Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre Announces Second Project January 22, 2009
Whitehorse, Yukon (January 22, 2009) – YCCIC today announced the funding of a second project through its Research and Development (R&D) Fund. They will be granting $30,000 to Whitehorse-based window manufacturer Northerm Windows toward the development of a four-paned window system.
“This project, and Yukon Energy’s announced earlier this month, are exactly what the fund was developed for: fostering commercially viable innovations that have the potential to benefit Yukoners” Yukon College President and YCCIC Board Member Terry Weninger said. “Beyond the long-term benefit of this type of innovation, the centre and its partners are creating an immediate positive economic impact.”
A leader in window manufacturing in the North for over two decades, Northerm employs 25 people at its 35,000 sq ft plant in Whitehorse. Over the past year, the company has been working with engineers to design a cost-effective, four-paned vinyl window for the residential/commercial market. The new window system will be listed as the Northerm 4000 Series.
“The technology is advancing to the point where we could have a grasp on some of the highest R values in Canada,” Northerm General Manager David Borud said. "We’re aiming for an R-value of about 9.5 in a standard quad-pane LOW E unit. Our triple pane LOW E currently reaches 5.6.”
"We've got a larger facility now so we can bring in automation and more advanced equipment," Borud said. "The quad-pane will require a different fabrication process because of the weight of the window and the eight glass surfaces. We originally set out to use this for its thermal value and broaden our northern markets. Now, in addition to improved energy-efficiency, we're looking at licensing our framing system to other fabricators and have had encouraging interest from southern markets for acoustic window production- essentially better soundproofing."
The R&D grant from YCCIC will contribute to the next phase in Northerm’s project involving testing, approvals, diecutting and quality control. Once the product is ready to go into production, the company will proceed with plant upgrades, equipment conversions and marketing.