Nu-Glaze® window & door glazing system
A modern solution to traditional window putty challenges
The eco-friendly uPVC advantage
What is PVC?
Most of us use PVC every day. Around our homes, it is used in a wide range of products such as pipes for our fresh water, drainage pipes, floor coverings, window frames, unique glazing systems such as the world's first Nu-Glaze system, offering to replace environmentally unsafe clay putty/caulking.
Products, cabling, toys, pool membranes, kitchen cabinetry, wall cladding, medical drainage tubing, food packaging and in the equipment we use. Not surprisingly, PVC is the one of the most common plastics in the world. Not only can PVC be made into rigid or flexible products it can be made as either a coloured or transparent material.
PVC is typically the material of choice in the building and construction sector because of its high performance, affordability and environmental properties.
What is PVC made of?
PVC is a chlorinated hydrocarbon polymer, and its basic building blocks are chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. These elements are obtained from two hydrocarbons, sea salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) and crude oil or natural gas. PVC, or vinyl, is one of the oldest thermoplastic polymers and is among the most commonly used and thoroughly tested plastics globally. Its manufacturing process involves extracting chlorine from regular salt and chemically combining it with ethylene, which is from coal.
The benefits of using PVC
PVC is always compounded with additives to give it a range of properties, such as rigidity, flexibility, fire resistance and liquidity. Vinyls are popular because of their numerous advantageous properties: PVC has excellent resistance to wear and tear – making it ideal for products that need to withstand hard usage over many years. It is lightweight, cost-effective and requires little energy to manufacture. This plastic is inherently flame-resistant and is impermeable to liquids.
Around 80% of vinyl is used for products that last for between 15 and 100 years. This long life means vinyl is one of the smallest pollutants with small volumes found in landfill and virtually none in waterways or the marine environment.
Studies show that vinyl does not pollute soil and groundwater and does not contribute to toxic leachate in landfill because it doesn’t degrade in landfill.
Nu-Glaze grade uPVC formula
Engineered to Outlast. Designed to Exceed.
From the onset, we realized that due to the uniqueness of Nu-Glaze, we needed a unique and special grade uPVC. A formula that was not available as a standard on any shelf, anywhere in the world. The uPVC grades available for conventional window and construction applications simply did not meet our standards. Yellowing, brittleness, premature cracking and even the dreaded “pinking” were common failures. In the Southern Hemisphere, these challenges are compounded by significantly harsher UV exposure than that experienced in the Northern Hemisphere, where many of these material formulations were originally developed.
We knew that “good enough” was simply not good enough.
This conviction led to a collaborative effort involving the Sasol Polymers Technology Service Centre, Sun Ace South Africa, Alpha Plast and other industry role players to design and develop a specialised uPVC grade capable of withstanding our demanding local conditions — and delivering durability well beyond the minimum requirements stipulated by SANS or other applicable standards for plastic window components.
The results speak for themselves. Accelerated weathering tests extended beyond the equivalent of 21 years, with no deterioration observed.
At Nu-Glaze, this commitment to durability is not merely a claim; it is an ongoing responsibility. We continuously test our materials to ensure that our standards are not only met, but exceeded.
Our determination to keep improving is demonstrated by the recent replacement of the original RX500 UV formulation with the even better-performing RX328 UV — a decision made despite the additional cost involved.
While the market often favours cost reduction to maximise profitability, Nu-Glaze deliberately takes a different path. We refuse to compromise material quality, long-term performance or customer confidence simply to reduce costs.
This is more than a manufacturing decision. It is a philosophy.
A philosophy built on uncompromising standards, continuous improvement and the belief that doing things properly today is the best way to ensure lasting performance tomorrow.
This is the Nu-Glaze philosophy: Never settle for the minimum when you can engineer for more.
Explore our product range
Download the complete Nu-Glaze product profiles and specifications.
