Opitome Celebrates a Decade of Excellence in Architectural Hardware

At Opitome, they understand the challenges of the specification process and project work and offer a fully managed, all-inclusive complimentary service that includes scheduling, technical support and advice, and centralised procurement. This 360-degree approach to service sets the company apart and is what truly makes them exceptional.

From door and window fittings to locks, latches, and hinges, Opitome provide a full range of products and ensure the finishes perfectly match for every project. They are committed to making the entire process seamless and hassle-free for their clients.

Director, AJ Powell shares “The past decade has seen our team successfully complete each project and gain a loyal client base within the industry. Just some of our high-profile projects include Royal Palaces in the Middle East, major commercial office buildings and luxury residential developments in Mayfair, Kensington, the Cotswolds to name a few. Our teams consulted and supplied all hardware throughout. To celebrate our 10-year milestone, we'll be collaborating with select partners to develop new and innovative designs. We're constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible with architectural hardware. Watch this space!”

Opitome is proud of their 10-year journey and looks forward to continuing to provide exceptional fittings and unparalleled levels of service to their clients for many years to come. The company extends its warmest wishes for the future and thanks all their clients, partners, and supporters for their continued loyalty and trust.

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In this week's interview with 2021 SBID Awards winners of the Interior Fittings category, Finfort, discuss the complexity of their product, share tips on creating convenient and consumer-focused products, as well as the key considerations to have in mind when approaching the specification of security solutions.

How important is it to enter the SBID Awards & receive industry recognition for your work? What are the benefits?

Entering the ‘SBID Awards’ was without a doubt, the best decision Finfort made in 2021!  The ‘SBID Awards’ recognise and celebrate the value of design and innovation - so having launched our innovative range of elegant high security door locks with automatic deadbolts in 2020, we were naturally very keen to be part of it. The awards also provided the perfect opportunity for us to proudly showcase our exciting new designs to the interior design industry.

We were thrilled to discover our FinBolt Triple Door Lock set won the SBID Product Design Award for the interior fittings category.  Not only did the award help boost our credibility as authentic and trusted innovators, but it also demonstrated the high-end quality of our products whilst providing an invaluable level of media exposure. This really helped us gain traction as an emerging brand.

What do you think made this particular design an award winner?

The FinBolt lock is a major innovation in door security, combining ultra-safe convenience and beautiful craftsmanship. The award winning FinBolt Triple Door Set makes it possible to secure a door at multiple points, with independently operating locks which automatically deadbolt every time the door is closed. With the FinBolt lock, busy homeowners never need to worry about whether they’ve locked their doors properly again! Once the door is closed, it’s totally secure - without ever needing to turn a key! Not only is it functional, but it’s aesthetically pleasing, with the FinBolt Triple Door Set proving high security doesn’t have to mean ugly! FinBolt’s visible door furniture is boastfully sleek, elegant and complimentary of any door. We think it’s this combination of beautiful aesthetics and unparalleled functional delivery that makes this a standout product.

Tell us about the product development process behind FinBolt. How do you use architectural expertise and technical knowledge to produce effective security products/mechanisms?

As with all our products, we’re proud to start with the needs of the consumer. In this case, a need for convenient high-end security was our starting point. When our co-founder (and architect) Timothy Finn couldn’t find a recessed automatic deadbolt for a client who was always too busy to lock his door properly, he engaged his passion for engineering and set about designing it himself!

Product development involved several iterations of designing, patent application, prototyping and testing to ensure the product worked flawlessly and also conformed to the rigorous British standards. We’re particularly proud that the FinBolt is manufactured in the UK, leveraging expert craftsmanship and the very best of British engineering.

We will also always be committed to refining our designs to perfection, so we sought technical feedback from 100s of locksmiths, by exhibiting prototypes at the Master Locksmith Association Expo Trade Shows in 2019, and we were both thrilled and honoured to receive their ‘Best Product Award’.  We were grateful to have also collaborated with The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, who provided valuable input on the technical challenge of offering bespoke finishes!

Ultimately, key to producing an effective security mechanism is a consistently reliable automatic deadbolt – something we’ve managed to achieve through our patented ‘trigger and bolt’ balanced action, together with a high-security cylinder and key registration.

From a client perspective, what are the key considerations a designer should have in mind when approaching the specification of security solutions?

It’s simple…high-security, user convenience and an aesthetic fit.

There are several high-security door locks available on the market (look for the ‘British Standard’ certification); however, very few deliver the convenience of automatic locking whilst fitting the aesthetics of a classic British door. Think about the average homeowner for a moment – busy people with busy lifestyles. There’s little value in installing high-security manual locks which require specific effort to secure, each and every time you want to leave the house. It’s inevitable that you’ll forget at some stage, leaving your home and its contents vulnerable. Furthermore, your door can set the aesthetic tone for the rest of your home, so door furniture and finish is critically important. Even a slight mismatch of colour will ruin the overall impact and leave homeowners frustrated. This is why all six FinBolt finishes have been perfectly colour matched to the extensive M. Marcus Heritage Brass Ironmongery range for a stunning and perfectly matched finish.

Now that you’ve won an SBID Award, what are the next steps? Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

Since the SBID Awards last October, we’ve been collaborating with Avocet ABS (our cylinder supplier) to increase the range of standard finishes we can offer to our customers. The FinBolt Triple Door Set with 3 star kitemarked cylinders from Avocet ABS will shortly be available in 6 finishes, which includes the very popular Antique Brass and Matt Bronze. We’re very excited to now be seeing our ethos of bringing security and style together, coming to fruition!

We also have two new product designs underway: a fire-tested automatic deadbolt lock for apartment doors, and a high security lock case that integrates the FinBolt automatic deadbolt with smart handles, combining the ease of smart keyless entry, with mechanical automatic deadbolting!

What advice can you give to young designers starting out in the design industry?

Keep the needs and wants of the ultimate end-user at the forefront of your mind, whilst aiming for that perfect balance between function and aesthetics! There will always be an appetite for convenient, beautiful designs which enhance people’s lives. Product design (especially highly technical design) can be arduous and requires tenacity to really challenge the status quo and find better, aesthetically pleasing solutions which ultimately satisfy the consumer.

Questions answered by Timothy Finn, Founder, and Hilary Duggan, Co-Founder, Finfort.

This week's instalment of SBID's Product of the Week series features a hardware collection design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Croft.

The Mineral Collection by Croft is a one-of-a-kind, limited edition range for those looking to seamlessly transform and add character to any space. As its name suggests, the overall design concept of the collection is based on natural occurring minerals. The Mineral collections look of purity and intrigue suggests it is a naturally formed product, celebrating the relationship between nature and craftsmanship.

Meticulously hand-crafted using a pattern bonding process, the collection is comprised of Croft’s Elegance door handle with a covered rose, bathroom turn, cabinet knob and handle and an appliance pull. Available in a matt or gloss finish and two striking colours, Tiger's Eye and Jade, each product has its own individual, colour-bearing veins giving a uniqueness to every item. A step away from their usual product range, the Mineral Collection was created by Croft, a British manufacturer based in the heart of England.

Our curated selection of product news this March features sleek screwless flat plates for streamlining your unsightly plug sockets, bespoke contemporary rugs inspired by glass objects and built-for-business office aquariums designed to boost employee wellbeing!

Schneider Electric present understated wiring devices with the Ultimate range

Ultimate Screwless flat plate provides one of the most comprehensive ranges of beautifully crafted, sleek, sophisticated fittings on the market. With only 1.5mm front plate depth, this cutting edge screwless design blends seamlessly onto wall surfaces. More choice, more style, and packed with innovative technical features for easy installation. It is available in a variety of colours, such as stainless steel, polished chrome, pearl nickel, black nickel, polished brass, gloss white piano black or transparent. With the option of producing exclusive made to order finishes to match your project needs. These colours are dark bronze, jet black, antique brass and bright white.

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Introducing Everlux brassware finishes by Roca

Roca is pushing the boundaries of traditional brassware with the introduction of its new Everlux finishes for selected brassware lines including Insignia, Naia and Lanta in the exclusive PVD coating for a selection of coloured finishes including; Gold, Titanium Black and Rose Gold.

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Deirdre Dyson launched new rug collection, Looking Glass

Deirdre Dyson’s new rug collection for 2020, ‘Looking Glass’ launched at Maison et Objet, Paris in January. These hand knotted designs were inspired by Deirdre's observations of colours and forms through glass, glass objects and water. Nine new designs take her carpets in an entirely different direction - Deirdre uses the interplay of wool, silk and grading together with bold shots of colour to recreate glassy effects to stunning effect. All Deirdre Dyson carpets are bespoke and can be made in any size or colourway required with the new collection on display at the Deirdre Dyson Gallery on 554 Kings Road.

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Italian Luxury Surfaces join the ArtiCAD Supplier Partnership Programme

Italian Luxury Surfaces, sole UK distributor of Stone Italiana’s innovative range of quartz worktops, has joined the ArtiCAD Supplier Partnership Programme. The company’s beautifully manufactured surfaces are now available as a comprehensive graphics catalogue within the ArtiCAD-Pro software to help designers differentiate their designs and add value to their customers. Philip Winter, sales and marketing director, Italian Luxury Surfaces explains "We wanted to ensure that designers can access high-quality, accurate graphics of our products and create inspirational, photo realistic designs for their customers."

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ViDERE showcases its built-for-business Aquariums 

ViDERE's range of office aquariums are designed to help companies improve their working environment and employee wellbeing by helping people connect with nature. Designed in the UK and manufactured in Germany with a contemporary matt finish, each tank is built to the highest standard. Made with low iron glass to eliminate distortion and provide remarkable clarity, the tanks are mitred at the seams with high strength structural silicone and built with composite panels sprayed with a versatile and waterproof polyurethane lacquer for durability.

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