Fensterbau Frontale: More Than Just Doors and Windows
When: March 19 – 22, 2024
Where: NürnbergMesse, Nuremberg, Germany
While many U.S.-based trade shows involve doors and windows, few—if any—gather as many product categories as Fensterbau Frontale. What began in Germany in 1949 as a modest gathering, connecting glaziers and window makers with materials, machines and tools, evolved into a premier global marketplace for all things fenestration. Doors, windows, glass and woodworking converge under one roof, showcasing the latest advancements to a global audience.
Exhibitors span 11 diverse categories, including everything from structural and profile systems to glass products and office organization solutions.
Exhibitors Showcase
Hall 1, Booth 1-427: Visionar
Visionar Window Systems hopes to shake things up with its new Helix Operating System, including window opening control devices (WOCDs), carbon fiber and aluminum window frames and ThermTruss.
Officials say Helix offers the “first real innovation in over 30 years” for casement, awning and tilt-turn window hardware. The system is ADA-compliant and eliminates the need for cranks, covers and latches. Helix includes a WOCD and the option for smart phone and whole-home automation via concealed motors. The new hardware fits within existing uPVC, wood, clad-wood, aluminum and fiberglass/composite profiles, and is completely concealed.
Visionar’s WOCDs can be applied easily to existing windows or new fabrication and are also concealed. They offer sash support above existing hardware and allow for simple factory or field application, according to the company.
An innovative ThermTruss cladding attachment piece and window frame incorporates carbon fiber and aluminum to improve thermal performance significantly. Officials say the simple design is both cost effective and structurally sound, while eliminating approximately 40% of aluminum content.
www.visionarwindows.com
Hall 3A, Booth 3A-223: Stürtz Machinery
With ongoing labor shortages, Stürtz officials say they’re excited to showcase advancements in digitalization and automation for manufacturers to lean on. The company will display a fully automated line for producing seamless welded corners and “flawless” finishes. The system feeds profiles into a pass-through cleaning fabrication machine, ensuring quality and efficiency, according to company information.
Also on display will be a new pass-through hinge hardware processing machine, which automatically pre-drills welded elements and precisely places hardware, followed by automatic screwing. This streamlined process ensures accuracy and consistency in hinge hardware installation.
The company will also demonstrate the seamless assembly of insulating glass units into single- or multi-sash windows with its Glazing Robot and Stürtz Cloud, a proprietary IoT solution. By bridging the gap between production planning and the machine world, the software application offers complete transparency in production processes. The system connects and extends support to maintenance groups, operations and managers, ensuring maximum transparency, efficiency and optimization in production operations.
www.sturtz.com
Hall 3, Booth 3-245: Mecal
Mecal plans to exhibit six machines, including the MC 304 Ariel-5 CNC MDT—a cutting module designed to produce multiple pieces from a single profile bar. The clamps used are equipped with independent drive and each workpiece is held by at least two vices. Once cut, segments automatically move along the longitudinal axis of the machine. The company will also display its MC 307 Falcon, a four-axis, CNC floor-type vertical spindle machining center.
The unit is compact, fast, flexible and can be adapted to suit any requirement, according to company information. It can work on aluminum, light alloys, PVC and steel profiles.
A TDC 622 5 ASSI double-miter saw will also be on hand, offering powered positioning of the mobile cutting unit. The saw’s five-axis system is driven by brushless servomotors and can be managed through CNC. Automatic rotation of cutting tables adjusts outward to 22.5° and inward to 135°, with automatic inclination of cutting groups up to 45°.
www.mecal.com
Hall 3A, Booth 3A-333: Oz Machine
Oz Machine will have the ALCOR – V on hand—an all-in-one solution for those who want to automate production and get the best quality. As the latest fabri cation center in its machinery lineup, the unit features a five-axis saw blade and was developed to perform cutting, machining and end-milling operations on wide aluminum and vinyl profiles, allowing for miter cuts, notching and compound cuts.
ALCOR – V is designed to achieve the highest efficiency in the least amount of time, with its eight, fan-cooled spindles that can
be positioned at any angle around a profile. The spindle count can be increased to 10 pieces and custom projects with tapping options can be
engineered by the company’s R&D team.
An auto-feeder system has a four-profile capacity for 12-inch-wide profiles and a servo-controlled grippe is capable of memorizing profiles, catching them automatically from an auto feeding table.
www.ozmachineusa.com
Forums and Keynote Sessions
Fensterbau Frontale Forum serves as a hub for thought-provoking discussions and presentations. With over 30 keynote speeches and panel discussions, attendees have an opportunity to delve into sustainability, resiliency, ventilation and construction methodologies.
Sessions include:
• Interactive displays on installation techniques;
• PVC and timber windows; and
• Insights into leveraging social media for business growth.
Special Areas and Collaborations
Young Innovators Showcase
Hall 9, Booth 9-548
Providing a platform for startups and emerging companies to showcase their groundbreaking products.
Focus Interior Doors
Hall 4, Stand 4-118
Meet leading manufacturers, experience innovative designs and exchange ideas with like-minded people.
Hall 4A, Booth 4A-123: REHAU
REHAU will exhibit under the theme “All in One Partner” this year. Headlining its exhibit and coming soon to North America is the REHAU ARTEVO 680 tilt-turn door and window design. ARTEVO products feature a sleek look and the company’s best material innovations, officials say. According to the company, RAU-FIPRO glass-fiber reinforced PVC makes steel reinforcement “virtually a thing of the past.” The proprietary hybrid technology delivers strength and stability from floor to ceiling, supporting openings of up to 9.2 feet in height. With calcium-zinc-fortified PVC on exposed surfaces, capacity for triple-pane glazing and new low-E PVC inserts, ARTEVO products are well suited for passive house and zero-energy building. Profiles and inserts are weldable and fully recyclable.
www.rehau.com
Hall 5, Booth 241: Aluplast
Aluplast will feature its Neo platform, including a series of basic profiles that can be combined to create fully customized doors and windows. For window manufacturers, this means high versatility combined with low complexity, officials say.
Neo View will be on the show floor for the first time. The product is designed to be a floor-to-ceiling element with very narrow sight lines, to provide light and transparency, making it ideal for modern architecture.
A special feature of the Neo platform includes the product’s sustainability. All Energeto Neo profiles are fully recyclable and can be processed into new base material for window production. The reduced use of steel also minimizes the system’s CO2 footprint.
www.aluplast.net
Hall 5, Booth 5-202: Continental
Continental will launch several new designs at Fensterbau, while drawing attention to its full line of exterior films and finishes. Contimattex exterior films will be front and center, with super matte finishes and PVDF top coatings. Contimattex surfaces boast a realistic aluminum look, according to company information.
Also on display will be Contiwoodec, with realistic wood aesthetics for everything from doors and windows to exterior panels and trim.
www.continental.com
But Wait, There’s More
These are just some of the companies included in our preview. Click here or scan the following QR code to visit our digital edition online, where you can find more exhibitors.
To view the laid-in version of this issue in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.