Most manufactured items in this world have a weakness, a part that usually fails first. On a car it's usually the battery, on a kettle it's usually the heating element and on an awning it's the arms. The arms on a folding arm awning do all the work and take all the stress, so that's the bit that breaks first. So you need good arms and that is what Weinor have.
Awning arms are just like yours and work in a similar fashion, only all they do is push themselves out and then pull themselves back in. (Some people may also only do this but we need not pursue that here). So the arms, just like yours have the key parts, muscles (springs), tendons (chains), shoulder, elbow and wrist joints and these on an ordinary awning are the most likely to fail.
Weinor Awnings are different, so let's look at the individual parts:
Springs. These provide the power to push the arms, fabric and front profile in and out. Most manufacturers make them out of cheap mild steel (why not, you can't see them!) but in our damp winter mild steel will rust. Weinor only use high grade stainless steel so they don't rust or break. Ever.
Chains. These attach to the springs. Most others use mild steel cable clamped with a mild steel fixing, some even use plastic cable. Weinor only use high grade Stainless Steel Chains, they don't break. Ever.
Joints. Virtually all other suppliers in the UK use cast alloy joints. Weinor only use forged joints. Want to know the difference? Well there is a long and complicated technical answer that shows that forged joints are 50 times stronger than cast joints.
For the non-technical or impatient, try this simple test.
- Wind your awning out.
- Take a big hammer.
- Give the elbow joint a mighty blow.
- Duck. (I'll come to that later.)
- If the joint has been cast (you can't tell by looking), it will shatter as castings are brittle.
- If it is forged you will mark the coating and depending how hard you hit it, maybe a small dent in the forging. Nothing else happens and the awning will continue to function normally.
- Back to 5. If the cast breaks then the arm unencumbered by the weight of the fabric and powered by the powerful springs, (even the cheap and nasty ones are strong!) will fly out to it's full extent, possibly removing your head on it's way. See note 4.
Now I know you are not likely to go out bashing your Awning with a hammer, however these are exactly the forces that the Awning has to cope with over a period of time as the wind constantly shakes the arms. Hence the forged joints. That is why the Weinor Awning costs a little more but we think it is more than worth it. How many other Awnings come with a 10 year parts guarantee? Even if you do have a hammer habit!
Anything Else?
Safety. All Weinor awnings come with a FREE wind sensor, so if you forget to wind them in when a hurricane is coming it will wind itself in.
Looks. Like most Awnings there is a huge range of fabrics to choose from, but unlike other Awnings, that only come in white, there are also 47 different frame colours to coordinate with your fabric and decor. And it's included in the price. So if you want something that blends in rather than white, choose Weinor.
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