W&D Weekly - April 2, 2008 | Vol 3, Num 14
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World’s Biggest Window and Door Show
Opens Today

Thousands of window and door industry executives from around the world made their way into Fensterbau/Frontale to see more than 700 exhibitors as the trade exhibition opened its doors earlier today. ...

Nuremberg, Germany—Thousands of window and door industry executives from around the world made their way into Fensterbau/Frontale to see more than 700 exhibitors as the trade exhibition opened its doors earlier today. With steady growth in the number of exhibitors and attendees from outside Germany, the show here expanded this year from 12 to 14 halls in the huge exhibition complex.

Globalization in the window and door industry is clearly evident in the booth of Pimapen. The Turkish vinyl extruder’s booth highlights the many different countries it serves.


About a quarter of the exhibitors at this year’s show come from outside Germany, with large, growing contingents coming from Turkey and Poland. Other well-represented countries include Austria and Italy. An influx of exhibitors from other Eastern European countries is also evident, and while it’s too early to tell how many attendees will come from this region, the number has been growing over the past several shows and it seems likely to increase again.

Last year, Interconnection Consulting, a Vienna-based market research firm, estimated the Eastern European window market increased nearly 30 percent in 2006 to 47.5 million units. It predicts that market will hit 77 million units this year.

Somewhat surprisingly, the number of exhibitors from China at Fensterbau this year does not seem to have increased from the 2006 edition of the show.

One of the North American companies that made its way to Fensterbau for the first time this year is Canada’s Aquasurtech OEM. The company is featuring its vinyl color coatings.

This year’s show features not only more halls, but a new layout. With most exhibitors grouped in halls by product segment, organizers re-allocated space to accommodate growing segments. “We notice an appreciably larger demand in the segments of locking systems, shading, doors and front door panels,” reports Willy Viethan, exhibition director. “I am particularly pleased that aluminum will again be presented to a clearly increased extent at Fensterbau/Frontale 2008, especially in hall 7A, which is mainly devoted to facades and aluminum.”

Stürtz, like many other exhibitors, geared its booth toward the growing number of attendees from Eastern Europe. Russian, Polish and an increasing number of other languages can be seen displayed around the halls.

One name familiar to North America, Kawneer, is in the new hall featuring solar systems. Numerous other aluminum system and glass suppliers from Germany and beyond are displaying storefront, curtain wall and a variety of other products in the same hall.

The amount of equipment on display seems to have grown as well. Rotox, Stürtz and Urban, familiar names to the North American market, are joined here by at least 40 other suppliers of vinyl window machinery. Jinan Tianchen Deca Machine, which works with Carlson Systems in North America, is exhibiting vinyl machinery geared toward the European market. Aluminum processing equipment is on display in the booths of familiar names like Emmegi, Fom and Tekna, as well as numerous other suppliers. Another hall features numerous suppliers of woodworking machines geared toward window and door manufacturing.

Fensterbau runs today through Saturday. Look for a full report on the event in next week’s WDweekly. 

FMA Conference to Focus on Education

The FMA will train building officials on window and door regulations at the association's conference this month. ...

The Fenestration Manufacturers Association will gather in New Orleans this month, not only to conduct its regular spring conference and business meeting, but also to train Louisiana building officials on the FMA/AAMA 100 installation standards and the 2006 International Code Council regulations as they pertain to windows and doors. A team of FMA members will spend an afternoon with more than 20 building officials and architects to give them insight into window and door issues. “It’s extremely important to window and door manufacturers that building officials understand what to look for in a good installation and, on the impact side, what to look for in terms of good anchoring to the substrate,” explains Dick Wilhelm, executive director of FMA. “We think that if we can educate building officials on our product and how it interfaces into the wall system, then, a) the consumer benefits, and b) we spend a lot less time in court.”

The conference opens with a board of directors meeting Monday, April 14, and runs through Thursday, April 17, with multiple speakers and presentations throughout the week. FMA will host two roundtable discussions—one consisting of manufacturers and dealers to discuss what dealers expect from manufacturers and another focusing on Hispanic workers in the window and door industry.

Plans call for Michael Collins of investment firm Jordan Knauff & Co. to give a presentation on Building Information Modeling, or BIM, as it pertains to the residential housing market and David Toney, a lawyer with Adams & Reese law firm, will speak to attendees about product liability and field testing.

FMA’s installation, energy and structural/code committees will meet during the week and the association will also conduct its general membership meeting at the event.

The conference will take place April 14-17 at the JW Marriott Hotel in New Orleans. For more information about the event, visit www.fmausaonline.org.

Crystal Achievement Nominations Due May 15

Nominations for the 2008 Window & Door awards program, honoring achievements in product technology, manufacturing and marketing, are due May 15. ...

Nominations for the 2008 Window & Door Crystal Achievement Awards, which honor outstanding achievements in window and door product technology, manufacturing and marketing, are due by May 15.

An online form is available at windowanddoor.net to submit nominations. A downloadable PDF with more information on award categories and submissions is also provided. For our product categories, including windows, doors and components, nominees need to provide information on their product, with emphasis on its unique and innovative features.

For our manufacturing and marketing categories, winners will be selected by a smaller panel of judges. Although not required, nominees may provide more detailed information on their plants and equipment in brochures, via CD-ROMs or videos, or in other formats, in addition to entry information supplied. Marketing award nominees are encouraged to submit sample materials for are judges also. If you are submitting additional materials, please do so before May 1, 2008.

Photos can be submitted via the Web form above, emailed to Clewellen@glass.org or mailed to Window & Door Crystal Achievements, 8200 Greensboro Dr. Ste. 302, McLean, VA 22102.

Window & Door will present its Crystal Achievement Awards in the September 2008 issue. Please contact Christina Lewellen with any questions.

Albat + Wirsam to Hold Manufacturing Workshop

Albat + Wirsam/Cantor USA will conduct a free manufacturing workshop on May 2 in Las Vegas. ...

Albat + Wirsam/Cantor USA will conduct a free workshop, “How to Put Your Manufacturing on Autopilot,” on May 2 in Las Vegas.

The workshop, subtitled “The Intelligent Approach to Long-Term Stability in Window and Door Manufacturing,” is targeted at CEOs and vice presidents, as well as plant, operations, and IT managers who want to learn about proven strategies and see advanced software technology. The sessions are also designed to provide expert advice on how to leverage company finances, lower working capital, and find tax saving tips. Three speakers will present information on topics that contribute to stability and growth of a window and door operation.

The workshop will be held at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino. More information is available at www.cantorworkshop.com.

...

Large Retailers Guard against Kickbacks
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Home improvements worth $98,000, complete with a home theater and Sub-Zero appliances. And $400,000 in cash. ... read more

Some Remodelers, Home Builders Stay Busy Despite Slowdown 
From the Roanoke Times
When you can't afford to buy, fix up.

That's what homeowners may be thinking nowadays, at least according to some local home-remodeling companies.

"More people are interested in doing stuff to their homes than going out and getting a new one," said Aaron Routt, who works for his family's company, Routt Building & Remodeling in Salem. ... read more

School Trains Craftsmen in Repair Methods 
From the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
A roofer by trade, Chris Ortiz spends long days at construction sites. Lately, instead of always heading home at quitting time, Ortiz attends an evening class on vintage wood window repair at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. ... read more