IKON Aluminium has supplied approximately 40 specialist IKL332 glaze-in louvres for the redevelopment of Birmingham’s historic Typhoo Tea Factory, which is being transformed into the BBC’s new Midlands broadcasting hub.
Located in Digbeth, the former 1930s industrial building is undergoing refurbishment to accommodate television, radio and production teams, with its external façade works now complete ahead of the planned 2027 opening. The louvres were supplied to Elite Aluminium Systems, which carried out the installation. Each IKL332 unit incorporates 24mm glazing and an insulated sandwich panel to the rear, with a RAL 7016 matt polyester powder-coated finish.
The system features a 60-degree blade angle, maximum blade centres of 300mm and a frame depth of 36.2mm, providing a visual free area of 59%. It has been tested to BS 6180:2011. IKON also provided technical support to determine the appropriate configuration for the wider glazed sections, helping achieve the appearance of a continuous-blade louvre.
The companies have worked together for approximately 16 years. According to Elite Aluminium Systems’ Commercial Director Mark Longmore, IKON was selected for its product quality, local presence and technical expertise. 
Source: IKON Aluminium with additional information added by Glass Balkan
