'Strong articulated arms: sustainability in action'

"A Winsol awning, or canopy as we say in Belgium, that's really coming home to your terrace!" laughs Xavier Costenoble, CEO of the Belgian manufacturer of sun protection and outdoor living products. "The world of awnings is evolving and Winsol is ready with articulated arms tailored to today's challenges." 

Awnings are becoming larger and larger, often wider than 5 m, with an average projection of almost 3.5 m. This trend continues every year. In addition, partly heavier fabrics are being used, the demand for additional comfort features is growing and higher wind classes are putting pressure on the articulated arms. 

Winsol's awnings are designed to meet these modern demands, says Costenoble. "With our 4-fold arm with self-lubricating steel cables and the advanced arm with Dyneema Powerband with woven Dyneema fibers in the elbows, our awnings are not only powerful, but also durable: our articulated arms last up to ten times longer than standard articulated arms! The hinges made of forged aluminum and 20% thicker profiles ensure that these articulated arms are much stronger and more dimensionally stable, and therefore can withstand wind forces of up to 6 Beaufort - wind class 3 - at a projection of up to 4 m!" 

Winsol offers three types of articulated arms to meet various needs. The choice depends on factors such as awning type, width and extension, location, fabric weight, intended use: intensive, for example in the hospitality industry, or occasional for residential use and finally, additional options, such as a volant-plus or LED lighting. 

Increased headroom

Standing upright under an articulated awning, taller people can occasionally bump their heads against the elbow of an articulated arm. "Fortunately, this risk is now a thing of the past, thanks to the smaller elbow angle of less than 50% of our two strong articulated arms, which thus offer increased headroom," Costenoble observes. "But that's not all. Our awnings with their powerful articulated arms can also handle even larger spans, up to 7 m wide, without compromising wind resistance! In addition, our advanced articulated arms ensure an even and tight tension of the fabric, regardless of the position of the screen. In addition, we eliminate the inconvenience of creaking springs and chains, as Winsol's new articulated arms are designed to move smoothly and silently, without the need for lubrication. This means more comfort and effortless operation of an articulated screen, so end users can enjoy their patio and the outdoors undisturbed." 

Lighting

Winsol clearly thinks beyond practicality and completes the picture with various lighting options for its articulated arms. Dimmable white light with an adjustable color temperature or atmospheric RGB light, there are plenty of different options. 

"Our latest 4-fold cable and woven Dyneema Powerband arms, can be optionally equipped with an integrated LED strip," Costenoble explains. "This lighting option can be easily replaced or added after the fact. For control, Winsol makes it easy with one-touch remote control or control with one's smartphone. Coziness under the awning is therefore guaranteed!"