Hunter Douglas reports sharp rise in MPF sales

Facade and sun control specialist Hunter Douglas has reported huge growth in the sale of Multiple Panel Facade single-skin rainscreen products over the last five years.

Since 2002, Hunter Douglas Facades has seen an average 18% year-on-year increase in MPF sales in the UK and Ireland.

The previous five years, between 1997 and 2001, saw only a marginal sales increase (five per cent) over the entire period.

The Staffordshire-based company, which is part of the multi-national Hunter Douglas corporation, puts much of this sharp growth down to its unique ability to provide architects with a large range of bespoke panel finishes within its MPF range.

Traditional MPF is normally a standard "off the shelf" product.

Hunter Douglas's growth in MPF sales coincides with a general increasing trend towards the wide-scale use of rainscreen-type products in the UK.

The rise in popularity of MPF, which tends to be priced at the cheaper end of the cladding market, is also the result of tighter budget restrictions on new projects, according to Andrew Lee, general manager of Hunter Douglas Facades in the UK.

He said: "With the right project, MPF is a perfect alternative to our other facade systems, like QuadroClad and Sandwich Wall".

"It's difficult to pinpoint exactly why Hunter Douglas has seen such a large growth in sales over the past five years, but I do believe that people like the fact that they're getting an extremely cost-effective product from a supplier that is renowned above all others for its quality.

"And the unique thing about Hunter Douglas's Multiple-Panel Facade systems is that we can do customised solutions".

"Other suppliers of MPF products are currently not geared up for bespoke systems".

Mr Lee added: "Hunter Douglas has most definitely gone to the next level with something that has always been regarded as a cheap alternative commodity".

"Architects particularly have reacted to this, and the results have obviously been reflected in our sales figures".

Hunter Douglas MPF panels are constructed from lightweight aluminium, the majority of which is recycled aluminium.

The company's world-class manufacturing skills in metal roll forming have made it the recognised industry leader for panel quality.

Hunter Douglas has also led the field in its innovative concealed fixing systems, which allow MPF to be fixed to a variety of sub-structures.

Architects can select from a wide variety of panel shapes, sizes and colour, as well as a number of panel skin materials, including copper and zinc.

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