n e ws
Fensterbau
Frontale 2016
W
ith around 1,300 exhibitors in
17 interconnecting halls, the
Fensterbau and Holz-Handwerk
in Nürnberg, Germany, is certainly the
most important window fair in Europe, if
not the world. 110,000 visitors ensured
the exhibitors were kept busy. Some larger
stands were double storied, including a full
restaurant to woo their customers, while
even at smaller stands, beer and pretzels
were popular. If our iPhone is to be believed,
we walked more than 16 km within the expo
on the first full day.
Ever more intriguing window hardware was
on display; invisible hinging mechanisms
and step-less thresholds with integrated
drainage, and units with large motorised liftup mechanisms. Soft closers, as you would
find in kitchen drawers, have also made
inroads into window and door products.
36 Australian Window Association
Machinery used in the manufacturing of
windows and doors in uPVC, aluminium
and timber took up several halls. Robotics
for lifting, spray painting and glazing were
also on display. Storage racks, delivery vans
with glass racks on the outside, glass which
changes colour through LEDs on the edges,
and much more, kept visitors interested.
A trend, grown larger since the last
Fensterbau two years ago, was for very
elaborate entrance doors that combined
several different materials. Many more
exhibitor stands also featured blinds
or shutters, as in Europe all west facing
windows and doors have to have external
shading, even though the temperatures are
by far lower than in Australia. Sliding, fixed,
side opening or pulling up into a head box,
most have adjustable louvres to allow light
inside, but not radiant heat.
At the last Fensterbau two years ago, one
would meet an Australian window maker at
every corner. This time, there were far less
visitors from Down Under, but exhibitors
with connections or agencies in Australia
were many; Felder, Assa Abloy, Siegenia,
Roto, Urban, Internorm, Rehau, Winkhaus,
Ramsauer, GU, Maco, Schueco, Profine,
Kömmerling, Schlegel, Veka, Internorm, and
many more.
Fensterbau is a long way from home, but well
worth a visit to keep up to date with news on
the international window market.