Centor® Launches World's First 'Integrated Doors' Offering Homeowners Unprecedented Control of Living Environments

BIRMINGHAM, England, September 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A brand new category of patio doors, designed for a life without compromise

A brand new category of patio doors with beautiful built-in screens and shades that enable homeowners to maximise indoor/outdoor living will debut to the UK public at the Grand Designs Live show in Birmingham from 4-6 October. Centor Integrated Doors enable homeowners to enjoy unprecedented control of their living environment and uninterrupted views of the world outside.

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Centor, an award-winning designer and manufacturer of beautiful, eco-friendly doors, screens and hardware, is introducing its new 'integrated doors' to the UK market just weeks after a highly successful launch in the US, where the innovation received huge acclaim. "I would build a house just to put these doors in!" said a partner of New York firm Ennead Architects.

Centor Integrated Doors are beautifully designed with a 'no compromises' approach. "The overall quality and versatility of our integrated doors is something that really needs to be experienced first-hand in order to be fully appreciated," said Centor Europe General Manager Peter Watkins.

"The industry hasn't seen anything like this ever before - it could well be the most exciting innovation in the window and door industry since folding doors. We've invested years of R&D into creating this new category and have 14 international patents pending. Everyone who has seen these doors so far has been amazed and delighted with the flawless operation and sleek aesthetics," said Peter.

Fully integrated insect screens as well as blackout and sun shades discretely appear from and retract into the doorframe, maintaining clean lines and design aesthetics without the need for cumbersome curtains or blinds. Also, the hinges, locks and handles are all concealed within the slim sight lines to minimise visual interference, as well as enhance smooth operation and provide advanced security.

With fingertip ease, homeowners can now optimise their living environment, all day, all year round - to choose fresh air and open views, partial or total privacy, or to protect themselves and their furnishings from harsh UV rays and unwanted insects.

"At Centor, we believe the world is beautiful and everything we do is designed to connect people with the world outside to provide the best in inside/outside living," said Centor Managing Director Nigel Spork. "Until now, there has always been some degree of compromise - large doors offer great views, but little privacy; curtains detract from clean interior design and insect screens are only needed occasionally. But when you design everything from scratch to ensure that all the individual elements work flawlessly together you're able to provide the best possible experience for the homeowner. These doors bring people closer to nature while ensuring their homes are comfortable 24 hours a day, every day of the year," said Nigel.

"Our new integrated doors fill living spaces with light and fresh air in the summer months, while also offering filtering screens that slide smoothly out of the doorframe for protection from strong sunlight and insects," Peter said. "At night, the integrated blackout shades offer privacy and act like another layer of glazing, keeping homes warmer in winter. When they're not in use, these screens and shades completely vanish into the doorjamb, so there's no distraction from the clean aesthetics of the living space and minimal barriers to the world outside."

Designed for all architectural styles and large exterior openings up to 9.75 metres wide, Centor Integrated Doors are available in a variety of configurations, including two and three-panel sliding, folding, French and single patio doors.

Centor Integrated Doors are manufactured in the UK to customer specifications. Built to last, they are available with the warmth of solid wood on the inside and durable low maintenance aluminium on the outside as well as a complete thermally improved aluminium construction. Homeowners can choose between blackout and sun shades as well as insect screen options. The shade is available in a wide range of colours and textures, while the insects are kept at bay with a choice of two different mesh sizes.

The new integrated doors will be unveiled at the forthcoming Grand Designs Live event in Birmingham, where they can be seen and tested at stand number B658 between Friday 4 and Sunday 6 October. They are also available in showrooms nationwide from October. For more details visit http://www.centor.com

• Ultimate versatility - enjoy indoor/outdoor living, all day and all year round with screens and shades that appear/disappear on demand
• Sleek aesthetics - clean, contemporary design minimises visual interference
• Flawless operation - effortlessly smooth fingertip-touch operation

About Centor

Centor is a multi-award-winning company dedicated to the design and manufacture of great-looking and high-performing doors that set the standards for others to follow. Founded in 1951 in Australia by a German-born engineer, Centor has since expanded across three family generations and six decades of experience to enjoy international success The company's expertise in all elements of window and door systems (frames, panels, glazing, hardware, screens and shades) has enabled it to develop the world's first fully integrated door - creating a brand new product category in the process.

Centor's products have earned the company a series of awards: the AMP National Innovation Award for Australia, two U.S. Crystal Achievement Awards, the Telstra Queensland Business of the Year Award and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Centor manufactures and distributes its products through a European headquarters in Birmingham and also operates internationally.