Aluprof Support Dublin’s Architecture & Building Expo 2025

By Wojciech Brożyna - MD Aluprof UK - The Architecture & Building Expo 2025 (ABX 2025) took place at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Dublin on 8-9 October 2025. The event served as a key meeting point for architects, architectural technologists, building professionals and specifiers from across Ireland and beyond.

The show featured a broad exhibition scope from smart-home systems and modular building to insulation materials, security systems and façade solutions. This years event was run alongside the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Annual Conference.

Wojciech Brożyna - MD Aluprof UK

The conference theme was "Cities, Towns and Neighbourhoods”, according to the organisers, the accompanying show returned “with a focus on innovation and sustainability” for its 2025 edition. Visitors could engage with live talks, training hubs and demonstrations of new building technologies, allowing attendees to see how the Construction Industry is evolving in response to climate-challenges and regulatory change. Additionally, the networking opportunities were significant with the expo bringing together exhibitors and buyers, offering a platform for partnership building and sourcing of products and services from the Irish market.

ABX 2025 also offered a strong educational and business development component. Workshops and seminars looked at topics such as building automation, prefabrication, and green materials. For professionals in the architecture and construction sectors, the event provided a rich environment to stay up to date with trends, forge new relationships, and explore new suppliers and technologies all in one venue. In short, the expo offered the ideal mix of exhibition, education and networking for those working in building and architecture in Ireland in 2025.

The “Building Change” student lead zone at the event offered a dynamic, interactive showcase of how the construction and architecture industry is being reshaped. Located on the balcony area of the Main Hall at the venue, this space featured the specially designed “Constructive Interference” exhibition, an immersive installation of forward looking building technologies, innovative materials and collaborative design strategies. Aluprof exhibited on stand D5 at the exhibition under the banner of “Fire Safety and Sustainable Innovation,” using their attendance to communicate both technical solutions, fire-rated framing and glazed screens, façade and window systems and the wider sustainability story the business has promoted at other 2025 trade fairs, such as low-carbon production, recycled content and energy efficient product design.

Alongside a full sized sample of Aluprof’s newly launched ‘MB-79N CSF’ (Casement Slim Frame) the stand displayed corner samples of their ‘MB-SLIMLINE’ a slim steel looking system, the ‘MB-104 Passive’ a Passivhaus certified window and door system, a ‘MB-79N’ door corner sample, the ‘MB-78EI’ fire rated system and a sample of the companies class leading curtain wall system, the ‘MB-SR50N Efekt’. Aluprof was delighted to learn that their MB-79N CSF product was shortlisted for the ‘Architects' Choice’ award for the ‘Best Construction Product’ and ‘Best Exterior Product’ categories during the show.

This year, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin TD, addressed the conference, underscoring the national significance of Dublin Expo 2025 and Ireland’s ambitions for a more sustainable and technologically advanced built environment. His speech highlighted the Government commitment to driving green innovation, strengthening construction productivity, and investing in resilient public infrastructure while encouraging stronger collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, and the wider supply chain to support Ireland’s future growth and competitiveness.

Feedback from architects who attended the Architecture & Building Expo 2025 was broadly positive. Many praised the event’s fresh emphasis on sustainability, smart materials and cross-disciplinary collaboration, noting that the “Building Change” zone offered a strong platform for exploring emerging technologies. However, some architects also noted room for improvement in terms of deeper technical sessions and more manufacturer presence.

Overall, the consensus was that the Expo successfully brought together the architecture and construction communities in Ireland, provided valuable networking opportunities and helped set the tone for new ways of working in the Industry Aluprof UK have been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include, high performance windows doors and facade systems.

Many UK and Ireland based fabricators and installers supply these systems and  are on hand to offer surveys and cost analysis as to what improvements can be made  with likely paybacks.

Further information about the wide range of systems and  specification support is available through the company website at aluprof.co.uk or for  home improvement at aluprofliving.com and direct from their UK head office in Altrincham  by phoning +44 (0) 161 941 4005.

'Aluprof Living’ A New Offer With A Difference

By Shaun Cartwright - National Sales Manager of Domestic Systems Aluprof UK - For the homeowner, aluminium framed windows are an excellent choice for home improvement due to their strength, durability, and sleek, modern appearance. Unlike wood, aluminium doesn’t warp, crack, or require regular repainting, making it a low-maintenance option that stands up well to harsh weather conditions. Its inherent strength also allows for slimmer frames, which means larger glass panels and more natural light in your home, ideal for creating a clean, contemporary look.

Additionally, aluminium frames can be powder-coated in a wide range of colours and finishes to match any home’s style. From a performance standpoint, modern aluminium windows feature high performance thermal breaks and double or triple glazing, significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing heat loss. This makes them a smart investment, not only for comfort but also for lowering energy bills over time. Aluminium is also 100% recyclable, making the choice an environmentally friendly option for homeowners looking to make sustainable decisions.

Shaun Cartwright - National Sales Manager of Domestic Systems Aluprof UK

Together this balance of aesthetics, longevity, and energy performance, makes aluminium framed windows a practical and stylish upgrade. Aluprof, a well established aluminium systems company, providing aluminium systems for some of the UK’s most prestigious projects, has seized the opportunity to enter the home improvement market to meet the growing demand for high quality, long lasting products.

The portfolio of products include a new slimline casement window, a new entrance door system with a range of pivot and panel door options, plus an outdoor living range of structures, the Pergola system.

Complementing these new fenestration systems is a new range of garage door and roller shutter systems which helps home improvement companies to range build across a wide range of aluminium improvement products. Aluprof UK recently hosted its highly anticipated ‘Aluprof Living’ Partner Day, bringing together key fabricators and industry professionals for a day of collaboration, insight, and innovation. Held at Aluprof’s extensive showroom and training facility in Altrincham, the event showcased Aluprof’s latest product developments and sustainable solutions in aluminium systems, highlighting the company’s commitment to excellence and partnership.

With a dynamic mix of keynote presentations and interactive exhibits, attendees gained valuable knowledge about upcoming trends and Aluprof’s role in shaping the future of home improvement design. One of the highlights of the presentation was the newly introduced Casement Slim Frame window specifically designed for the UK and Ireland market. The Aluprof MB79N CSF Slim Casement Frame is a stylish and efficient solution for modern residential and commercial buildings.

Designed with minimalist aesthetics in mind, it offers slim sight-lines that enhance natural light and create a sleek, contemporary look. Engineered for high performance, the MB79N CSF Slim Casement Frame achieves an impressive U-value of 0.93 W/m²K for openable windows with triple glazing, making it an ideal solution for energy-efficient buildings and modern thermal standards. Its specially designed hinge system supports sash weights of up to 80 kg, allowing for larger window sizes that maximise natural light. Alongside its thermal efficiency, the system offers versatile configuration options, combining flexibility with a sleek, contemporary look that appeals to both architects and homeowners.

At the Aluprof Living launch event, Mags Herbert, Aluprof’s Garage Door and Rolling Systems Sales Manager, also introduced Aluprof’s SkyRoll and insect screens to the delegates designed to seamlessly complement the Aluprof Pergolas and sliding systems to enhance outdoor living with practical, stylish shading and protection solutions. The Partner Day was not only an opportunity to share expertise but also to celebrate the strong relationships that underpin Aluprof UK’s continued growth in this trade sector.

Delegates praised the event’s organisation, informative sessions, and the chance to engage directly with the Aluprof team. The success of the day underscored the company’s dedication to fostering a collaborative network and delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the home improvement market when living with aluminium framed windows and doors.

Should you be interested in reviewing the wide product range and the excellent support package that ‘Aluprof Living’ offers please contact Aluprof UK or visit aluprofliving.com, Aluprof’s dedicated homeowners portal. Aluprof UK have been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include, high performance windows doors and facade systems.

Many UK and Ireland based fabricators and installers supply these systems and are on hand to offer surveys and cost analysis as to what improvements can be made with likely paybacks. Further information about the wide range of systems and specification support is available through the company website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham by phoning +44 (0) 161 941 4005.

Aluprof Eases Gateway 2 Compliance

By Tom Cherowbrier, Major Projects Manager at Aluprof UK - Gateway 2 Compliance, introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022, is creating  significant disruption across the Construction Industry. At this stage of the approval process, a complete and fully coordinated design must be submitted and approved before any building work can begin. This requirement represents a major shift from established practices where design and construction traditionally overlapped, allowing issues to be resolved on-site.

The result has been widespread project delays, increased costs and logistical difficulties as developers and contractors adjust to the stricter regulatory environment. Much of the challenge lies in the scale of information now required. Gateway 2 places a strong emphasis on detailed documentation and maintaining the ‘golden thread’ of information, ensuring that design intent, safety measures, and materials are all fully recorded. Many organisations, particularly smaller firms, are struggling with the resources and digital systems needed to meet these demands, added to this is a lack of clarity in how regulators will assess submissions, which has created uncertainty and hesitancy in moving projects forward.

Tom Cherowbrier, Major Projects Manager at Aluprof UK

For an industry already under pressure to deliver more housing quickly, these bottlenecks are proving difficult to manage. However, despite the frustrations, Gateway 2 is an essential step towards raising safety and quality standards in construction. The system was introduced to prevent unsafe compromises and poor record-keeping, lessons tragically underscored by the Grenfell Tower fire.

By ensuring that critical safety measures are embedded in the design before work begins, Gateway 2 helps protect residents and provides greater accountability throughout the building’s lifecycle. Over time, the requirement for earlier collaboration, better coordination, and improved transparency has the potential to transform industry culture, leading to fewer defects, safer buildings, and stronger public confidence. Whilst the transition is undoubtedly challenging,

Gateway 2 should be seen as an investment in a safer, more professional built environment. Aluprof UK has demonstrated a strong commitment to aligning with the Building Safety Act 2022 requirements, particularly regarding Gateway 2 approvals. Their broad range of high-performance façade solutions, all 3rd party tested to relevant standards, with over 1,500 third party certificates of compliance, makes Aluprof the ideal partner. Their major projects team collaborates closely with specialist façade contractors to ensure that all necessary supporting documentation and compliance measures are meticulously prepared for submission to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

This proactive approach is crucial, especially considering recent challenges faced by the BSR, such as delays in processing Gateway 2 applications due to an outsourced delivery model and a shortage of in-house technical expertise. Choosing Aluprof fire-resistant screens together with Glassprof glass provides a reliable and fully tested solution for safeguarding buildings while maintaining design flexibility. Aluprof’s systems are engineered to deliver high levels of fire resistance, compartmentation, and smoke control without compromising on aesthetics, while Glassprof glass complements these systems with certified fire-rated glazing that ensures transparency, natural light, and architectural freedom. Together, they offer architects, contractors, sub-contractors and building owners a trusted combination of safety, compliance, and performance for all construction projects.

Aluprof’s vertical integration benefits specifiers by ensuring consistent product quality, streamlined supply chains, and enhanced technical support. With in-house system design, manufacturing, and testing, Aluprof delivers high-performance aluminium systems that meet stringent UK and EU building regulations, including Gateway 2 requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022. This integrated approach allows for greater customisation, faster lead times and improved cost efficiency, giving specifiers confidence in project timelines and compliance. Additionally, direct collaboration with Aluprof’s experts ensures tailored solutions that align with architectural intent whilst enhancing sustainability and energy efficiency. Current statistics show that Gateway 2 compliance remains a major challenge for the Construction Industry.

Approval rates are very low, with only around 10–14% of applications being approved. For example, as of mid-2025, just 20 out of 187 new higher-risk building applications had received approval. Across all new build and remedial submissions between late 2023 and 2024, the success rate was similar at 146 approvals from 1,018 applications.

The vast majority of applications—up to 75%—are being rejected due to incomplete or poor-quality submissions, while a further 20% are ruled invalid because they fail to meet statutory requirements or lack essential documentation. Delays are also a serious issue, with the average approval taking around 22 weeks, far exceeding the statutory 8–12 week timeframe. In some cases, projects have been delayed by 40 weeks or more waiting for Gateway 2 clearance. Freedom of Information data shows that by early 2025, over 700 applications were still pending, adding to a significant backlog.

These statistics highlight both the complexity of the new regime and the ongoing difficulties applicants face in providing the detailed fire and structural safety information required by the Building Safety Regulator. Speeding up Gateway 2 approvals requires both improved application quality from Industry and greater efficiency within the BSR. Many delays stem from incomplete or poorly prepared submissions, so design teams must ensure that all structural and fire safety details are fully coordinated and documented before applying. Investing in specialist consultants, carrying out thorough pre-application checks, and engaging earlier with the regulator can reduce the risk of rejection.

Better training for architects, contractors, and consultants on Gateway 2 requirements would also help raise standards and cut down on the high percentage of invalid or incomplete applications currently being submitted. On the regulator’s side, resourcing and process improvements are key. The BSR could speed up approvals by expanding its review teams, streamlining the multi-disciplinary assessment process, and introducing clearer guidance on what constitutes a compliant application.

Phased or staged approvals, already being trialled in some cases, may also help by allowing work to progress whilst certain technical details are finalised. Ultimately, a combination of better-prepared applications and more efficient regulatory handling will be needed to reduce backlogs, shorten determination times, and give the construction sector greater confidence in navigating Gateway 2. Aluprof UK have been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include, high performance windows doors and facade systems.

Many UK and Ireland based fabricators and installers supply these systems and are on hand to offer surveys and cost analysis as to what improvements can be made with likely paybacks. Further information about the wide range of systems and specification support is available through the company website at aluprof.co.uk or for home improvement at aluprofliving.com and direct from their UK head office in Altrincham by phoning +44 (0) 161 941 4005.