Monodraught’s latest WINDCATCHER® X-Air natural ventilation system has been shortlisted in the product innovation category of the prestigious 3R Awards (refurb, rethink, retrofit) organised jointly by the Architects’ Journal, Construction News and New Civil Engineer. The awards celebrate excellence in areas of design, engineering and construction that aim to prolong the active life of buildings and infrastructure, and help reduce energy and carbon emissions.

WINDCATCHER X-Air systems embody more than 35 years experience and are the result of four years intensive research and development. Bristling with innovation and a number of patented technologies, X-Air has been designed, value-engineered and manufactured to meet the needs of the building services industry today, and far into the future.

Moulded using recyclable materials with excellent structural and UV stability, WINDCATCHER X-Air’s defining features include distinctive styling and patented LED architectural lighting. The patented ‘x factor’ corner design increases performance but also allows excess wind to bypass the system to reduce load on the unit in high winds. Each of the patented corner fins accommodates a unique architectural lighting feature, which allows a range of optional colour preferences to be specified. This gives WINDCATCHER X-Air a unique presence on the roof of a building – day and night – and allows architects and design and build contractors to create distinctive building profiles that have the potential to become attractive features of the modern urban landscape.

Commenting for Monodraught, managing director Tony Cull says the company is delighted to be shortlisted for the product innovation award, adding that WINDCATCHER X-Air also provides ventilation specifiers with a lower-cost, technologically advanced option within a natural ventilation portfolio that includes the WINDCATCHER classic system and the WINDCATCHER heritage range.