Gretsch-Unitas Wins Product Design and Innovation Award

Gretsch-Unitas (G-U) has been named the winner of the Product Design and Innovation – Electronic Award at the AI Specification Awards.

Organised by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the event took place at IET London: Savoy Place.

The award, sponsored by the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA), is said to recognise developments in electronic access control and automation.

The winning entry, the GU DTN 80 UFO (Underfloor operator), is an electro-mechanical swing door operator designed, engineered and assembled in the UK.

By concealing the drive mechanism completely within the floor, the system automates swing doors without visible face-fixed hardware.

The configuration supports projects where visible hardware is restricted, such as external facades requiring seamless glass sightlines or listed heritage buildings.

The mechanism is contained within an IP67-rated stainless steel housing, which was tested by Element Materials Technology to BS EN 60529:1992+A2:2013 standards for wet or outdoor locations.

The operator can be used in fully automatic or low-energy modes, acting as a direct drive bottom pivot or via a lever guide rail as an indirect drive solution.

A video of the winning entry can be viewed here.

The AI Specification Awards, organised by the GAI in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), reportedly celebrate excellence in the specification and design of architectural ironmongery throughout the construction industry.

This biennial event highlights the collaborative relationship between architects, specifiers and architectural ironmongers, recognising architectural integrity, safety, usability and sustainability in commercial, public and residential projects.

Technical details and specification advice regarding the GU DTN 80 UFO are available by contacting the Gretsch-Unitas team at sales@g-u.co.uk, or by visiting: Your partner for window, door, and building technology | Gretsch Unitas Limited