Systems & Profiles
Over at the mixing plant , VEKA UK has five large silos that each hold 100 tonnes of material ; one silo for chalk and four more for resin . A further silo is specific to titanium dioxide , which ensures the extruded material is consistent to the VEKA ‘ white ’ colour specification . And , if you want to know what makes up the specific ‘ VEKA recipe ’, there ’ s 12 ingredients in total , but the mix is controlled at Group level at VEKA AG ; so there was something that remained a secret that day after all !
Testing & tools
Testing is key to the quality control and keeping the high standards VEKA promises its fabricators . The testing lab is split into two key areas :
1 . Testing the raw materials and compound ( each tanker is tested three times ; start , middle and end )
2 . Testing the extruded profile ( via samples taken by operators working the lines every two hrs )
every different stakeholder . For fabricators , installers and homeowners – all the components come together to create what VEKA describes as ‘ Next Generation Fenestration ’. OMNIA offers true flush appearance internally and externally , there ’ s no hand-inserted gasket – to save time , there ’ s less fixings , foil and texture options meet the homeowner ’ s need of today and changing trends of tomorrow . The profile ’ s products include casement and tilt & turn windows , French and residential doors .
The team asked themselves ‘ what will windows look like in the future ?’ They questioned everything they knew – and we expect – from profile and the products you can fabricate with it , considered manufacturing methods , commonality and interchangeability , easier , more efficient fabrication , storage and waste . In fact , OMNIA ’ s strapline ‘ 100 reasons , 1 choice ’ really does cover the gambit of considerations the team went through .
From family to factory
Of course , no insight day would be complete without a tour of the shop floor – and at 550,000ft 2 , this is a substantial site . But substance is required for a company with 32 lines extruding more than 30,000,000m of window profile each year ; that ’ s 80-90,000m every day ; in 6m and 6.5m lengths . There ’ s a total daily capacity for 45,000 tonnes , and you ’ ll typically find 19 to 20 lines running at any one time ; roughly 288 tools working away .
VEKA offers an ever-expanding range of foils in three base colours ( white , brown and grey ). 27 colour combinations are currently offered as stock , with 14 colours available ex-stock . The rest is made to order on a four-week lead time . This year VEKA invested in an additional site specifically to grow lamination ; having purchased two new lines ( one being a single piece line ) and with a further planned . The third line is in now ; allowing more space to embrace the growing demand from consumers for colour .
And , in order to keep a tight rein on its tools too , VEKA ’ s in-house toolroom is capable of producing all VEKA UK ’ s tooling needs . With a range of automatic and manual CNC machines , grinding machines , wiring machines etc , VEKA uses both ‘ old-fashioned ’ design and 3D modelling to develop the tool spec ; mixing years of experience and cutting-edge expertise to produce the best tools to provide the best profile .
All wrapped up
VEKA is a stalwart in the sector , and we all know the profile and its products . We recognise the people that work there and many of us understand VEKA ’ s vision and values ; on a global scale and at local level . Yet , when VEKA opened its doors to Clearview and other magazines ; promising to be open about everything that happens there too , that ’ s exactly what they did .
The event added another layer to what we already knew about VEKA , and it was a deeper understanding of what we already knew ; the thought process behind the processes , the people making the decisions for the better of people who work there and their local community , and all the history – event recent events – that all have contributed , and continue to contribute , to everything that VEKA has become and will continue to be .
All in all , it was a fantastic day , so thank you VEKA .
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM SEPTEMBER 2024
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