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The custom art of security doors with Erika Incolti – Torterolo & Re

INSIDERS

Keywords:

Innovation , High-technology , Featured
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Since 1964, Torterolo & Re has been designing security doors and windows with a particular emphasis on security, aesthetics and thermal-acoustic performance. Offering high quality bespoke solutions and an infinite choice of materials makes this Italian company distinguish itself from the standardized offer on the market. We talked about it with Erika Incolti, Export Manager at Torterolo & Re, who over the last twenty years has made the design of security doors a real custom art.

Experience and innovation are among the strenght of the company. Which direction is the innovation factor taking in the security door sector? What new technologies are emerging? 

We pride ourselves on our innovation and our ability to keep up with the latest technologies. This is not easy when all improvements need to be tested in order to provide certified products for our customers. We have concentrated our R&D resources mainly in three areas, namely automation systems, doors of big size and anti-ballistic testing.

Thus, we are working on the integration of our doors and electronic locking with home automation systems such as Control 4 and Crestron. This allows customers to lock and unlock their doors via the control system (remotely if required) and allows for the interrogation of the door to see the status of it.

Then, we are designing bigger doors for high profile entrances. For instance, we are now making entrance doors for some very special international projects that are over 6 metres high and 2 metres wide. A lot of calculations and some advanced engineering is required to make this possible.

Finally, as for anti-ballistic testing, we are working in some parts of the World where the requirement for anti-ballistic doors is very present. We currently have a FB7 certified door that will stop a 7.62 armour piercing rifle round from penetrating through the door. As far as we are aware, nobody else has a product which has this level of protection whilst maintaining its beautiful appearance

Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re
Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re
Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re
Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re

The door is an essential element in the house furnishing as it anticipates the style of the indoor ambience. How is the relationship whith the customer structured and how is he guided in the design choice? 

A first aspect to underline is that we have never tried to impose a pre-defined design on our products. We have, of course, a standard product line available. However, most often architects and customers require that the style of the door is in accordance with that of the house, both in colours and materials.

In the design phase already, we discuss with the architect and customer the ideas to be realized, which are the starting point for the research. The major study focuses on the technical characteristics to be met to ensure the necessary level of safety. Then, from an aesthetic point of view almost everything is possible. We work on many drawings, samples and prototypes and, by doing so, over the years we have covered the doors with almost every kind of material: synthetic stones, natural stones, leather, fabric, wallpaper and wood.

What we ultimately develop is a very personal relationship. I do not believe in the notion “This is my product and I sell it”. Our company philosophy is rather “I go to a country, I learn its habits and customs and, together, we develop a product that is suitable for that specific market”. This is why our products are mostly bespoke.

Thus, the security door product can be seen in two ways. On one side, there is the classic security door, an anonymous and less expensive product, on which people do not want to invest from the aesthetic point of view. For this model there is plenty of competition worldwide. Then, there is the security door that requires more specific research, and not many companies are so versatile to be able to develop a number of complex projects at once. To us, the latter is more intellectually challenging and ideally suited to the bespoke nature of our business.

This philosophy was first introduced in 2005, with the publication of Slow Architecture for Living, in which together with the architect Luca Molinari we exposed a different architecture concept. It was the product of a personal intolerance towards an architecture that somehow “ran behind the wind”, bending to the needs of the case. On the contrary, for us architecture must have a certain value and a specific approach. Thus, we defined a new paradigm based on time and quality. “Slow” does not mean to go slow, but to use what we have differently and wisely.

Several examples on this theme were then translated in 2009 in the volume Slow Architecture. Istruzioni per l’uso, with a preface by Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food. Indeed, Petrini was one of the main references for me at the time. The idea of re-evaluating the place culture and developing a local architecture started at this point. The charm of each country lies in the diversity, in the coexistence of realities that speak a story and express a personality of their own. Uniform construction on a large scale is, in fact, a loss of culture.

Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re
Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re
Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re
Image copyright: @Torterolo & Re

We can therefore state that the creation of highly customized doors sets you apart. What are the steps of the customization process? 

In the first instance, we receive the project from the architect who follows the construction of the residence. Whether it is a building with many apartments or a large private villa, we start from the analysis of the door schedule and, based on this, we develop a proposal that can be 100% compliant with the architect’s request. Otherwise, we make alternative proposals or notes to the architect. We then study a solution in line with the project and suitable for the characteristics of a security door.

At this stage, we go hand in hand with the architect, with step by step changes and many samples. For instance, we are currently working in Kuwait on a project of an extremely complex door, as it is 9 meters high and made of different materials. In this specific case there was an initial review of the technical drawings based on our annotations to the architect’s requests, then we prepared samples, the customer approved them, then we made further changes, remade the samples and now we are finally in production. But every case is different and unique.

A theme closed to your heart is that of environmental protection. In what choices is it reflected? 

First of all, the company is ISO 14001 certified. We have recently made new changes towards greater sustainability: we are building a 500 kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roofs of our buildings in order to reduce the energy impact. In addition to green energy, we are trying to achieve more efficiency in general by investing in new more efficient machinery and minimizing waste processing and waste production.

We also try to use all materials from the certified supply chain, from wood to steel and to all the materials that constitute our products. We have not yet reached the formalization of the product life cycle, but it is certainly among our goals in the near future.

Are there any new projects in the pipeline?

We have several interesting projects that are coming up in this period. We are renovating our showroom in London and turning it into a more structured Torterolo & Re store. We are also developing new products and working on this from the point of view of communication. We should soon have a video, a brochure and the launch of a new product line that derives from the collaboration with some architects. It will surely be a great turning point for us in terms of standard production.

Erika Incolti <br/> Export Manager at Torterolo & Re
Erika Incolti
Export Manager at Torterolo & Re
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