YKK AP launches enerGfacade family of building envelope products

YKK AP's Luminance light shelf systemYKK AP America, the leader in manufacturing high quality architectural products, today announced enerGfacade™, its new family of energy-efficient products, as part of the YKK Group’s 50 year anniversary in the architectural products business.  The family includes several products, such as Luminance, ThermaShade, and YOW350T.  These flagship products are currently available on the market, and new products will be added soon, they have now been grouped as a family to better communicate their value as energy-efficient products. With this launch, YKK AP continues its longstanding commitment of being environmentally responsible. “Sustainability is – and always has been – a core philosophy for us.  YKK President Tadahiro Yoshida first wrote the Environmental Charter in 1994.  Since then YKK AP has continued that commitment through environmentally responsible facilities, and has bettered its performance, producing the most energy-efficient, high quality and value-rich architectural products.  As we celebrate 50 years in the architectural products business, we continue to honor that pledge with the launch of enerGfacade,” said Oliver Stepe, senior vice president of YKK AP America.YKK AP's ThermaShade sunshades

The enerGfacade family includes several products, including Luminance, ThermaShade and YOW350T.  Recognized as a Top 100 Product in June 2009 by Buildings Magazine, the Luminance light shelf system substantially improves interior daylight with highly reflective melamine surfaces which diffuse light deeper into the interior.  A unique assembly process includes a 90 degree tilt-down panel feature allowing for the easy maintenance of the light reflecting surface and the glazing above it.  When combined with YKK AP’s C2C certified award-winning ThermaShade™ sunshades, Luminance gives architects a complete sun control solution, providing opportunities to earn LEED certification credits. 

The YOW350T is a heavy duty, architectural grade window system that includes a triple glazing feature with integral blinds which provides strong solar heat gain control for structures, such as office buildings, hospitals, schools and condominiums. When used in combination with standard glazing, the YOW350T provides a U-value of .32 in a fixed window option.  YKK AP’s MegaThermâ technology is used to provide a thermal break in the YOW350T, which minimizes the flow of thermal energy between conductive materials.  This process enables the YOW350T to conserve energy, reduce operating costs and allow the system to have separate interior and exterior finishes to meet design needs.YKK AP's YOW350T architectural grade window system

Stepe continues, “This new family of products effectively communicates our offering of high energy-efficiency products to customers.  We have already received a strong response to Luminance, ThermaShade and YOW350T – and are proud of the impact we have made within the industry and to the environment.  We look forward to continued success.”

All YKK AP products are created in facilities that are environmentally-friendly and ISO 14001 certified, a standard which reduces the environmental footprint of a business as well as decreases the pollution and waste a business produces.  All manufacturing in YKK AP’s Dublin manufacturing plant is vertically integrated, decreasing the amount of waste on-site by ensuring all aluminum materials used within the plant are recycled. This model also enables YKK AP to maintain complete control of quality, delivery and cost.

About YKK AP America
YKK AP America Inc. manufactures entrances, storefronts, curtain wall, window wall, sunshades, windows and sliding doors for office buildings, residential high-rises, schools, stadiums, shopping centers and institutional structures.  It has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for Exceptional Leadership in Industrial Energy Efficiency.  YKK AP America is based in Austell, Ga.  It is a subsidiary of YKK Corporation of America, whose parent company is global manufacturer YKK Corporation of Japan.  For more information, visit www.ykkap.com.