering convenience to the user of the door. But also, as you can read elsewhere in this magazine, in creating GREEN door solutions. We therefore keep investing in door automation, together with our solid partners like Chamberlain Liftmaster and we keep coming up with new ideas and products.

Evolution!

When we selected Liftmaster as our partner in garage door openers years ago, it was because we knew they were number 1 producer in the world, with a product line that was above all extremely reliable. It really paid off, while with the thousands of units we sold since then, we received hardly any complaint back. The only “but” one could have was that the unit was not so “fancy” and lacked some high-tech approach features.

Now, with the introduction April 1st of EVOLUTION, we take away the “but”. We challenge anybody to become convinced that this completely new product line, designed for Europe, is unrivaled in the market. A sustainable product, excellent design, extremely convenient and comfortable and last but not least very secure!

To help you sell Evolution to your customer, we have lined up a range of support tools. Flyers, an end-user video that we can personalize for you, CE-certification, manuals, etc.. Last month you have received a special Evolution INFO magazine explaining all the details. In stock now, start considering a switch to Evolution!

Reliability now combined with state-of-the-art design, high energy efficiency, low noise and high door speed. Home owner, installer, door dealer and door producer are all served perfectly with all the features.

“ Reliability now combined with design, energy efficiency, low noise and high door speed” More Evolution? See in this magazine CE-update article. See online Residential Liftmaster. Movies on www.vimeo.com/flexiforce.

www.flexiforce.com > Products: E-operators >

Did I close my garage door this morning? MyQ internet access This Summer will show the launch of myQ, the internet controlled access system to LiftMaster Evolution Garage Door Openers. How does it work: • Connect the 828EVO Internet Gateway to the home network WiFi router • Pair it with the opener • Register online • Download the free LiftMaster app on your smart phone And you’re ready. See also page 17 of the Evolution INFO magazine. The only investment by the home owner is in the gateway (list price € 79,90) and it’s done. No maintenance fee, no monthly fee and no internet fees. Peace of mind and enhanced comfort at very modest costs.

924WLKIT: Pull switch, wireless AND batteryless!

More and more attention is paid to sustainability, easy installation and low maintenance. The 924WLKIT combines all of these: wireless AND batteryless! Once installed no need to look after it anymore. Batteries that are not there need no replacement, no scissor lifts, no waste and no energy that must be generated. The piezo contact in the transmitter generates the energy for a pulse to activate your commercial door operator. A slightly higher, but one-time investment.

No recurring expenses and the hassle of a not working switch because of empty batteries. In stock now for € 239,(kit of transmitter and receiver).

1034-OSE: Wireless pass door safety The best safety is invisible safety! The 1034-OSE is a wireless pass door switch, integrated in our new door closer 1034FLN (see also page 24). The switch is hidden in the arm of the door closer with the transmitter affixed next to it. When the pass door is not completely closed it sends a signal to the receiver that is connected to the safety input of the door opener.

Although this works on any (garage) door opener we strongly recommend to combine it with a LiftMaster Evolution so you underline the beautiful design of the opener. Saving installation (build-in) time! Now in stock: € 129,-.

www.flexiforce.com 18

Opening news

MAGAZINE

Evolution

924WLKIT

924WLKIT

1034-OSE

1034-OSE

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How GREEN is your door? (Frank Goedhart)

MAGAZINE

How

GREEuNr is yo door?

There was a time that “saving the environment” was a subject that only small groups of people cared about. The phrase “tree huggers” was often used, which showed that the mass of people were sceptic about “GREEN”. Today, sustainability, that is reduce, reuse, recycle, is becoming top priority in the construction industry, worldwide. As smart business opportunity. Construction and development companies realize that a new building needs to be GREEN to make sure it will be efficient and commercially attractive for tenants not only today, but also in the coming years. 60% of all commercial building applications today, in Western countries but also in emerging markets like China, are GREEN.

“ Sustainability is reduce, re-use, recycle” Sustainability in construction is all about the use of resources, in the choice of building materials for the construction, but also in using the building during its life. A lot of aspects determine how GREEN a building is. Recyclability of materials. The life span of a building. The CO2 footprint of the production of all the parts. The energy efficiency of it.

Despite the fact that the current economic climate does not encourage higher investments, the demand from global potential tenants like Unilever, Apple, Shell etc. for GREEN buildings is driving this trend.

Sustainability in construction takes off, by Frank Goedhart

International rating systems, like LEED (USA), BREEAM (UK), GREEN STAR (Australia), HQE (France) and others, provide certificates that financial institutions and property companies need to secure their investments, also on the longer term. European legislation is being prepared under the “Energy Performance of Building Directive, EPBD-#2002/91/EG, July 2010” and in CEN/TC350 – Sustainability of construction work. Standardisation, rating/certification and the market demand, indicate the need to anticipate on this growing GREEN building market.

Sustainable building assessment is an instrument to show the environmental performance of a building. Life Cycle Assessment of the building components is a big part of this. More and more products are added to a common database that helps architects and builders to acquire the data for calculating the sustainability of buildings. Products Category Rules (PCR) documents describe products considering maintenance, operation, transport, life-cycle costs, service life, demolition, energy data and the EPD, the Environmental Product Declaration, a fact based report on a product’s environmental impact. All validated by a third party.

This article is based on sources from www.edsf.com, Assa Abloy Sustainability Report 2012, and various other publications. Free of any obligation.

www.flexiforce.com 20

MAGAZINE

How GREEN is your door?

As building owners and architects are measuring areas like energy efficiency, sustainability of materials and indoor environmental quality against GREEN building certification systems like LEED, manufacturers of building products need to realize that if they wish to have their products in such buildings, they need to show Environmental Product Declarations that show the sustainable factors of each product. EPD’s are the passport and visa for a product to get into a green building.

What does it mean for doors?

The above mentioned information and terms are to give you an overview and first idea on what we will be confronted with more and more in the near future. But, how does this influence specifically the door business? Fact is that these demands and the certification impose that the quality of the building and with that, the quality of the door, is from now on important already in the building phase. That implies that there will probably be more opportunity to sell a more expensive, GREEN door, instead of price being the only argument for the choice of the door. As buildings and building owners change, the expectation of the door in that building also changes.

Certification of doors in this field is already being done today. For example, Clopay in the United States announced that its full vision doors have qualified for both Daylight and Views LEED credits under the Indoor Environmental Quality category.

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How

GREEuNr is yo door?

The insulation or U-value of the door, air penetration are obvious factors on door sustainability. But also the opening time. For example, a lot of energy is lost when in a loading bay, the door is open without a truck being in the door opening. Also the choice of materials used in the door and material reduction where possible play are role. The CO2 impact on the production of the door and its components.

The transport needed to bring the door to the site. Energy use and stand-by power of the door automation. The life span of the door. And the use of the door. There is a big difference to doors in buildings that remain closed almost 100% of their life (there are often one or two doors in multi-door buildings not being used) and doors that are frequently used. Smart door automation, high door speed and ways to only open that part of a door that is needed for passing through will help in saving energy and money. Independent energy calculations (find for example on www.edsf.com/calculator) prove for example, that the return on investment of a pass door is less than 2 years, simply by energy savings.

How does FlexiForce support?

We are investigating how we can support our customers in preparing themselves to be ready for sustainability certification. In our R&D process, we have integrated sustainable aspects of product design as a part of the process now and we also include our suppliers in this. Reduction of materials, better insulation values, reduction of transport distances and more, are examples of parameters on which we design today. Our RSC residential system, with thermal break side seals, light hardware, made 80% in Europe, soon ready for 60mm panels is a good example of the first results in this way of designing. The Evolution series door openers with the lowest stand-by power ever and with a very high door speed delivers also on sustainability gains.

We will come up with more products in the near future and we will see how we can certify these products to help you certifying your door. Feel free to address current demands or questions on this topic to frgo@flexiforce.nl. We’d like to develop it with you.

www.flexiforce.com 22

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Flema, the specialist oF FireprooF doors ei160’

sectional doors ps60 | roller shutters Vr60 | sliding doors pl60

Flema is a Belgian producer of EI160’* insulated fireproof doors.

Fire tests according the European Standards EN1363-1 & EN1634-1

*

Feel Free to contact us Rue Outre, 46

| 7910 Anvaing | BELGIUM

www.flema.be

Tel : +32 (0)69 67 27 87 Fax : +32 (0)69 67 27 80 E-mail : info@flema.be http://be.linkedin.com/in/benoitflema Our sectional doors are provided with the

hardware.

Closing the door

MAGAZINE

Closing the door

Pass doors are becoming increasingly popular. Not only because of the convenience that they offer to pedestrians, but also due to the fact that a pass door reduces the loss of energy significantly. In fact, energy calculations prove that you can earn back the investment for a pass door within 2 years. FlexiForce continuously updates and expands her range of products for pass door application. Now we present to you:

1034FLN door closer A high quality door closer, replacing all external door closers in our range (also 1034FL). Adjustable force and solid engineering, combined in a good product design. This door closer is designed together with the world market leader in door closers, Assa Abloy. Quality guaranteed!

1034FLN € 33,33 p.piece(1)

1034BSN base plate This aluminium base plate simplifies the installation of any door closer on all types of pass doors. Also a perfect fit with above mentioned 1034FLN closer. It can be applied on industrial pass doors, SafeStep pass doors and even on the new 1033PS-top profile that we have designed for the SafeStep top section. Being that universal in application, this base plate replaces 1034BAS and 1034BASE. 1034BSN € 4,95 p.piece(1)

1034-OSE Wireless pass door protection Make your pass door application state-of-the-art, by installing our new 1034-OSE kit next to the 1034FLN door closer on the door. No hassle with built-in wiring and connection to the motor. Easy and wireless. See our online movie explaining the system. A true protection of a pass door in a power operated sectional door!

1034-OSE € 129,- p.piece(1)

1034PBIN No-panic bar Answering to the demand for emergency exit devices, we now introduce this panic bar system for pass doors. Designed by the Assa Abloy lock division, exclusively for FlexiForce. Available as “inside-only” bar 1034PBIN or as complete system with outside key lock, 1034PB. The Euro-cylinder, C40-2505-1 has to be ordered separately which allows key-plans in buildings.

1034PBIN inside bar € 84,90 p.piece(1)

1034PB inside bar + external lock € 157,01 p.piece(1)

All these products are available in our stock, close to you!

Our other door closers:

1034FS Built-in (hidden), SafeStep pass doors

1034FX Built-in (hidden), Industrial pass doors

1034S Door closer built-in, doors <25kg

www.flexiforce.com 24

C40-2505-1 Cylinder € 10,79 p.piece(1)

Closing the door

MAGAZINE 1034FLN door closer

1034BSN base plate

1034-OSE Wireless pass door protection

1034-OSE Wireless pass door protection

1034PBIN No-panic bar

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MAGAZINE

Garage doors made easy! www.flexiforce.com 26

Garage doors made easy!

MAGAZINE

Pimp a toy garage... and car

1

In our latest RSC-INFO magazine we explained you all the advantages of our new RSC residential system. So we will not repeat ourselves by going over that again. What we do like to show you is how easy it gets when you convert your business into using our hardware sets service for residential doors. We show you in 3 steps: It starts with you selling a garage door to your customer. We cannot do that for you :-), however we have plenty of sales tools available for you to use, like manuals, videos and high-res images.

Once the door is sold:

2

1

You order the hardware and operator by going to “RSC Create” on www.flexiforce.com where you: • put in the door size • power operation yes/no • panel brand • springs in rear or springs in front (190mm or 160mm headroom) • select all the panel hardware from hinges to seals • select all accessories that you need • add LED-bars or stainless steel windows to your order • select the matching Liftmaster garage door opener • select if you want all profiles to be cut-to-size • select if you want the shaft to be pre-assembled with springs etc.

• select if you want it to be delivered to you in IKEA-type flat-bed packaging.

• send your order digitally to FlexiForce

2

FlexiForce receives your order. We: • confirm the order to you • collect the hardware box • cut all the tracks, shaft and connection profiles to the right size for your door • add all the selected accessories • add the Liftmaster Evolution door opener • put all in a flat-bed carton box, reinforced with wood to secure safe transport • put in an installation manual and Bill Of Material • close the package and prepare it for transport to you. All ready within 5 working days from order.

• we send you an invoice (at this stage, you have not done any prefinancing in stock or parts)

3

3

You receive our flat-bed packages at your warehouse. You add this to your panel-pack for the door shipment to site, without opening the hardware box or touching the parts. You or your customer can install the door!

Ultimate flexibility, outsourced worries, no pre-financing in your stock and a smart looking package (with your logo on it?) arriving at the door site. A lot of advantages for a minimal handling fee. Contact your sales team to get a quote on this!

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MAGAZINE

Pimp a toy garage... and car

Archetoys(r) by Floris Hovers

www.flexiforce.com 28

MAGAZINE

Floris Hovers is a young Dutch product designer, graduated from the famous Design Academy Eindhoven. He strives for work that is not complex but still has enough in it to wonder about and to arouse sympathy. The designs of Hovers have some sort of recognition in the fact that they refer to “what has been”, often almost iconic. The products themselves explain how they are made.

This ‘readability’ is essential for his designs. He is captivated by the idyllic workshop idea, but on the other hand also by the factory where every day mass production takes place. That is why he calls his work “industrial handcraft”.

Floris produces predominantly himself, while he cherishes the entire process from idea to finished product. He sees a designer as a skilled person, capable of producing his own design. Often he initiates his own assignments.

Next to his passion for designing furniture, Floris has come up with beautiful toys. Like the model car series Archetoys: With basic, factory made metal parts Hovers assembles archetypes of familiar motorized vehicles. Get a good impression on his work and his ideas on www.florishovers.nl

FlexiForce joins Floris in his latest design. He could not resist it thinking again about a little toy car. And then, preferably with a not so obvious material.

The name CarTon, comes from the fact that the car is an amalgamation of industrially manufactured cardboard parts (body and wheels). Then made on a wooden frame, where the cardboard wheels with wooden shafts are connected.

Industrial handwork in his own workshop. And, for FlexiForce, Floris designed a cardboard garage box to go with it.

You or your children, can paint the car, put labels on it, select a garage door outside design and go as far as your imagination leads you. Carton 01 is a station-wagon, by taking off the back part you create a sedan.

FlexiForce will hand out this nice designer toy when meeting with you during visits. Or we send it to you on request. Do not hesitate to ask for it through info@flexiforce.nl (mention CarTon).

The idea we like, is that you “pimp” the car and garage, take a picture of it and send it to us (jegr@flexiforce.nl). We will collect all pictures online (Flickr) and Floris Hovers himself will pick the three winners. They will win an Archetoys by FlorisHovers toy car.

Looking forward to your inspiration!

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Padding Your Sales (Tom Wadsworth)

MAGAZINE

Padding Your Sales How Tablets Are Changing the Garage Door Sales Process, by Tom Wadsworth, CDDC, Editor of Door & Access Systems Newsmagazine

This article is a courtesy copy from Spring Issue 2013 of Door & Access Systems magazine

“This technology is a big step forward for our industry,” says Daniel Boulanger, marketing communication manager at Garaga. “It has changed the game for the way dealers do sales, much like cell phones changed the communication business.”

Fire, Google’s Nexus, and Microsoft’s Surface. Already, more than a third of U.S. Internet users reportedly have one. Sales are skyrocketing, and in 2013, worldwide tablet shipments may exceed 200 million units and may even outsell laptops.

What’s a Tablet?

Garage Doors and Tablets

A tablet is a flat one-piece mobile computer typically operated by a touch screen.

It’s lightweight, easy to use, features a long battery life, and typically has a built-in camera. No mouse or keyboard is needed. Many newer models boast highdefinition displays. Apple’s iPad, released in 2010, has been dominating the tablet market. Other popular models are Samsung’s Galaxy, Amazon’s Kindle

Garaga is one of several manufacturers that have created special software that helps dealers sell garage doors on tablets and often on smartphones. The other manufacturers we know of are Amarr, Northwest Door, and Overhead Door.

Each of these programs provide different functions, but the one common feature is the ability to take a photo of a customer’s garage and insert an image of any of the company’s many garage door models into the door opening. Similar visualization technology has been available for many years on garage door manufacturer websites and on proprietary software. But with handy cameraequipped computer tablets, the entire process can be done quickly and easily with one device.

Depending on the software used, the customized image can be incorporated into a detailed quote that can be instantly emailed to the customer. Some apps even allow the dealer to place the order with the manufacturer right from the same tablet. “The Amarr tablet app, OnSite, is a game-changer in that it gives dealers the tools to schedule, quote, sell, and order a door during the initial site visit with a customer,” says Vickie Lents, marketing director.

A Mobile Showroom When Garaga announced its iPad-compatible program in May 2012, its press release said that the dealer’s tablet “in effect, becomes a portable showroom in the palm of their hands.” Using similar language, John Southard, marketing and product development manager of Northwest Door, says that his company’s app is called the “Virtual Showroom.”

www.flexiforce.com 30

Padding Your Sales

MAGAZINE

A physical showroom can cost tens of thousands of dollars and only show a handful of door models. But when armed with a tablet and app, a salesperson can bring the showroom directly to the customer’s house and show them images of hundreds of doors placed directly into a photo of their own garage. “Using an iPad is a less expensive way to have a good showroom,” says Martin Madden, CEO of Overhead Door of South Bend, Ind.

Beyond the Photo Visualizing a new door in the customer’s garage is the core function of these new tablet programs. For example, Overhead Door’s DoorView program lets homeowners select overlay board colours, different window positions, various styles and configurations of decorative hardware, and more. But that’s only the beginning. Images and door specs can be easily emailed, and homeowners can even post images of their transformed homes on Facebook.

He Comes Prepared Dealers are finding some effective ways to use the added features of these programs. For example, listen to David Pace, a Garaga dealer and owner of Overhead Door of Nova Scotia in Dartmouth. “When I go to a customer’s house, I pull up, take a photo of the house, add all their contact data, prepare the quote, and then knock on the door. So when I’m sitting with them, I can show them pictures of their house with the new door and send them a full quote right there.” But that’s not all. “I can even order the door right from the customer’s home and tell them what day it will ship from the factory.” If the call needs follow-up, he can set the Garaga app to remind him to follow up with that customer in a desired number of days.

Some dealers are combining the app’s features with Google Earth. John Southard says that, before going to the customer’s home, some Northwest Door dealers go to Google Earth’s Street View to find an image of the target home. Using Northwest’s tablet app, the dealer then applies the configured garage door image to the home and emails the photo to the homeowner.

The Learning Curve But what if you’re not too nimble with computers? One of the drawbacks of earlier visualization software was the level of computer knowledge required.

But user-friendliness may be the most appealing feature of these tablet programs. “I’m not a computer genius by any means,” admits Ryan Dissen. “(The Northwest Door app) walks you through the process, step by step, and it’s real simple.”

“It’s very, very easy to use,” adds Martin Madden of Overhead’s DoorView.

“It’s very user friendly; you just point and click.”Madden noted that he needed to make one accommodation for his sales guys: a stylus. Chuckling, he adds, “Experienced door-hanger fingers aren’t always as delicate as needed for a touch screen.”

Time-Saver

Advanced Functionality

Now that Jimmy Davis has entered all his own pricing into the program, the quoting process is very quick. “Now, I don’t have to sit down and figure out the price of every door,” he says. “Plus, the office doesn’t need to call me to ask for a price for every quote. It’s all right there in the program – pricing, door pictures, options – and the office can send a quick email to the customer. It’s a real timesaver.”

Amarr’s OnSite tool also allows the dealer to schedule site visits, quote a price that is tied to the dealer’s pricing and margins, provide alternative door upgrades, place the order while at the customer’s house, and even evaluate the dealer’s performance with a range of reports.

“It saves our people time and lets them move on to other opportunities,” says Pace. “We’re now able to do all sales faster and more professionally. It greatly improves the productivity of our day.”

31

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Padding Your Sales

MAGAZINE

The Big Advantage: Up-selling

How Do Customers React?

Every dealer we interviewed praised the tablet program’s ability to up-sell customers to upscale doors. It only makes sense. When a homeowner can actually see a more attractive door on his own house, it’s hard not to find the extra bucks for the investment.

You might think that the typical customer would be blown away by the technology and that the dazzle factor would help nail the sale. But it’s not necessarily so. “The customer really doesn’t say this is cool,” says David Pace, the Nova Scotia dealer. “They’re fairly used to seeing visual technology.”

Ryan Dissen says the tablet’s real advantage in the selling process is that “It gives you a better interaction with the customer.”

“Amarr’s OnSite definitely helps with upsells,” says Jimmy Davis of Raleigh.

Ryan Dissen adds that up-selling has become his primary use of Northwest Door’s app in his Oregon market. “It’s a good tool for up-selling. I’ve shown customers what their house would look like with better doors, and they typically go with it.”

In Indiana, Martin Madden also testifies that Overhead Door’s visualization tool has improved his company’s ability to get customers to buy a premium product.

“We’ve improved our sales of carriage-type doors and doors with windows.”

At Northwest Door, John Southard says he sees good sales growth in upgraded doors and options. “Purchases made by dealers who use our app have increased, not just by door count but by dollars. This tells us that the app is a successful upgrade tool that is generating additional sales dollars for our dealer.”

“When you sit down with them to show them how it looks on their home, they appreciate the personalized approach and your spending extra time with them,” he says. “Selling becomes more of a customer service where I’m really trying to meet their needs.”

One Step Ahead In spite of these programs’ ease of use, non-computer-savvy dealers may be hesitant to use such digital technology to boost their sales. If that’s you, your hesitation may be a key reason why your business begins to lose sales to your tablet-toting competitor. “Among dealers, the adoption rate is mixed,” says Vickie Lents of Amarr. “But once dealers have begun using OnSite, none have gone back to their non-technology ways of selling.”

Good for the Industry Kevin Jones, director of brand management for Overhead Door, believes these visualization tools could be a significant boost to the entire industry. “Visualization tools like DoorView can ultimately help our industry capitalize on its unique ability to increase curb appeal.”

Martin Madden agrees. “This tool helps move the conversation beyond price and into aesthetics. That’s critical for our industry.”

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“Those who adopt the technology earlier definitely have a selling advantage in the marketplace,” adds Kevin Jones of Overhead Door. Indeed, when you can prepare a quote faster and more professionally and present it with appealing images of the new door on the customer’s home, you will likely be leaving your paper-and-pen competitor in the dust. With six potent words, David Pace summed up the critical advantage of selling doors with a tablet: “We’re days ahead of our competition.”

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New products

MAGAZINE

New products

We started the year early with massive product introductions related to RSC and Evolution. Apart from that, we now highlight six other new products. Find them online in our catalogue. Feel free to ask for samples!

Heavy Duty: 3021H(L) and now 3022HD Stronger suspension of garage door horizontal tracks to the ceiling now available with two angle brackets 3021H length 183mm, 3021HL length 380mm) and one new double rail click-bracket 3022HD.

Low noise, easy handling, spring fillers: 1075PN, 1075PVC3000 Cutting a low noise PVC tube, 1075PVC3000, to the right size for your springs. Inserting and fixing the end stops 1075PN and your low noise, efficient spring filler for 152mm springs is ready. Manual available online!

The “T” of Torx: 1054T16 etc.

1054T16, 1054T25, 1054T35, also in W-version (head RAL9016) offer a good looking, better grip, self-tapping screw for all panel hardware fixation. The head of the screw is suitable for a torx T30 wrench and is fitted with a compressed knurled ring.

End caps for Epco 555mm and 625mm panels With the goal of making garage doors without the need to trim-cut the panel in too many cases, Epco came up with these new panel sizes. And FlexiForce follows with the matching end caps. All version are available in S, M and L, in galvanized and white. Code 40PS555L etc.

513BFN, cable swager A new, more price efficient solution for cable assembly. Table model. Swager for pressing 3mm, 4mm & 5mm oval & round sleeves to cables. With manual available online!

TBM200, TBM263, manual torsion spring assembly In our production we have automated the securing of the torsion spring into the FF200 and FF263 spring fittings.

For customers that assemble springs in their own factory, we have created a manual version of this system, for two spring sizes. Easy and without heating the wire. Available soon!

513BFN, cable swager

www.flexiforce.com 34

TBM200, TBM263, manual torsion spring assembly

New products

MAGAZINE 3021H(L)

3022HD

1075PN

1075PN and 1075PVC3000

1075PVC

1054T

35

Epco

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Almost as easy as this...

No, we do not personally bring the RSC garage door hardware set to your door site. But all the rest of the process, we do handle for you. Extremely easy! You enter the garage door details and the features you select, online in our Create software. We receive your order and we assemble the RSC tracks (cut-to-size) and torsion springs. We add the hardware parts box. And we collect it in a flat-bed pack that you can stack onto your panel pack. Even the Liftmaster Evolution garage door opener comes with it. So, without any hassle from your end, the hardware is ready for installation.

That last part, we leave to you. Contact us to find out in detail how we can support you!

www.flexiforce.com www.facebook.com/flexiforce info@flexiforce.nl