The Door Industry Journal

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Comp Door Takes Centre Stage in Kettell’s #BanishBadDoors Campaign

Leicester-based Kettell has recently launched their #BanishBadDoors campaign, a crusade aimed at providing Leicestershire with high-quality, durable front doors, one installation at a time.

At the centre of the campaign is Comp Door, a Staffordshire composite door fabricator whose innovative designs and attentive customer care offerings have revolutionised the industry.

Established in 2005, Kettell is an installer that has continuously adhered to a strict set of values:

Integrity, Honesty, Quality and Stay Local; and prides itself on delivering against these values to best serve their customers, regardless of their budgets or the size of their orders.

Unimpressed by the quality provided by their previous supplier, and frustrated by the industry’s larger companies’ slow pace with becoming compliant with the latest regulations, Kettell was looking for a change. This happened to coincide with Kettell’s founder, John Kettell, being approached by Comp Door’s Sales Director Richard Diliberto via LinkedIn in October 2022, and after learning more about what Comp Door had to offer, they became an emerging solution to the problems Kettell was experiencing.

When John and Lisa Kettell then made a surprise visit to Comp Door’s factory, they were welcomed by the senior staff and impressed by the company’s practices and product range. This visit solidified the foundation of the partnership.

Comp Door’s dedication to staying at the forefront of industry regulations and technological advancements strongly aligned with Kettell’s vision. Most prominently, the innovative auto-fire lock technology and the innovative design to tackle timber composite movement were standout features that appealed to Kettell’s dedication to excellence. Comp Door’s incorporation of the Liniar frame, a favoured window profile of Kettell’s, also affirmed the cohesion between the companies.

Currently, Kettell displays Comp Door doors at the centre of its Leicestershire showroom, featuring a range of 8 doors, including two from the new Discovery Range. The decision to embrace Comp Door’s offering was driven by Kettell’s dedication to its customers and the ambition to deliver top-tier products that set industry standards.

Indeed, Kettell’s Sales and Marketing Director, Lisa Kettell explains:

“We believe in offering our customers nothing but the best. Our partnership with Comp Door allows us to fulfil that by presenting the finest timber composite doors in the market. Through our stock and the service we offer, we’re crafting experiences and fostering recognition for exceptional doors and windows.”

Comp Door and Kettell’s similar values and shared ambitions are what fuel the dynamic partnership that enables mutual innovation through feedback, marketing initiatives, transparent communication, and collaborative product development.

Launched in March 2023, Kettell’s #BanishBadDoors campaign featured Comp Door’s products and was attended by Pierre Mifsud and Richard Diliberto, Comp Door’s Technical Director and Sales Director.

A major component of the campaign was a competition to give away and install a brand new Comp Door door to one homeowner, free of charge. The winner was Amy from Rothley, who designed her bespoke door using the design tool and was incredibly impressed by the ease of the ordering and installation process, and the quality and aesthetic of the new door.

Amy says of the experience,

“The installation team was polite, professional and friendly, I can’t fault them. I love my new door and how sturdy it is, especially compared with my previous one which had some problems with locking”.

Since the success of the event, social media engagement has increased and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with orders and installations rising steadily.

Richard Diliberto says of the partnership between Kettell and Comp Door:

“In an industry where options are seemingly limitless, Kettell sets itself apart as a trailblazer dedicated to exceeding expectations and consistently delivering on promises. This partnership has fortified our companies’ devotion to elevating customer experiences through exceptional products and innovation.”

To learn more about the fantastic products on offer at Kettell, you can go to their site at kettellwindows.co.uk, call them on 0116 2696721, or visit their showroom at Unit 12, The Warren, East Goscote, Leicester, LE7 3XA.

For more information regarding Comp Door’s impressive door range, go to their site at www.compdoor.co.uk, call them on 01782 340444, email info@compdoor.co.uk, or visit their offices and showroom at London Road, Chesterton, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 7PL.

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Monday, 9 October 2023

CGT Security launch a New Range of High-Performance Industrial Shutter Doors

As an industry-leading manufacturer of innovative security shutters, CGT Security is known for delivering quality solutions that are beyond the traditional shutter door.

So it is no surprise that their new product, ‘Intimidator’ presents the most comprehensive range of high-security industrial shutter doors, successfully combining maximum performance with multiple third-party accreditations.

The Intimidator range is certified to LPS 1175 with the product portfolio IR1 to IR4, covering A1 (SR1) to D10 (SR4) requirements in addition to having Secured by Design approval.

The innovative Intimidator industrial doors have excellent thermal and acoustic performance as well as hurricane wind-load resistance, making them ideal for a much wider range of industrial and commercial applications.

Available as single-skin profiles with optional perforation, or double-skin profiles with a choice of insulation materials, the Intimidator also allows manual or automatic locking selections giving complete versatility for all types of industrial purposes.

Whether securing data centres, vulnerable laboratories or protecting high-value production or logistics facilities, Intimidator industrial doors will provide the complete peace of mind that comes with knowing you have maximum performance combined with the added protection that LPCB-compliant products offer.

You can find out more about Intimidator and the extensive range of LPCB-accredited security shutter doors at www.cgtsecurity.com or by calling 0330 024 9409.

About CGT Security:

CGT Security Ltd is a leading manufacturer of innovative roller shutters, specifically for high security-rated applications.

All of their product ranges are certified by the LPCB to LPS 1175 Issue 8 standard ranging from A1 (SR1) to D10 (SR4) and have Secured by Design approval.

CGT Security has purpose-built manufacturing facilities in the UK and is ISO 9001 accredited. There is an in-house R&D and technical support team to develop and advise on bespoke applications for a wide range of sectors including government buildings, data centres, commercial and industrial buildings, high-security logistics centres and retail environments as well as cultural sites and embassies.

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Sunday, 8 October 2023

Concorso D’eleganza Varignana 1705 Curates 23 of The World’s Most Exceptional and Pre-Eminent Automobiles

The organisers of the exclusive Concorso d’Eleganza Varignana 1705 have released details of the spellbinding curation of pre-1973 automobiles that will star at the inaugural running of the event within Italy’s Motor Valley in Varignana, Italy, from October 13-15.

Each car, handpicked by a highly knowledgeable panel of global automotive critics and aficionados for its exceptional provenance, peerless aesthetics, and purity of purpose, represents a seminal moment in the history of automotive design and engineering.

A total of 23 cars will be exhibited in five classes - ‘Eleganza Anteguerra - Pre-War Elegance’, ‘Le Corse Eroiche - Heroic Races’ ‘Gioielli Italiani - Italian Fine Gems’, ‘Gran Class Sportiva - Great Sporting Class’, ‘Grinta et Stile - Grit and Style’ and ‘Icone dalla Germania - German Icons’– within the majestic grounds of the 18th century Palazzo di Varignana to conclude the European automotive Concours season in superlative style.

The inaugural Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705 has attracted many leading collectors, who have brought legendary cars from their iconic collections.

Corrado Lopresto and his family will display their exceptional Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Berlinetta Touring, Silvia Nicolis releases the wonderful Fiat 1100 E Vistotal from the famed Nicolis Museum while Hidetomo Kimura travels from Japan with his stunning Fiat 750 GT MM Zagato.

Naturally, as the Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705 is located in Italy’s Motor Valley in Bologna, ‘local’ talent, in the form of legendary brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati, is exceptionally well represented.

But home victory is far from guaranteed, certainly not in the Pre-War Elegance class, where a regal 1937 Jaguar SS 100 will prove robust competition for entrants, including the aforementioned 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Berlinetta Touring, an ultra-rare, 1933 lightweight aluminium-bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Zagato, and a 1929 Lancia Lamba VIII Seire Berlina GT Cabriolet, widely regarded as one of the most technically advanced automobiles of the age.

In the second class of the Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705, a 1927/35 Bugatti 37/44 Grand Prix will line up alongside a 1926 Maserati Tipo 26, a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS and a 1939/46 HRG Le Mans from the sadly long-since defunct British sportscar manufacturer, may seem to have little in common.

All four exude the indomitable spirit of Corse Eroiche - Heroic Races – the name of the class in which they are exhibited.

The ‘Italian Fine Gems’ class provides an equally eclectic, yet arguably more exquisite amalgamation of machinery.

A Fiat 110 E Cabriolet ‘Visotal’ Castagna will share lawn space at Palazzo di Varignana with a 1951 Fiat 750 GT MM Zagato and a 1952 Ermini 1100 Sport Internazionale – one of just three examples built.

Deciding the winner of the ‘Great Sporting Class’, where entries are set to include a 1965 Bizzarrini 5300 GT, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, a 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 and a Ferrari 275 GTB, will not be a task for the faint-hearted or the uninitiated.

But the members of the Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705 judging panel, Mr. Stefano Pasini, Mr. Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Mr. Adolfo Orsi, Dr. Mercatali and Dr. Giorgetti, have the resolve, knowledge, and experience to arrive at the correct decision.

‘Grit and Style’ is the name of the fifth class. Such qualities are epitomised by the 1963 Lancia Flaminia Zagato 3C, a car born to cross continents with peerless performance and unimpeachable character.

A second legend of the Lancia marque, a 1955 Aurelia B24 Spider, and an exquisite 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ will be also gracing the grounds of Palazzo di Varignana with their enchanting elegance.

A 1955 Fiat 8V Zagato, a car as capable of stunning motor show visitors as it was leading the competition a merry dance on racetrack and rally route, rounds off the class.

Finally, the ‘German Icons’ class illustrates the white heat of technological development that fuelled the country’s post-war rise to a powerhouse of automotive engineering.

Collectors and enthusiasts alike can marvel at the metamorphosis of the breed as represented by the transition from cars such as the era- defining post-war 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and 1957 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster to the dawning of a new decade of autobahn-storming performance with the 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL.

Carlo Gherardi, Founder of Palazzo di Varignana, commented:

“We are extremely excited by the extraordinary ensemble of exceptional automobiles we have secured for the inaugural Concorso D’Eleganza Varignana 1705, and humbled by the kindness of the collectors who conceded to entrust their prestigious creations to us.
“From the renowned collections of Lopresto, Museo Nicolis and Mr. Hidetomo Kimura – to name a few – each of these magnificent automobiles on display will enable us to deliver a truly spectacular event.
“Now, we look forward to welcoming guests through the gates of the Palazzo di Varignana to celebrate beautiful design, exquisite engineering and the very best of automotive culture in this glorious setting, a setting that echoes the very spirit of Italian craftsmanship and style”.

About Concorso d’Eleganza Varignana 1705

The Concorso d’Eleganza Varignana 1705 is a celebration of automotive artistry and elegance.

Held in the heart of the Italian Motor Valley, this exclusive Concours car event features a curated selection of classic cars built before 1973, each meticulously judged by a distinguished panel of experts.

The inaugural edition in October 2023 promises to set new standards for excellence in the world of classic car competitions.

www.palazzodivarignana.com/en/experiences/concorso-deleganza

About Palazzo di Varignana

Palazzo di Varignana is a luxurious resort nestled in the scenic Bolognese hills, offering 30 hectares of picturesque landscapes, 150 beautifully appointed rooms, four exquisite restaurants, refined event spaces, a sprawling Varsana SPA, sports facilities, and enchanting outdoor pathways.

It is a haven for enthusiasts seeking tranquillity amid the charm of the Italian countryside.

www.palazzodivarignana.com

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Saturday, 7 October 2023

Garador Fields Strong Team in Twilight Event

Garador has long been recognised for the strong involvement and support it gives to local charities.

Last weekend was no exception when Garador fielded a team of runners to take part in a special twilight fundraising event for its local Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance service.

The five-kilometre event was held at the Air Ambulance’s airbase in Henstridge not far from Garador’s Yeovil factory.

The runners from Garador included a mix of serious contenders and also some fun entrants who were happy to walk along a lot of the route, knowing every step was helping to raise funds.

A Garador team member said:

“It was a fun event to be involved in.
“There were some really good athletes taking part, but also some dressed in crazy costumes.
“It wasn’t really a competitive event; the idea was to raise as much money as possible for this local life-saving service.
“I think we were all pleased that we could take part and do our bit for such a worthwhile cause.”

Garador says money is still coming in for the event, so the total raised won’t be known for a few more days.

www.garador.co.uk

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Friday, 6 October 2023

Winkhaus Welcomes New Starters

(from left to right): Kevin Fairless, Fire Door Solutions Manager, Anna Marie Clementson, Content and Campaign Manager and Andy Wilson, Product Manager.

As part of Winkhaus UK’s dedicated value added proposition, they have brought three new starters into the team: Kevin Fairless, Andy Wilson and Anna Marie Clementson. The company has invested in each of the new starters for their specialised knowledge and proven skill in their areas, and each aids in guaranteeing their customers’ success.

Kevin Fairless, Fire Door Solutions Manager

Kevin joins Mark Alton’s Fire team as Fire Door Systems Manager for Winkhaus, as we continue to develop and expand our composite and timber fire doorset ranges.

Fire is a critical and growing part of our business and Kevin’s role is integral for continuing the support of our partner network of over 50 3rd Party certified manufacturers and in the development one of the largest evidence banks for compliance solutions in the UK.

Kevin has a background in certification, regulation and training across a variety of organisations in the built environment and professional membership organisations.

He has gained experienced knowledge in sustainability, innovation and quality, and places an emphasis on how his work impacts people and the environment.

He said:

“I’m excited to collaborate with a skilled team on challenging projects with a focus on fire door set solutions.

“My role is to ensure that the highest standards are met, providing safe, high-quality solutions across all three critical performance requirements: Fire, Smoke, and Security.”

Andy Wilson, Product Manager

Andy’s skills in mechanical engineering design will make him a valuable addition to Winkhaus as a Product Manager.

Working in the team of Senior Product and Technical Manager George Smith, Andy will offer design support, tailoring or complete development of new components, helping to fast track customer development programs.

Andy has a background in mechanical engineering design and previously worked as a Design Manager for a company making exhaust systems for high end cars.

He is looking forward to the variety that comes with his new role at Winkhaus, as this new area of his career will be both challenging and rewarding.

He said:

“Joining the team at Winkhaus is a big change from what I was used to, and I’m exciting to learn everything there is to know.

“It’s great to think that I’ll end my career with an exciting and rewarding role, and it just goes to show that it’s never too late to try something new.”

Anna Marie Clementson, Content and Campaign Manager

Anna Marie will work together with the marketing team to promote communications internally and externally, curating consistent, high quality content to help and support the growth of our customers.

Anna Marie’s storytelling ability will be an integral part of future Winkhaus content as she captures the added value solutions and services that Winkhaus develop to guarantee our customers’ success.

Anna Marie has a background in content writing for the housing and interior design industry.

Her most recent role as an Account Executive at a PR agency specialising in new build housing has given her an insight into the construction industry, and she is excited to learn more about the extensive process that go on behind the scenes.

She is ambitious to begin speaking to customers and colleagues at Winkhaus, capturing and promoting the valuable work they do.

She said:

“I’m proud to have achieved so much so early in my career, and I’m looking forward to the new possibilities that come with my role at Winkhaus.

“There is so much to learn, and I’m excited to collaborate with my colleagues from the marketing department and beyond to create new and exciting communications for the business.”

We are happy to welcome all of our new starters to Winkhaus UK, and we look forward to working together to generate success for each of our customers.

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Thursday, 5 October 2023

DHF Continues to Advocate the Gate Safety Campaign that it Started

DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has announced that it will mark another Gate Safety Month by offering a series of gate safety-related content throughout October.

The announcement comes in the ninth year of the ‘gate safety’ campaign launched by the trade association in 2014, to promote the continued safe installation, repair, and maintenance of automated gates.

Initially called ‘Gate Safety Week’, the campaign was re-named ‘Gate Safety Month’ thereafter and has become a year-round campaign aimed at creating awareness and educating both the public and industry professionals on the dangers of poor installation and maintenance, as well as how to spot an unsafe gate.

DHF’s enduring message continues to be: Safe Gates Save Lives! And throughout this month, the federation will be using its social media channels to encourage involvement, to spread the gate safety message far and wide.

There will also be free CPD-accredited webinars for DHF members throughout October, November and December; these will help to educate the industry on key topics and provide additional technical support for members.

The upcoming webinars are as follows: Compliance & Residual Risk Assessment on the 5th of October, Non-Contact Presence Detection on the 16th of November, and Force Limitation on the 14th of December. To register interest for DHF’s webinars, please contact marketing@dhfonline.org.uk

This year’s Gate Safety Month campaign coincides with DHF’s support of Fencex, the only UK exhibition dedicated to perimeter security, fencing and access control.

The event, which takes place on the 11th of October at the NAEC at Stoneleigh Exhibition Park in Warwickshire, is free to attend.

DHF is delighted to have a presence at Fencex once again, and Nick Perkins, DHF’s Training & Compliance Officer, will be on hand to offer technical advice and support throughout the day.

You can find the DHF team on stand 31.

DHF’s Commercial Director, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens explains:

“With automated gates becoming a more popular choice for consumers, it has never been more imperative to be in possession of the facts when it comes to gate safety.

“Gate Safety Month has grown considerably over the years and we continue to work with organisations such as HSE and The British Safety Council to raise awareness and campaign for higher standards across the industry.

“We continue to stress the importance of specialist knowledge, training, correct installation and maintenance for powered gates.”

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Wednesday, 4 October 2023

New How-to Videos Ensure the Smooth Operation of Doors

A new series of step-by-step videos for installing door hardware are now available to help installers ensure optimum door performance the first time around.

The new videos from ARRONE, a HOPPE brand, give information and guidance on the installation and maintenance of the AR1500 door closer, AR880 single panic bolt and AR915 mortice escape lock.

Each product has a series of three videos – product overview, installation and maintenance – that have been produced to provide a quick and easy way for installers to access the technical information they need.

The product overview videos highlight the specifications, features and certifications to help make sure the correct product is being selected for its intended use. The installation videos show everything from what is in the product box and measuring up through to how to use the template provided to guarantee a perfect fix. Advice is also given on the checks to do after initial installation. To complete the series, a maintenance video is also available to help know what to do when it comes to future inspections and to make sure all is working correctly.

Rob Adams, Technical Manager for ARRONE, said:

“We’ve created these videos to ensure that all of the people who have contact with our products have the information they need to specify, install and maintain products correctly.

“Even the smallest of errors during the installation and poor maintenance can lead to inadequate product performance of door hardware. These videos are to help eliminate those errors. They provide a simple step-by-step process for what needs to be done as well as having overlaying text displayed on the screen, making the videos more useable by more people.”

The new AR1500 and AR880 ARRONE videos are available on YouTube with the AR915 videos set to launch later this year.

ARRONE products are designed and manufactured to complement the HOPPE range of door and window hardware. Within this extensive range are door closing devices, panic and emergency exit devices, hinges, rim and mortice locks, door and pull handles, access control, signage and accessories. Many of the products in the range are extensively tested and certified to the very latest British and European standards where applicable and certified in line with national regulations.

To see all of the videos, visit the HOPPE YouTube channel.

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Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Alunet Systems Unveils 73mm Window Profile as Newest Addition to the ALUNA Range

West Yorkshire-based Alunet Systems announces the latest addition to their industry-leading ALUNA Range; a new 73mm window profile.

This newest profile option has been developed with product compatibility in mind, now available as an option to order and pair with the existing bifold system and in the familiar colours already on offer.

The production of a new profile signifies further growth and development for Alunet Systems, a direct result of closely monitoring evolving market demands and listening to consumer feedback.

The ALUNA systems are among the most popular of Alunet’s aluminium residential range, so customers can still expect the same characteristics, high quality, lightweight design and ease of installation with the new 73mm profile.

This latest design, however, is ideal for homeowners’ larger projects and was developed to be used in conjunction with ALUNA’s bifold system for a seamless aesthetic.

The ALUNA Range was unveiled at this year’s FIT Show and was very well received, quickly becoming a leading name in the industry with attendants commenting on the sleek design and small sightlines to allow for vast, uninterrupted views.

Customers familiar with the quality of the ALUNA range can be assured that the new window profile has been developed to the same standard, and with all the same features as the original products on offer.

For example, the 73mm profile has a U-value as low as 1.4W/m2K, it is PAS24 compliant, it comes with a 10-year guarantee, optional integral blinds, and is available in any RAL colour upon request.

Managing Director of Alunet Systems, Steve Hudson says of the new profile:

“Innovation and seamless design are what define Alunet, so incorporating these characteristics was the keystone in developing the latest addition to the ALUNA Range.
“The success we’ve had with ALUNA has been phenomenal – it’s among the most popular of our aluminium ranges - so we didn’t want to make any changes to what we knew was a good thing.
“The 73mm profile is just an extension to an already phenomenal range that extends the sleek design options we have on offer at Alunet, providing customers with more flexibility when making their design dreams a reality.”

To learn more about the range of products on offer at Alunet Systems, visit their website at www.alunetsystems.co.uk, email them at info@alunetsystems.co.uk, or give them a call on 01924 350 110.

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Monday, 2 October 2023

More Choice from Hörmann with the new HART 42 side sliding garage door

Hörmann UK has announced the introduction of the HART 42, a side sliding sectional garage door which features a choice of twelve decorative infill panels including coloured glazed options, steel perforated and textured panels.

HART 42 combines functionality, together with clean aesthetics to produce a garage door which will provide a striking addition to the façade of any home.

Providing optimum light and ventilation, the door is manufactured from lightweight, strong aluminum, and features large, evenly spaced panels for an elegant and harmonious appearance.

With its side sliding, convenient operation it is ideal for both new and retrofit garages where the ceiling space needs to be kept free due to construction restrictions or storage requirements.

Featuring 42mm panels, HART 42 has twin rollers with a rounded floor rail for reliable operation and smooth door travel.

A continuous bottom seal provides protection against the weather to Class 2 for water tightness and air permeability.

For safe operation finger trap protection is provided both internally and externally as standard, together with an automatic safety cut-out in the event of an obstacle being present during the opening/closing cycle.

An anti-lift kit automatically engages in the boom’s stop when closing and locks immediately, ensuring that the door is secure against forced opening.

HART 42 doors are only available with a Hörmann operator which provides quick and easy operation via a hand-held transmitter, mobile phone using the Hörmann BiSecur app or Smart Home system.

Programming of specific passage opening widths is also possible to allow pedestrian or car access removing the need to always open the whole door fully.

Clear, obscured, and grey tinted glazed panels are available and are supplied with the unique Hörmann DURATEC scratch-resistant finish.

DURATEC is an innovative surface coating, which protects the glazing panes from scratches and damage caused by cleaning and environmental conditions over the long-term, helping to guarantee a permanently flawless appearance.

The panel frames and outer frame are supplied in fifteen preferred colours and RAL colours of choice, which together with the twelve infill panel variants allows for a high degree of personalisation.

The result is the opportunity to create a unique and stylish garage door, combined with the market leading performance expected from a Hörmann sectional door.

To find out more about the Hörmann HART 42 garage door visit the Hormann website or call 01530 516868.

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Sunday, 1 October 2023

Formula 1® Intensifies Development of Aston Martin Valhalla Supercar

Aston Martin Valhalla, the ultra-luxury brand’s first series production mid-engine supercar, is reaping the benefits of the world’s fastest laboratory, Formula 1®.

Technological development in F1® is accelerated by the need for speed, reliability and performance.

Race-proven methodologies, expertise and technologies used by the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® team (AMF1) are being adopted by Aston Martin to intensify the development of future models.

Marco Mattiacci, Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of Aston Martin said:

“Aston Martin’s vision is to build a range of exceptional, class-leading driver-focused cars, crucial in the expansion of our core product line-up.
“As such our first series production mid-engine supercar will be transformational for this ultra-luxury performance brand as well as for the mid-engine segment.
“Valhalla represents Aston Martin’s first joint development integration between our road car engineers and Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® team’s F1® engineering capabilities through Aston Martin Performance Technologies and demonstrates Aston Martin’s breadth of capabilities with the technical support and expertise of Formula 1®.”

The technical crossover between Aston Martin and its eponymous Formula 1® team, which currently sits in fourth place in the FIA Formula One World Constructors’ ChampionshipTM, is facilitated by the consulting arm of the team, Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT).

AMPT is directly assisting Aston Martin’s performance engineering team in three key areas of development - dynamics, aerodynamics and materials.

Claudio Santoni, Aston Martin Performance Technologies Engineering Director, said:

“It is a great advantage for a car manufacturer to have access to the unique skills and knowledge of a Formula 1® team.
“F1® engineers are constantly pushing the boundaries in the pursuit of performance and have developed rapid problem-solving tools.
“With this knowledge ‘in-house’ we can seamlessly bring F1® expertise to road car development.”

Driving Dynamics

Aston Martin Valhalla is a truly driver-focused mid-engine supercar and the vehicle dynamics group in close conjunction with AMPT is working full throttle to deliver the pinpoint dynamics that will provide unprecedented driver engagement.

F1® design relies heavily on simulation tools and the methods used to ensure that every moment spent in the simulator brings progress has been put in place for Valhalla.

In fact, 90% of the dynamic characteristics and vehicle set-up has been completed in the simulator, with the final development phase completed in the real world, on the road and track.

Valuable input from the AMF1 drivers adds a new intensity to the calibration of Valhalla.

The elite-level skills and knowledge of drivers like Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso can take vehicle dynamics to a new level as they continue to push the car to the extreme edge of its performance capabilities.

The cockpit ergonomics of Valhalla have also benefited by taking direct cues from Formula 1®, in that the driving position has been optimised with support from AMPT to provide the driver with race car level control to maximise the pleasure of driving.

The driver’s heels are raised by a false floor, which also contains electronic modules and the unique carbon fibre bucket seat can be reclined to a greater angle to achieve a seating position more closely aligned to the AMR23 race car, whilst still offering road car comfort.

This aids in keeping a low roofline and ensures the driver feels truly connected to the car.

Aerodynamics

The joint expertise of both AMPT and Aston Martin’s aerodynamicists in both road cars and Formula 1® provides the brand with an opportunity to create addictive road cars, with the perfect blend of luxury and performance.

A quick look at the underbody of the AMR23 and the underbody of Valhalla, where most of its downforce is generated, illustrates how much F1® technology has gone into the new supercar.

The aerodynamic approach to Valhalla starts similarly to an F1® car, by using all elements of the body shape to generate downforce and minimise drag.

However, Valhalla is not restricted by F1® regulations so it can benefit from fully active aerodynamic systems at both the front and rear of the car which will generate over 600kg of downforce at 240km/h.

This enables Valhalla to constantly adapt front and rear downforce to maximise grip, balance and consistency, or reduce drag depending on the situation and the driving mode selected.

This enables drivers to extract the very best from Valhalla’s chassis and tyres, across the full performance range of the car.

Like the AMR23 race car, Valhalla features multiple element wings front and rear, though the front wing is largely hidden from view.

The front wing can lie flat in a DRS position to reduce drag or can be angled up to generate huge downforce directly ahead of the front wheels.

Behind the front splitter, the under-floor surface is concave, creating a low-pressure area that generates downforce.

Again, this feature can be controlled as part of the full vehicle active control algorithms on the car.

The multi-element rear wing lies flat to create the beautiful clean lines of the car, whilst generating a baseline level of downforce with minimal drag.

However, in track mode, the wing is raised high into the airflow to maximise its effectiveness.

The car then actively manages the angle of attack of the wing to continually balance between maximum downforce and DRS, to maximise performance.

Inspired by F1® vortex generators and aero features, small slotted louvres on the sill, just ahead of the rear wheel, act as mini diffusers to pull airflow out and upwards from under the car, increasing downforce.

A roof-mounted snorkel feeds both the engine intake, as it does in F1®, but also serves to feed cooling ducts for turbo intercoolers and to cool the engine’s Hot-V turbo configuration.

The vast knowledge of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing in F1® together with AMPT has been of huge benefit to the road car engineers.

The same aerodynamic tooling techniques used to create the AMR23 race car have been used to develop the aerodynamics for Valhalla.

The Valhalla engineering team working directly with AMPT utilised the same CFD software as the AMF1 team, including learnings on model set-up.

As in Formula 1®, Valhalla has used a scale model and moving road wind tunnel to develop the car, studying the same processes including ride height sensitivity, the effects of yaw, roll and pitch, steering and so on.

Materials

AMPT and the AMF1 team have been building cars from carbon fibre for many years so there is very little they don’t understand about materials, although the idea of building 999 carbon fibre monocoques will be a novelty to a team used to building just a handful of cars per season.

The AMPT carbon technologies team works on developing ideas that evolved in F1® and applying the same approach to Valhalla.

This has been of great benefit when it comes to areas such as the simulation of stiffness and crash-worthiness testing where great gains can be made by identifying any vulnerabilities before the destructive process of crash testing begins.

The structure at the heart of Valhalla is crafted to maximise stiffness with minimal weight, guaranteeing maximum control with millimetric precision.

Designed and engineered by AMPT, which applies their highly specialised F1® expertise and technical capabilities beyond the pinnacle of motorsport, Valhalla’s structure is the product of cutting-edge composite technology.

A complex and exquisite blend of carbon fibre materials, Valhalla’s carbon structure has been created using a novel and proprietary technology developed for Aston Martin.

The upper and lower sections of the structure are moulded from carbon fibre using a combination of the Resin-Transfer-Moulding process (RTM) and F1® derived autoclave technology.

The result is a singular, immensely stiff, strong and light passenger cell which delivers best-in-class dynamic structural attributes and outstanding safety, without compromising driver and passenger ergonomics.

Valhalla is at the forefront of Aston Martin’s transition from internal combustion to hybrid to full electrification.

Much has been learned within the engine management group to optimise performance and maximise efficiencies of Valhalla’s bespoke twin-turbo flat-plane V8 engine, which is the most advanced, responsive and highest-performing V8 engine ever fitted to an Aston Martin and when mated with three e-motors, creates a 1,012 PS hybrid all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain.

Twin electric motors on the front axle enable Valhalla to not only feature four-wheel drive but also allow the engineers full independent control of the torque applied at each of the front wheels – a technique known as torque vectoring.

Torque Vectoring enables a more positive steering response at turn-in, stronger grip through the corner and improved traction on corner exit.

Enhancing the driving experience and performance through all phases of the corner. The front e-motors also provide the reverse function, enabling a weight saving on the rear transmission.

A third e-motor is integrated into the transmission, providing additional power to the rear wheels as well as acting as the starter/generator for the ICE engine.

Carlo Della Casa, Aston Martin Product Development Director said:

“The knowledge and experience of the AMF1 team personnel at Aston Martin Performance Technologies combined with the skills and know-how of our road car development teams has enabled us to bring direct F1® learnings to sportscar development.
“Our target for Valhalla is to produce a supercar that will set best-in-class standards for performance, dynamics and driving pleasure.
“Valhalla will use active technologies to reduce the gap between the ‘Gentlemen driver’ and the professional one on track.
“Having open access to the knowledge within the AMF1® team has been a huge advantage for us as we develop this incredible car.”

The first running prototype will take to the road later this year, with Valhalla set to enter production in 2024.

www.astonmartin.com

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