A County Armagh based firm has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to develop technologies in order to reduce heat loss from traditional wooden sliding-sash windows.

The Glass Shutter Company, which is owned and managed by Tommy McClimond, recently applied the new frameless glass shutters to windows at the historic Bishop's Palace in Armagh.

The Glass Shutter Company used Invest NI Innovation Vouchers to access advice and technical support from the Northern Ireland Technology Centre at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University to turn an initial concept into a successful commercial product with an extensive export potential.

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The tests found a 40% improvement in the thermal performance of a single glazed sash window when Glass Shutters were added.

Mr McClimond said: "The new frameless, glass shutter system is the outcome of many years experience in joinery projects on historic and listed buildings where wooden framed windows were restored and reglazed.

"I saw an opportunity to develop a frameless glass shutter system for period homes and historic buildings that enabled owners to achieve significant savings on their heating bills.

"The Invest NI Innovation Vouchers were excellent in that they enabled me to turn this business idea into a successful venture."

(CD/JP)