Sliders UK Launches the Ultimate Evolution Aluminium Bi-Fold Door
Sliders UK launched its new bi-fold door, the Ultimate Evolution, last month — the latest addition to its expanding inline sliding, bi-folding, and composite door portfolio.
Another major step in the company’s 2025 growth strategy, the Ultimate Evolution features a number of neat benefits for installers — most notably a fully adjustable jamb option that simplifies installation.
But in a competitive market with plenty of aluminium bi-fold options already available, does it offer enough to win over installers?
“We wouldn’t have launched the Ultimate Evolution if we didn’t believe that it delivered more opportunity to our customers,” says Steve Mines, Sales Director, Sliders UK.
Building on an already strong product range
“We have some really strong products in our range — our established aluminium system, the ALUK Ultimate Aluminium bi-fold, and some really strong PVC-U systems, the Eurocell Ultimate Aspect and the Veka Imagine, which we launched in the spring,” Mines continues.
“But having looked in detail at the retail market, we felt that the Ultimate Evolution offered our customers something that was different again — and with that, the new opportunities that go with it.”
Coming as part of strategic growth plans, Sliders UK’s record for new product launches this year puts the door specialist in a league of its own.
The launch of the Veka Imagine as a second PVC-U bi-fold system in addition to its established Eurocell Ultimate Aspect range was immediately followed by the launch of the PremiLine PRO inline sliding door from Kömmerling. The launch of the Ultimate Evolution brings the total to three new systems in a single year, with more to follow.
Innovation built for installers
The Ultimate Evolution features a fully adjustable jamb option fitted to both sides of the door, making squaring and setting faster — significantly reducing installation time.
“As a specialist door manufacturer we have scope to manufacture doors in multiple systems, giving our customers choice,” says Mines. “We’re better placed than most fabricators because we aren’t running other products — just doors.
But that still requires investment on our part, so the addition of any new product has to fit within a strategic framework, and it has to give something more — or perhaps more accurately, something different — to our customers.”
Smooth operation and slim sightlines
The Ultimate Evolution draws on innovation in hardware, combining an ultra-smooth bottom running system with impressively slim sightlines — even compared to other aluminium systems.
This may give it end-user appeal, but it’s the fully adjustable jamb option that stands out as the biggest single innovation. It dramatically simplifies door squaring and setting, increases tolerances, and makes it far easier to align doors — even where apertures are out of square.
“We have a four-man maintenance and support team out on the road to support customers — normally builders but one or two installers — to correct the running of installed doors,” explains Mines.
“Nine times out of ten, the issues are caused because doors haven’t been installed square. Everything we do is built in a jig, it’s fully tested and filmed as part of our quality control procedures, so we know it works.
Over-packing or under-packing against walls — it all contributes to putting the door out of square. The adjustable jamb option simplifies installation — it’s forgiving! And that saves time on site and time lost in call-backs.”
Designed for margin and performance
The Ultimate Evolution has been developed to help installers build in increased margin at the retail point of sale.
It’s available in multiple panel configurations, including open-in or open-out, with a maximum sash height and width of 3000mm x 1200mm. With colour-matched handles, magnetic door holders, a low threshold option, and a 30mm polyamide thermal break for increased thermal values, it’s also fully tested to PAS 24 and BS6375 Part 1 Weather Tested.
“The other thing to emphasise,” Mines continues, “is that it looks really good. All the standard colours are there, the sightlines are stunning, there’s colour-coordinated hardware — the Ultimate Evolution is a really well-considered product.”
Meeting market demand
According to the Window Industry Report, 4,834 installers currently offer aluminium doors and windows — the majority bi-folding doors — representing a six per cent increase. With analysts forecasting continued growth in aluminium bi-fold sales, the market presents significant opportunities.
Mines argues that the launch of the Ultimate Evolution brings additional flexibility to Sliders UK’s trade customer base, giving it one of — if not the — widest bi-fold door ranges in the UK. He also believes that PVC-U continues to have its place alongside aluminium.
“The Veka Imagine and Eurocell Ultimate Aspect PVC-U systems pick up a sector of the market. I’d describe them as new generation PVC-U doors, delivering far slimmer sightlines and massively increased reliability and durability — but also greater affordability,” says Mines.
“At the other end of the scale, you’re looking at the ALUK Ultimate Aluminium bi-fold. The Ultimate Evolution sits somewhere in between.
It generates the higher margin opportunities delivered by aluminium and combines them with installation efficiencies and a competitive price point.
It works for homeowners — increasing affordability but giving them ultra-slim sightlines — and it works for installers because it’s great to fit and supports them in building margin into their businesses.”
