Azenco Outdoor designs and manufactures an award-winning range of aluminum pergolas, innovative cabanas, carports and pool covers that elegantly compliment any architectural style and optimize every residential or commercial outdoor space.
Combining functional durability, precision manufacturing and innovative features imparts elegance to each Azenco outdoor cover.
Interview with Leslie Chapus, VP and Co-Founder of Azenco Outdoor.
Easy Engineering: What are the ranges of products and what types of services does Azenco Outdoor offer?
Leslie Chapus: Azenco Outdoor specializes in the design and manufacturing of outdoor aluminum products. Our 2024 pergola collections include five innovative products:
- R-BLADE™ – Motorized Louvered Pergola
- R-SHADE™ – Premium Insulated Patio Cover
- R-CAR™ – Luxury Insulated Carport
- R-BREEZE™ – Fixed Louvered Pergola
- K-BANA™ – Manual Louvered Pergola
Each product is designed with the client’s lifestyle in mind, aiming to transform outdoor living spaces into areas of beauty, comfort, and functionality. Our services are rooted in a commitment to elevating outdoor spaces, ensuring premium quality, and delivering unparalleled customer experiences.
E.E: Which are the most innovative products and what special features do they have?
L.C: We believe that all our products are innovative because they are unique in their own way. Each pergola is carefully created and designed by our CEO, Charles Chapus, and brought to life by our amazing manufacturing team. Our latest innovations are the R-BREEZE™ and the K-BANA™.
R-BREEZE™: This patented fixed louvered pergola offers two different roof layouts, vertical and angled slats. These layouts partial shade while seamlessly enhancing the visual appeal of any space, creating the perfect blend of modern and timeless elegance. The roof assembly has been designed with a no-screw system to facilitate installation thanks to a clip-on system. One of the most innovative features of the R-BREEZE™ is its integrated lighting system in the slats, which transforms the pergola into a captivating focal point after sunset.
K-BANA™: Our award-winning manual louvered pergola creates a private space in the open air while giving you control over sunlight and privacy. One of the key advantages of K-BANA™ is its ease of installation and rapid deployment. Versatile, with light features, its modularity serves various applications. Combined, they are a perfect outdoor retreat. Freestanding, it is a stylish poolside lounge, or a cozy entertainment space. K-BANA™ can be installed almost anywhere — often without a permit depending on the configuration and location.
E.E: How do your best products work?
L.C:
- R-BLADE™: A motorized adjustable louvers pergola that offers you the best of both worlds, allowing you to choose between light and shade.
- R-SHADE™: a weatherproof outdoor experience all year long with complete shade (No motorized features).
- R-CAR™: A sophisticated cover for your vehicles (No motorized features).
- R-BREEZE™: Fixed louvers pergola that offers partial shade for your outdoor space (No motorized features)
- K-BANA™: Manual louvers cabana that creates a private space in any outdoor space.
E.E: In what types of projects do clients use your products?
L.C: We have a wide network of 150+ dealers around the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the Caribbean. Our products are used in many different projects, including both residential and commercial outdoor spaces. We can achieve this thanks to the hard work of the Azenco Outdoor team and our dedicated dealers. Our products are generally used to extend the outdoor living space area, creating entertainment, cooking, or even relaxing area. On the commercial side, our products provide solutions in the industry thanks to the combination of features, to extend the outdoor space use during all four seasons.
Our customizable pergolas will elevate the look and feel of your outdoor space!
E.E: How important is innovation / R&D in your field?
L.C: Innovation and Research & Development are not just important in our field—they are essential. At Azenco Outdoor, we recognize that the outdoor living industry is rapidly evolving, driven by changing consumer preferences, environmental considerations, and advances in technology. Innovation allows us to stay ahead of these trends, ensuring we can offer products that not only meet but anticipate the needs of our customers.
For instance, our fixed and motorized pergolas are designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. Through continuous R&D, we’ve been able to integrate features such as weather-resistant materials and technology compatibility. This not only enhances the usability and durability of our products but also addresses the growing demand for eco-friendly and energy-efficient outdoor living solutions.
Lastly, innovation plays a crucial role in refining our manufacturing processes. By embracing lean manufacturing and automation, we’ve enhanced production efficiency, improved product quality, and reduced costs, all while adopting more sustainable practices. These advances allow us to minimize waste and deliver superior value to our customers.
E.E: How do your products increase profitability for users? (Talk about home/ re-sell value)
L.C: Our products significantly enhance the profitability of our users by adding substantial value to their homes. By integrating our high-quality, aesthetically pleasing pergolas into their outdoor spaces, homeowners not only enrich their living experience but also increase the attractiveness of their properties to potential buyers.
Investing in such improvements can directly influence the resale value of a home. Outdoor living spaces have become a key factor in home valuation, and a well-designed, functional pergola can serve as a standout feature. It not only expands the usable living space but also creates a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor areas, making the property more appealing in a competitive market.
On the commercial side, the Azenco Outdoor products allow the industry to increase their revenue, extending the use of their outdoor living space that are not constrained by the weather anymore. Our products will provide better customer experience and comfort.
E.E: How can clients sustainably use your products?
L.C: By strategically placing the pergola to shade windows or outdoor spaces, it can reduce the need for air conditioning, lowering energy consumption. Our aluminum pergolas are built to last, designed with surfaces that are simple to clean and require minimal upkeep. As a customer, you’ll find all components easily accessible, making maintenance a breeze and ensuring the pergola remains in top condition for years to come.
E.E: How is AI affecting your field of activity?
L.C: Currently, we leverage technology in our operations, always ensuring there’s a human touch behind every decision and process, which allows us to maintain the high-quality craftsmanship our customers expect. While AI has not yet been integrated into our workflow, we remain open to the possibilities it offers. We’re actively exploring how AI can enhance our designs and efficiency, without losing the personal touch that defines our brand, and we are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation in our field.
E.E: How do you see the future in your field?
L.C: The future of our industry looks incredibly promising, with advances in materials technology, sustainable practices and innovative designs set to redefine outdoor living spaces. We expect to see an increasing focus on eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient designs, as well as the integration of smart technologies into pergolas to enhance the user experience. In addition, demand for customizable and modular solutions is set to increase, enabling personalization and adaptability to different architectural styles and spaces.
E.E: What are the business plans for 2024?
L.C: For 2024, our business plans include providing new architectural and technology features for our products. Azenco Outdoor is committed to customer satisfaction, so we are always thinking of new ways to elevate our customer experience. Lastly, we’re committed to enhancing our dealers’ experience by optimizing our processes for even greater ease and efficiency.
