Narrow Vertical Headrail vs Tiltrak 1000. Which is the best for me?

Vertical Blinds are a popular window shading solution. According to the latest interior design trends, they’re a must-have for interior designers’ repertoire in 2022. Finding their way into modern workplaces and homes, the good old verts now come in several different headrail options. Although they all work on the same principle, the slight variations between them can make a huge difference for clients and manufacturers alike.

In this blog I’m going to compare some of the most popular narrow-bodied vertical systems, so you know which is the best option for you, regardless of whether you buy made-to-measure or build your own – This is Narrow Headrail vs Tiltrak 1000.

Narrow Headrail System

Tiltrak 1000 System

SIMILARITIES

Appearance 

Both systems employ similar (appearance and dimensions) so-called slimline but sturdy headrail which means that they are a perfect solution for the whole spectrum of window sizes, especially with a tight recess. For me, however, their most prominent advantage over the wide-bodied vertical headrails is simply the fact that their slimline headrail is much less noticeable, leaving the fabric to manifest aesthetics. Speaking of fabrics, both systems utilise 89mm and 127mm louvres and the range of fabrics is truly extensive – from plains, patterns, and dimouts to blackouts, we’re talking about hundreds of fabrics to pick from. By the way, this goes for all vertical systems as the runners they utilise are compatible with a wide range of slat holders.

Control & safety

Both systems can be controlled with plastic (white) or metal (chrome) chains that are available with a range of safety devices to render the blind child safe. Additionally, for your peace of mind, both systems are also available with a wand control option which makes them inherently child safe so you know your blinds are safe, compliant with child safety regulations, and less expensive as you don’t need to worry about getting any extra safety devices.

Narrow Headrail System – Wand Control

Tiltrak 1000 System – Wand Control

DIFFERENCES – The devil’s in the detail

No. of components

The major difference between these two systems is the control end design which has a huge impact on the number of components needed to build a headrail. if you manufacture the Narrow Headrail system you’ll need different sets of runners for different control sides whereas the Tiltrak 1000’s control end holds a tilt rod at the central position in the headrail and it’s universal for both sides which means you don’t have to have double stockholding you just simply spin the headrail around to change the control side.

Tilt rod shape

Another important difference is the runners’ design and tilt rod shape. The Tiltrak 1000 system employs direct drive runners with pegs directly driven by a star-shaped tilt rod eliminating the possibility of a lazy runner which can be the case with the narrow headrail system at times due to its runners and tilt rod design.

Runners & light control

Also, Tiltrak 1000’s runners are wheeled and this is quite unique for a narrow-bodied system, making Tiltrak 1000 much smoother to operate than Narrow Headrail system. This is especially important for longer, wand-operated headrails when pulling the weight of fabric with a wand can be difficult. Of course, you can compensate for it by using lubricants, such as silicon spray but this adds to the process of making the blind and can stain fabric louvres.

Additionally, the Narrow Headrail system utilises only one type of runner that creates a 10mm gap between the top of the louvres and the headrail. On the other hand, Tiltrak 1000 system comes with two runner options: ST Runner and RS Runner. While ST Runner produces a little bit wider, 13mm gap, the RS Runners combine with a specialist low profile slat holder reduce the gap to just 6mm, making Titrak 1000 system more light control efficient.

Specialist tooling

If you manufacture your own Vertical Blinds, it’s worth noting too, that Tiltrak 1000 system does not require any specialist tooling to be assembled, not even a Stralock Tool as it uses endcaps that are screwed directly onto a headrail to hold the construction together, as opposed to Narrow Headrail system which utilises starlock washers to lock the end caps on either side of the tilt rod.

Source

Another important difference is that Tiltrak 1000 is part of an effort to diversify our supply chain in order to protect our customers and ourselves from the kinds of disruptions we have seen in recent years. Reducing reliance on manufacturers in any given country, or continent means any unforeseen transport delays will affect a smaller proportion of the items we stock, allowing you to continue to place made-to-measure and wholesale orders with confidence.

WHICH IS THE BEST FOR ME?

If you buy made-to-measure narrow-bodied vertical headrails there’s not much between both systems. Both provide a slimline, sturdy construction perfect for any window size and space. They’re child safety compliant, available with chain or wand control options, and are a cost-effective alternative for wide-bodied vertical headrails. As made-to-measure headrails, both come at a similar price and the only factor that differs the cost of the product is the fabric you’d choose for your blind.

However, if you build your own Vertical Blinds, Tiltrak 1000 system is something really worth considering. It’s almost 20% quicker to assemble than the Narrow Headrail system, utilises fewer components, and does not require any specialist tooling to be built. Its unique design makes the system a very reliable product, giving you confidence that you’re not going to have to make return visits to the site. So, all these things add up, helping you minimise production and stockholding costs, so you can offer your clients a premium product at a competitive price.

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