• Highest quality Lateral Arm Awning
• Double cable arm design
• 3:1 Bevel gear for most efficient operation (Long shaft)
• Forged elbow and shoulder components
• Aluminum support and roller tube
• Powder coated components and extrusions
• A stop in the gear to prevent the fabric from over-rolling
• Stainless steel fasteners
• Tubular hood design protecting the fabric
The Suntube® awning system is the ultimate state of the art retractable patio awning system. The Suntube® enjoys the same quality components as on our popular Sunair® model. The fabric of the Sunetube® is entirely protected by a tubular hood system when the awning is retracted. The tube is made of high quality electrostatically powder-coated aluminum, and the extremely attractive styling of the Suntube® is complete with a designer styled end cap for a finished look.
| Awning Style |
Type |
Standard Frame Colors |
Standard Widths |
Standard Projections |
Recommended Application |
Recommended Fabrics |
 |
Suntube® Lateral Arm Awning |
White, Desert Ivory, Mocha, Brown, Grey, Taupe, Forest Green, Black, Bronze |
Through 20' |
4'2" 5'7" 6'11" 8'7" 10'2" 11'6" 13'0" |
Deck, Patio, Storefront or Roof Mount |
Para, Sunbrella, & Dickson |
Arms
Sunair®: All arm parts under stress are made of forged aluminum, including the shoulder, elbow and arm components. All arms 8'7" and above use three heavy duty steel springs.
Competition: Typically the competition uses all die-cast or extruded aluminum arm parts. The competition typically uses one or two springs to save on cost.
Benefit: Forged aluminum arm components are stronger than all die castings or extrusions resulting in a stronger awning that will hold up to the elements. Three heavy duty steel springs provide better arm tension and longer arm life.
Tubular Hood
Sunair®: The Suntube® is unique in the fact that it has a built-in hood that protects the awning fabric when the awning is retracted.
Competition: Most systems, including our other two systems, use an optional aluminum hood. Some even provide a simple fabric flap for a hood.
Benefit: The tube truly protects the fabric when the awning is in retracted position. The tube also has a finished look second to none.
Elbow
Sunair®: The Suntube® uses high quality stainless aircraft cables. The hinge is triple angled with an elliptical cable radius.
Competition: Typically the competition uses a single smaller cable. Most systems do not have this angle and the fabric rubs on the arms.
Benefit: Twin cables are far superior to a single cable, as cable wear is reduced, allowing better arm and fabric tension. The elliptical cable radius increases tension as the awning extends, and relaxes the cable as the awning is fully retracted. The angles help keep the fabric from dragging on the arms.
Fabric
Sunair®: Hundreds of 100% acrylic premium grade solid and striped fabric colors to choose from. You surely will find a fabric to suit your taste.
Competition: Sometimes the competition uses vinyl or a non-acrylic fabric. Some companies use poor quality lighter thickness acrylic fabric.
Benefit: Acrylic fabric is more attractive and breathes better than vinyl. Vinyl traps heat and will crack over time. Acrylic fiber is also resistant to fading and mildew and has a water repellant Teflon coating.
Profiles and Paint
Sunair®: All extrusions and components are exclusively made of the highest quality aluminum. The parts are first chromate-treated, and then electro-statically powder coated.
Competition: The competition often mixes aluminum and steel profiles to save on cost. Many competitors also say that they powder coat the components, but they actually wet-lacquer the extrusions to save on cost. Few chromate-treat the parts.
Benefit: Aluminum extrusions are strong, yet will not corrode over time like steel. This equates to a longer lasting awning. Chromating gives better powder adhesion, holds up better against the elements, and resists cracking and peeling.
Gears
Sunair®: The Suntube® uses a heavy-duty German 4:1 ratio bevel gear with a stop.
Competition: The competition often uses inferior quality 7:1 gears without a stop.
Benefit: The 4:1 gear is the most efficient gear ever made. This gear minimizes the time and effort needed in operating a manual awning. The stop eliminates fabric damage due to over-rolling.
Thread
Sunair®: All fabrics are sewn with Tenara® thread. This thread is manufactured from GORE-Tex, and is clear and nearly invisible.
Competition: The compeition typically uses a synthetic thread. Often they will cut corners and use only a white thread which is very visible on the fabric.
Benefit: Tenara® thread is made of teflon an will not deteriorate from exposure to the elements. The clear thread is nearly invisible on most fabric colors.
Suntube Extended |
Suntube Retracted |
Suntube Up Close |
Suntube is ideal for roof mounts |
Motorizing your awning makes it easy to operate.
Motors from both NICE and SOMFY are available for the Suntube® awning system.
The new Sunea motor from Somfy is a Radio motor with both fabric tensioning & manual override capabilities The Sunea also comes with electronic limit switch setting, and automatic fabric tensioning control. Automatic fabric tensioning control is a unique feature that is required for all cylinder-type Suntube® awnings to make sure the fabric will always stay taut. Even if the fabric stretches, the motor will automatically adjust and the front bar will close tight at all times
Somfy® Switches and Electronics.
The SOMFY Eolis provide dependable automatic wind control for your motorized awning. The Eolis retracts your awning to help protect it from damaging winds. The SOLIRIS will extend and retract the awning with the sun and wind.
The SOMFY Telis 1 Transmitter or the Deco Flex 1 & 4 wireless wall switch will enable you to control the movement of your motor with electronic controls.
The Neo motor from Nice® offers elctronic limit switch setting with the remote wireless switch. Most important, the Neo motor has automatic fabric tensioning control. Automatic fabric tensioning control is a unique feature that is required for all cylinder-type Suntube® awnings to make sure the fabric will always stay taut. Even if the fabric stretches, the motor will automatically adjust and the front bar will close tight at all times. The Neo also features manual Overide control to close the awning in the event of a power failure.
The ERGO 1 (near right) is the hand-held remote for the Nice® motor. The Ergo is also available with 4 channels for operating multiple awnings. The PLANO 1 (far right) is the wall-mounted remote switch for the Nice® motor. The Plano is also available with 4 channels for operating multiple awnings.
The NICE® Volo sun and wind sensor provides dependable automatic sun and wind control for your motorized awning. The Volo sun sensor will automatically extend the awning when needed, and the wind sensor will automatically retract the awning to help protect it from damaging wind.
Nine Standard Frame Colors.
The Sunair® model is available in nine standard powder-coated frame colors, the most in the industry. Over 200 custom frame colors are available by special order.
Hundreds of fabric colors.
Sunair® offers hundreds of 100% acrylic fabric colors from the leading national fabric weaver like Tempotest by Para, and Sunbrella and Dickson by Glen Raven Mills. A Sunair® representative will be happy to show you the collection.
