Window News at Fensterbau Expo in Germany

With around 1300 exhibitors in 17 interconnecting halls, the Fensterbau and Holz-Handwerk in Nuernberg, 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 exhibitor stands were double story with a full restaurant to woe their customers, while even at smaller stands beer and pretzels were popular.

If our I-phone is to be believed we walked more than 16km within the expo on the first full day. All to see the ever more intriguing window hardware on display, invisible hinging mechanisms and step-less thresholds with integrated drainage, and units with large motorised lift-up mechanisms. Soft closers, as you would find in kitchen drawers, have also made inroads into window and door products.

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, seemingly larger since the last Fensterbau two years ago, was for very elaborate entrance doors and combinations in different materials, and in a variety of designs. 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, e.g. Felder, Assa Abloy, Siegenia, Roto, Urban, Internorm, Rehau, Winkhaus, Ramsauer, GU, Maco, Schueco, Profine, Koemmerling, 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.