Roto Inside | 11.2016
Issue No. 34
Roto window and door technology partner information ■■ Aluminium
■■ Research
■■ New at Roto
■■ Timber
QMD, Brazil: New hotels for visitors to the Olympics
Welcome regulation: Better window security by law
Easy to install: Roto Safe C | C600
Gowercroft Joinery, Great Britain: Timber windows for the highest demands
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The universal hardware for minimal time and effort when operating and assembling parallel and Tilt&Slide systems.
Roto Patio Alversa: Minimal. Universal. ■■ New at Roto Whether as a transition to the terrace and balcony, or whether in offices or apartments – the sliding systems’ convenient operation is enjoying a high level of popularity. Manufacturers of these kinds of systems can now guarantee maximum ease of operation in Roto Patio Alversa’s entirely re-developed parallel and Tilt&Slide system as well as ensure their production proceeds flexibly and yet efficiently in accordance with the customer’s wishes. The new Roto Patio Alversa range’s modular structure allows for extremely little time and effort needed to produce a range of parallel and Tilt&Slide variations on just one production line. In particular, fabricators of the Roto NT and Roto AL Tilt&Turn product range will immediately recognise the rationalisation potential when using Roto Patio Alversa. The new Roto Patio Alversa range makes Roto the first provider also able to produce parallel sliding solutions with tilt ventilation and additional secu rity to boot. The Roto Patio Alversa | PS Air Com parallel sliding version is particularly easy to operate: rotating the handle automatically tilts the sash – no manual application of pressure against the sash is required. This is how even very large and heavy sliding doors up to 200 kg can be operated and tilted effortlessly. All parallel sliding versions fitted with Roto Patio Alversa can be operated as intuitively as Tilt&Turn windows. Maximum convenience with minimum component diversity In future, window fabricators will be able to use Roto Patio Alversa to produce four different versions with minimal time and effort in production, logistics and storage. This is made possible by the use of a universal central locking system for all versions, a modular sliding system design, such as for track sets and strikers, as well as a universally suitable handle. As a result, Roto Patio Alversa ensures a very high degree of standard components used in window production: To produce different versions, the production line can be changed over by simply replacing a few components.
Available now for delivery worldwide: the modular Roto Patio Alversa product range, for equally efficient as well as flexible manufacturing of extremely convenient parallel and Tilt&Slide solutions with various ventilation functions. Roto Patio Alversa parallel sliding versions are fitted with an integrated attenuation. It ensures that the sash can be smoothly opened and closed.
Minimal time and effort in manu
Roto Patio Alversa
facturing, storage and logistics: Roto Patio Alversa allows a window
Roto Patio Alversa | KS
Roto Patio Alversa | PS
Roto Patio Alversa | PS Air
Roto Patio Alversa | PS Air Com
fabricator to produce a Tilt&Slide and three parallel sliding solutions
At the same time, fabricators flexibly meet their customers’ wishes by using Roto Patio Alversa, as both the Tilt&Slide solution as well as the par allel sliding version, with their various ventilation functions, can be produced in timber, PVC and aluminium frame materials. This is made possi ble by the optimal alignment with the Roto NT and Roto AL Tilt&Turn product ranges. All system components in the Roto Patio Alversa range have been developed by Roto and are produced in the Lövő (Hungary) plant – meaning that Roto quality and a high degree of supply readiness are guaranteed. More information on this range can be found on page 3 of this issue.
with different ventilation functions Tilt&Slide system
Parallel sliding system
in timber, PVC and aluminium frame materials. The new product range has been intelligently designed, is distinguished by universally usable components and is optimally aligned to the established Roto NT and Roto
with tilt ventilation
without/with night ventilation
with tilt ventilation
with Comfort tilt ventilation
AL Tilt&Turn ranges. This increases the use of standard components in window production and their effi ciency as well as the manufacturer’s supply readiness and flexibility.
Max. sash weight 160 kg
Max. sash weight 200 kg
Max. sash weight 160 kg
Max. sash weight 200 kg
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Roto Inside | 11.2016
In demand A discussion with Chairman of the Roto Frank AG Board of Directors, Dr Eckhard Keill
the future, but it will require solutions that make a fabricator’s life easier than is currently the case and that provide even better operability for the end user. Roto has developed an extraordinarily impressive product range in both these respects and we want to use it to impress a lot of existing and new customers. Roto Inside: And Roto will be producing this extraordinary range at the Lövő plant?
Roto Inside: Dr Keill, a few weeks ago we found out that Roto is launching an innovative, internally developed and manufactured parallel and Tilt&Slide hardware technology. When was the decision made to invest in the Research&Development for this technology? Dr Keill: Roto is a company in which product groups are strategically viewed to benefit the customer. As a result, the product range, such as in the Door Division, has been systematically expanded over the past few years – by internal developments as well as the acquisition of companies that produce premium-quality com plimentary products. We believe that parallel and Tilt&Slide systems will remain a large market in
Dr Keill: Yes, as we naturally do not reveal innovative product concept knowledge in which we have invested a lot of time and money. When our developers presented Roto Patio Alversa, everyone at Roto agreed: this product is so good that we want to do everything we can to promote it and produce it ourselves. Roto Patio Alversa offers genuine production, stock keeping and logistics benefits to all fabricators, especially manufacturers that work with the Roto NT or Roto AL Tilt&Turn hardware systems because it perfectly integrates these Tilt&Turn hardware systems. We are therefore extremely confident this range will allow us to gain parallel and Tilt&Slide system market share.
Roto Inside: What do Roto parallel and Tilt&Slide system fabricators need to prepare for? A changeover naturally always involves certain risks as well … Dr Keill: Not in this case. We will remain a reliable, on-time delivery partner to all fabricators that currently work with the Roto Patio S, Roto Patio PS and Roto Patio Z products. They will also be able to incorporate Roto Patio Alversa without any significant changes to their plants and continue to operate seamlessly with an ex tremely innovative product range. The necessary plant and fitting adjustment for this is possible at no great time and effort at all. This is another reason why I believe that Roto Patio Alversa takes us a step closer to our objective. Roto Inside: How would you describe this objective?
also includes a very high, over 90 percent global supply readiness. This is precisely also what we can provide all the more reliably, if all the deliv ery parts come from Roto plants. That is why we decided on the 100 percent internal production of Roto Patio Alversa. Roto Inside: Will you be using BAU in Munich to provide information on Roto Patio Alversa? Dr Keill: Yes, naturally, among other things. But, our sales companies around the world are a lready on the road with, in my opinion, extremely informative documents and speci mens. Window fabricators who cannot make the trip to Munich can, thanks their Roto Sales contact partners, promptly find out what they need to know in order to use Roto Patio Alversa. Roto is ready in every respect. Ready to inform and ready to deliver.
Dr Keill: Roto wants to be the best possible window and door manufacturer supplier and partner. Roto wants to be a leader in customer benefits, which, as you know, are based on a number of different aspects. For example, this
Roto Quadro Safe
New advertising instruments can now be ordered online ■■ New at Roto In view of the constant increase in the apartment break-in numbers in an increasing number of European countries, the police recommend installing effective window and door burglary protection. The Roto Quadro Safe campaign therefore also remains as relevant as ever and a large number of German and Austrian manufacturers are successfully using its key message of “Burglar-resistant window security” to address end customers. Campaign partners can find new showroom or customer location advertising consultation support instruments at www.quadro-safe.com.
a dvertising instruments, such as lanyards, display cleaners or peppermint boxes can also be easily ordered online at attractive conditions and are perfect as give-aways at exhibitions or open days.
“The Roto Quadro Safe specimen box means that we and at the same time our partners also are once again moving into the lead”, Astrid Wolf is convinced. The Central Europe market ing manager and numerous campaign partners
agree: “Good consulting is simply made even more successful with professional tools and specimens. That’s why Roto continuously invests in their development.”
The new Roto Quadro Safe specimen box contains original specimens of the four façade window security components. This allows Roto Quadro Safe campaign partners entirely graphically
For example, the new Roto Quadro Safe spec imen box is a clear and illustrative consulting activities tool: it includes the four Roto façade window security components and is ideal for POS presentations or as a sales representative team’s mobile advertising instrument. Roto Quadro Safe partners can order the box from their Roto sales representative for 10 euros per unit, while stocks last. From a 100 unit purchase order quantity, the boxes can also be issued with the company logo for a surcharge.
to familiarise home-owners and builders with the basics of secure windows. Astrid Wolf, Central Europe marketing manager, is convinced: Window fabrica tors are using the specimen box to take the lead in professional consulting.
A new sample press text, including illustrative picture material, is available for partners to support regional PR activities. This currently refers to break-in figures as well as govern ment funding options. New Roto Quadro Safe
A display cleaner as a modern give-away – available for order now at www.quadro-safe.com.
Roto Quadro Safe campaign partners can order new advertising instru ments directly and at favourable conditions at www.quadro-safe.com.
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Continued from page 1
Roto Patio Alversa: Minimal. Universal. The rationalisation of complex production flows is a key requirement for ensuring that window fabricators can embrace a promis ing future on an economically sound basis. Many are therefore continuously looking for a hardware technology that can be incorporated both flexibly and very efficiently. Roto Patio Alversa is a product range, which is available for delivery now, with which parallel and Tilt&Slide solutions can be produced in four versions with a small number of components and extremely low tool changeover times. Roto Patio Alversa | PS, Roto Patio Alversa | PS Air and Roto Patio Alversa | PS Air Com also in troduce an entirely new opening type: they allow window fabricators to produce parallel sliding solutions with tilt ventilation for the very first time. “We want to ensure the highest quality of fabrication, but also at the same time prefer to work with hardware technology that can be assembled efficiently and faultlessly and which we can use to cover a diverse range of possible applications”, says Robert Kitzmann from rekord-fenster+türen GmbH & Co. KG in Dägeling. “We can achieve tangible benefits, if we can significantly reduce manufacturing and storage logistics expenses.” The new Roto Patio Alversa range hardware product meets precisely these requirements and also offers the end user a high level of convenience. Fewer parts, faster fabrication Its intelligent design makes the Roto Patio Alversa product range a genuine cost saver in all versions. The universally applicable central locking system originates from the Roto NT and Roto AL Tilt&Turn product ranges. The Roto Patio components, such as bogies, scissor-sliders and track sets, can be used for multiple versions. In addition, four equivalent corner drives are used for central espagnolettes.
This means increased standardisation and fewer components, which significantly reduces storage and logistics costs in the production of sliding systems. The deliberate use of the same components across all versions enables rapid fabrication in the line, without having to expend a significant amount of effort to change over production plants after every order. The pres sure on administration and, in particular, master data processes is also significantly reduced. A hardware version changeover in production does not require any, or only a small number of modifications, as only single components have to be replaced. The new Roto Patio Alversa prod uct range can also be used to fabricate larger profile depths, such as for heavy sashes with triple glazing. For a secure home In particular, security-conscious builders will be impressed with a sliding solution that is fitted with Roto Patio Alversa | PS. The invisible night ventilation means that the sliding door appears closed when viewed from the out side. The use of security strikers means that the night-ventilated element is also protected against burglaries. Thanks to the optimal coordination of all components in the new Roto Patio Alversa range with the established Roto NT and Roto AL Tilt&Turn product ranges, window fabricators can increase burglary protection for the other parallel and Tilt&Slide versions with the Roto Quadro Safe security components. Fabricators of Roto Patio Alversa can flexibly respond to customer requests relating to the visible hardware components, as Roto offers the high-quality handle in various versions. The customer can choose from a range of colours within the handle design lines. Exterior-handles can be mounted.
Roto Patio Alversa: an impressive parallel and TIlt&Slide system. For the parallel sliding versions, the scissor-sliders and the bogie ensure an improved retraction and extension behaviour. It is also optimised by special attenuation elements. The system operates extremely silently thanks to the innovative opening and locking mechanics.
The Roto NT and Roto AL Tilt&Turn product ranges’ universal central locking system has proven its reliability a million times over. It is used for all parallel and Tilt&Slide versions that are created with Roto Patio Alversa.
On the bogie, the sash height can be adjusted between –2 and +6 mm. This means that no roller track displace ment is required for light sashes. The active bogey height adjustment by thread means that the sash no longer has to be lifted or lowered.
&& Comprehensive information, in German, on the new Roto Patio Alversa parallel and Tilt&Slide system can be found here: www.roto-frank.com/de/roto-patio-alversa
&& Comprehensive information, in English, on the new Roto Patio Alversa parallel and Tilt&Slide system can be found here: The tried and tested scissor-slider is also part of the new Roto Patio Alversa product range. It is quickly and reliably
www.roto-frank.com/en/roto-patio-alversa
clipped into the stay-connecting profile where it is secured. Screw connection is not necessary.
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Roto Inside | 11.2016
QMD, Brazil
New hotels for visitors to the Olympics ■■ Aluminium The 2016 Summer Olympics have come to an end. There were plenty of hotel rooms for participants, their attendants and visitors thanks to a huge amount of investment. The construction of an additional 250 hotels around Rio de Janeiro increased the number of hotel beds from formerly 30,000 to more than 50,000 in this metropolitan region alone. Many of the modern, new buildings were fitted with aluminium facades, which were planned and produced domestically. This resulted in a huge surge in demand for the fenestration industry and its partners. Mechanical engineer, Igor Alvin, owner of the QMD consultancy firm, was involved in the planning of quite a few facades and their windows. He reported to Roto Inside on the major challenges faced by his team. “In the past two years my fifteen employees have dealt with a huge number of, often, very demanding facade planning projects, which we developed on behalf of architecture offices. We were naturally helped by the fact that I have
been working in the industry for decades and so know most facade and window fabricators quite well. It is important to be able to correctly assess in each case which manufacturer will be able to deliver the required designs and
indows on time and in the necessary q w uality. I was always able to sleep more soundly whenever these manufacturers worked to gether with Roto and Fermax”, grins Igor Alvin, “because then I knew that they were receiving professional care and support.” Durable, secure and convenient Realising the investors’ and architects’ ideas in aluminium and glass is one thing – ensuring reliable and durable designs and hardware technology is quite another. “Our task was therefore primarily to do research on it. No planner and certainly no investor knows what can be achieved with modern profiles, glazing
and hardware these days, or even just where the systems reach their limits. We find out all of this for them and guarantee that the result ing building not only looks good, but that hotel guests are also satisfied. Windows and doors as well as thermal insulation and sound reduction have a huge influence on satisfaction with a ho tel. Thankfully, this is now understood by more and more architects. And, naturally, our aim is to ensure that buildings that we help plan will stand the test of time and, in the case of a hotel, that it is commercially successful over a long period of time.”
The Hotel Emiliano’s aluminium sliding win dows were supplied by the local manufacturer Metral, which fitted the 147 windows with tan dem bogies for doors up to a 200 kg sash weight and lockable window handles (both from the Roto Inline range).
The Hotel Grand Hyatt Residences Flat in Rio de Janeiro impresses with its breath-taking location directly at the ocean on the Avenida Lucio Costa in the Barra de Tijuca district. The large guest rooms’ and suites’ balconies provide an uninterrupted The Hotel Emiliano was constructed in the heart of Jardins, one of the
view of the blue-green
most exclusive Sao Paulo districts, and offers 56 apartments and suites
Atlantic or the stunning
in a modern design.
Marapendi Lagoon.
The Arena Ipanema Hotel in the centre of Avenida Atlântica offers its guests a magnificent view of the
The 436 modern Hotel Grand Hyatt Residences Flat guest rooms include 43 suites. The window fabricator
Copacabana. Gustavo Caldeira from N2 Consultoria was also involved in the planning. The guest looks through
Inbobe Brasil from Bahia delivered for this new hotel’s construction 574 aluminium sliding doors with Roto
outward opening aluminium windows manufactured by Allugel from Rio de Janeiro. These 157 windows are
Inline range hardware along with tandem bogies for doors with a sash weight of up to 200 kg and quadruple
fitted with Fermax friction hinges, Roto AL range central locking systems and lockable Roto window handles.
locking mechanism as well as Roto Line handles. 135 aluminium doors were fitted with Roto Solid S range surface-mounted hinges.
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Worried citizens believe secure windows by law is appropriate
Welcome regulation ■■ Research A break-in took place somewhere in Germany every three minutes in 2015. Of these over 167,000 break-ins, only one in seven was solved. The pressure on politics is just as great. The level of worry amongst Germans in view of the huge crime rate growth from break-ins is also shown by a Berlin polling institute FORSA survey, which was commissioned by Roto. “How safe do Germans feel behind their own four walls?” asked the institute and learned: citizens are increasingly concerned and want a building law regulation that ensures better door and window security. Irrespective of where those surveyed lived, whether in the country or in the city, half of Germans surveyed by FORSA currently feel completely or at least relatively secure. 66 percent want legislators to introduce a regula tion that no longer just requires windows and doors to provide greater thermal protection, but rather also ensures that there is protection against the loss of valuables. “A clear message
to legislators”, finds Dr Eckhard Keill, chair man of the Roto Frank AG board of directors, “and a wise one as well. Because, even if a corresponding law initially requires investment by all home-owners, it would also ensure a fairer d istribution of the expenses for security measures. After all, everyone ultimately bears the rising insurance costs to cover damage from break-ins. Even those who have taken
Around 167,000 apartment and house break-ins were reported in 2015 for Germany alone.
experts’ advice and secured their own windows and doors.” Dr Eckhard Keill also discussed this finding with international trade press repre sentatives, who arrived in Berlin on 14 and 15 November at Roto’s invitation. Insurers are pushing to change the building law In 2015 alone, insurance companies, such as Axa, Allianz and Ergo, paid burglary victims over 530 million euros. As a result, the German Insurance Association has long been pushing for a national building law regulation on burg lary protection. Dr Keill turns his gaze towards Brussels: “If the EU were to standardise window and door security standards, the crime rate from break-ins would be much easier to contain than is currently the case”, he explains in an interview with the Handelsblatt, a renowned German business magazine. And he is not alone in this assessment.
“The Roto Quadro Safe campaign, which is being used by window fabricators in Germany and Austria, remains extremely relevant”, explains Udo Pauly, head of marketing, during Roto's international press day in Berlin.
Home-owners are investing Although it is not a legal requirement, home- owners are increasingly deciding to invest in security. In 2016, the German development bank KfW provided 18 million euros that was allocated
as German government subsidies and also partly used since 1 April 2016 to provide low-interest home-owner loans. For example, this funding was used for better door and window security and the installation of alarm systems. And, as at September 2016, the federal budget’s cabinet draft for 2017 also provides over 50 million euros in financial support for private home-owners wanting to invest in better burglary protection. Tenants in holding pattern “Home-owners are investing in precisely the right area, as actually around 40 percent of all attempted break-ins are aborted, if the burglar cannot get into the house fast enough, which is often due to well-secured doors and windows”, says Dr Keill. “But, many tenants are waiting in vain for their landlords to p rovide added security. They would be helped by a c orresponding law. The top storey ceiling insulation and fire alarms are all important topics that legislators have introduced in German rental building construc tion regulations. Judging from the FORSA study results, people would also welcome a regu lation on improved window and door security standards.”
Exigent circumstances
A break-in takes place somewhere in
Official locking regulation
66 percent of Germans surveyed
Increasing number of apartment break-ins: How Germans feel as a result
Germany every three minutes. The level
Burglary protection: How Germans assess statutory windows and door security regulations
by FORSA want legislators to
of worry amongst Germans in view of the
Information in percent
Completely insecure
huge crime rate growth from break-ins is also shown by a Berlin polling institute 10
Information in percent
longer just requires windows and
Very reasonable
doors to provide greater thermal
24
FORSA survey, which was commissioned by Roto. Irrespective of where those 36
A bit less secure
36
Still relatively secure
at least relatively secure. Source: forsa
20
30
ensures that there is protection against the loss of valuables.
Somewhat unreasonable
“A clear message to the leg
17
islator”, finds Dr Eckhard Keill, Completely unreasonable
15
chairman of the board of directors
Population: 61.5 million citizens 18 years of age and over © Roto 08/2016
10
42
by FORSA currently feel completely or
18
Still completely secure
protection, but rather also Somewhat reasonable
surveyed lived, whether in the country or in the city, half of Germans surveyed
introduce a regulation that no
of Roto Frank AG. Source: Don’t know
40
2
forsa P opulation: 61.5 million 10
20
30
40
citizens 18 years of age and over © Roto 08/2016
BAU 2017
Roto aluminium competence on 300 square metres ■■ Event Aluminium systems that can be used to flexibly fabricate high-quality facades and building elements are important to architects, planners, developers and building operators. Visitor analyses show that particularly these target groups use BAU in Munich to get informed. Many aluminium system fabricators and metal workers also attend this exhibition in order to hold discussions with important suppliers, like Roto. “That is why BAU once again in 2017 provides the perfect platform for presenting our comprehensive aluminium sector product and service portfolio”, explains Udo Pauly, head of marketing. BAU starts on 16 January 2017. Roto will be presenting its expertise in a luminium frame material hardware technology on a 300 square metre stand in hall C1 at stand location 319. This will also include the presentation of implemented Roto Object Business service area projects. “This means that all-in solutions, which satisfy the indi vidual facades’ and building elements’ functionality requirements, will be shown based on specific projects”, explains general manager of AluVision Europe/Americas Jordi Nadal.
The picture shows the BAU 2015 exhibition stand.
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Roto Inside | 11.2016
Competition for Russian AD Architectural Digest readers
Modern living space requires modern windows ■■ Event In March this year, two strong brands invited Russian designers, interior designers and builders to participate in a special contest: Roto Russia and the internationally renowned AD Architectural Digest magazine advertised a planning competition in which creative minds could present their ideas for trend-setting living spaces with modern windows and compete for an award. Within just three months, fifty designs were submitted and hotly debated in social networks. The best three were identified in July by an expert jury and received an award. For many years, Roto has been working together in Russia with the publisher Condé Nast, who publishes the AD Architectural Digest magazine in fifteen countries. Every year, Roto submits itself to the judgement of magazine’s readers and has learned: even planners and designers in Russia are of the opinion that Roto is the leading hardware technology manufacturer and the brand image is also outstanding. A building cannot provide any benefits without modern windows and doors – this may be common knowledge. However, the competition advertised by Roto and AD makes it clear that, the smarter and more versatile the windows’ hardware technology, the greater the building’s convenience and security for all the people. Four times the convenience of the future During the current competition, as examples the AD magazine presented on a website four windows and sliding doors with contemporary hardware technology: one window with night ventilation, one window with TiltFirst technology, the intelligent “tilt before turn” window handle security mechanism, one Roto Patio S sliding system as well as a window fitted with Roto E-Tec Drive. Planners who wanted to get involved in the competition were invited to submit a layout plan, which made it clear why one of these individual hardware solutions perfectly complemented the illustrated room. In a dedicated blog, participants could then enter questions and interested parties could constantly follow the responses provided by hardware technology experts.
A great success, according to Matthias Eberlein, manager of Roto Russia & Central Asia: “This competition generated an active exchange of ideas between designers, interior designers and builders, which will permanently benefit the entire industry and all Russian window and door manufacturers. Despite all our Marketing Department efforts to promote high-quality hardware technology use, in the past, we
nfortunately always noticed that it was precise u ly the planning profession that knew too little about individually planned windows’ benefits. However, together with the AD Architectural Digest magazine, we have now given perma nently effective momentum in this area by means of our planning competition, according to many manufacturers.” Customised windows The three competition winners were rewarded with their dream window system: the window that they designed was installed in a building of their choice with Roto hardware technology, free of charge. Aleksej Kulewatskij, Moscow’s renowned DAF2 office designer and partner plus
competition jury member, is convinced: “Anyone who has been this intensively and practically involved in planning the perfect window or a high-quality sliding system will recommend to their customers in the future the greatest de gree possible of individual hardware technology adaptation to every single room.” First place in the competition went to Marija Rostschak with her child’s room design featuring an installed Roto Patio S sliding system. Second place was awarded to a Marina Sergeewa design with an electronically opening bedroom window, while third place went to a child’s room based on a Natalija Bylinskaja design with Roto TiltFirst technology.
A pioneer in design trade press The AD Architectural Digest magazine is published monthly and is considered a journalistic style authority on the international design and architectural scene. It covers interior design at a global level and invites readers to discover the best in the areas of design and furnishing, architecture, art and a more sophisticated lifestyle. The magazine’s first issue was published in 1920 in the American state of California. It is now published in fifteen countries.
In March 2016, Roto Russia and the inter nationally renowned AD Architectural Digest magazine jointly advertised a planning competition in which creative minds could present their ideas for trend-setting living spaces with modern
Permanent momentum Many who followed these discussions then reported back with the message that they had come away with interesting new ideas for work ing with modern windows with a view towards better buildings. Ultimately, the building element industry’s trade press also started reporting on the architectural competition and its progress.
windows and compete
Aleksej Kulewatskij, Moscow’s renowned DAF2 office designer and partner
for an award. Within
plus jury member in the competition organised by Roto and Architectural
just three months, fifty
Digest, is convinced: “Anyone who has been this intensively and practically
designs were submit
involved in planning the perfect window or a high-quality sliding system will
ted and lively debated
recommend to their customers in the future the greatest degree possible of
in social networks.
individual hardware technology adaptation to every single room.”
EPR Group, Hungary
Individually through the crisis – together for success ■■ New at Roto In 2008 – in the midst of the Hungarian economic and construction crisis – Tamás Balogh purchased a window production plant, which he believed had what it took to survive, even in difficult times. It was “small and flexible”, reports the 41-year-old, who joined the building elements industry as a window fabricator employee in 2002. And he was proven right: the plant currently produces and sells Etik brand windows. In 2010, the entrepreneur decided to purchase a second oper ation. He has since also felt responsible for the Rekord brand’s success. Additional company acquisitions followed. Tamás Balogh is now a shareholder in eight PVC window production plants as well as one aluminium main door production plant. Tamás Balogh and the other shareholders are now looking to raise awareness, primarily of the window plants, by marketing the umbrella brand EPR. It arose from the first letters of the brand names ETO, Etik, Prestige, Premium and Rekord. In 2016, the EPR group companies recorded consolidated sales of almost thirteen million euros. “From our perspective, this is a re sult that we can be proud of and which we want to emphasize by introducing the umbrella brand”, explains Balogh. Each of the nine plants’ operations is managed by a general manager, who is also a shareholder, and supplies distributors within a radius of about 150 to 200 km. Thanks to their structure and high flexibility, all plants came through the Hungarian construction crisis quite strongly and in each case also established a solid customer base in a
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neighbouring country. “When exporting, concentration protects against risks. One plant – one export country.” Show who you are Concentration is also the aim of the product range policy: “While the Rekord brand primarily offers cost-effective, white PVC windows with extremely short delivery times, the Etik, ETO, Prestige and Premium brands stand for energy-saving windows and security windows”, is how Balogh arranges the Group’s offer. One plant exclusively produces aluminium main doors under the Awalux brand name. “Accordingly, the plants have previously also used different advertising instruments for their marketing activities. For instance, the Etik website provides an energy cost calculator, which builders can use to independently calculate how much money they can save by using new windows with different installation depths or double or triple glazing. Group management holds intensive discussions on these kinds of marketing, as well
as the incorporated profiles and hardware. It has allowed us to become an all-rounder, which can offer the matching product and service solution for every distributor and every requirement”, Tamás B alogh describes the current situation and the motiva tion to invest in the development of an umbrella brand at this particular time. Impress customers with a new training concept “In future, we will invite distributors to participate in comprehen sive training sessions under the EPR brand, in which they can simultaneously familiarise themselves with the windows across all the plants and brands”, he explains management's future plans. “This is how we hope to gain ETO, Etik, Prestige, Premium and Rekord customers’ confidence in our other brands’ and plants’ windows. We will cooperate closely with Roto in these training sessions, as Roto hardware technology is incorporated in seven of our eight window plants.”
On 6 April 2014, Tamás Balogh was distin guished for his The ERP group is currently comprised of eight window and one main door production plants.
entrepreneurial
In future, they are looking to underline their affiliation with a newly designed umbrella
building industry
brand presence.
commitment.
PLASTIMET, Poland
Concentration of production nearing completion ■■ PVC Aluminium The year 2016 will always have a special significance in PLASTIMET’s history, as it is the year in which the renowned window and door manufacturer combined its production lines and warehouse in Niedźwiedzkie, northern Poland, to establish a state-of-the-art production centre. Since the company’s founding in 1991, profile extrusion, insulating glass production, PVC and aluminium window production, main door production and special production were initially established at different locations, where they have since remained. Sales manager and authorised representative Łukasz Ostrowski gave Roto Inside an insight into the company’s exciting climate of change. 32-year-old Łukasz Ostrowski essentially became involved in the fenestration industry and PLASTIMET by chance. “After com pleting my business administration studies and a post-graduate finance and accounting degree, I initially worked as a develop ment manager in various industries”, remembers the authorised representative. “My first contact with PLASTIMET was as a freelance consultant. At the time, I was supervising the construc tion and commissioning of a profile extrusion centre. This was followed by a company restructuring for process optimisation, in which I was also involved as a consultant. Then, when a follow-up project was due to commence, the chairman of the PLASTIMET board of directors, Jarosław Marek Bobrek, asked me to join PLASTIMET as a sales manager and help shape the company’s further development.” Strong in product development … While, at the start of the 1990s, PLASTIMET exclusively produced PVC windows and doors, at the end of the decade, this was followed by the establishment of a production plant for aluminium and fire protection windows as well as an internal plant to manu facture insulating glazing. Ostrowski rates the development of the in-house PLASTIMET ELITE PVC profile system as a milestone in the company's history. “This profile system is also distinguished by its universal application and impressive energy efficiency performance values. The windows manufactured based on these profiles are amongst our ‘Top sellers”, both in Poland as well as in our export markets.” … strong in service Of the around 140,000 PVC windows that PLASTIMET currently manufactures every year, about 40 percent are exported, primarily to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and to the Kaliningrad area. Here, as well as in Poland, its customers include professional investors, developers, large general contractors as well as public and federal institutions. In Poland, PLASTIMET products are also sold via qualified specialised dealers. When asked about the company’s unique selling point (USP), authorised representative Łukasz Ostrowski nominates the well-coordinated customer service in first position. “Our ultimate aim is to ensure that the customer feels well looked-after in all co operation phases. From specialist consulting through to the offer preparation, the ordering service through to transport scheduling and final acceptance, we are in constant contact with our clients. Even they let us know that they are very appreciative of our effi cient after-sales services as well as our support services, including after expiration of the guarantee periods. “ PLASTIMET laid the groundwork to ensure both premium service quality as well as product quality at an early stage, by implementing a quality management system. “We are currently once again working on expanding our quality inspection along with raw materials and semi-finished parts control processes, as well as in our in-house manufacturing area. We will also shortly
be putting an in-house test chamber into operation in order to inspect prototypes and window systems”, Ostrowski reports on the current plans. More efficiency through centralised manufacturing However, the quality management department is only one area in which changes have been initiated this year. Preparations for all production and logistics processes’ centralisation and optimal structuring at the new location in Niedźwiedzkie have been run ning for months. PLASTIMET is currently in the last phase of this process: the PVC window varieties’ production line as well as the main door manufacturing area, which were previously located in Ełk, thirty kilometres away, will be the last division to relocate and integrate into the production area at the new location by the end of the year. “The merger of all production areas at one location is certainly the biggest change that the company has undertaken in the past few years. In 2011, we constructed and opened a PVC profile extrusion hall in Niedźwiedzkie. In 2015 and 2016, we then erected a nother hall with an area of 9,000 square metres, in which the PVC, aluminium and fire protection window production areas as well as the plant to manufacture insulating glazing are now housed. Once the relocation of the window varieties’ production area is complete, we will focus on constructing a warehouse as a further extension, which will cover around 4,000 square metres. This will then act as a buffer for the production area.”
Quick check for premium quality Wherever changes are about to be made, wherever processes are being optimised, Roto experts are there to provide advice and support to window and door man ufacturers around the world. They often also visit the companies with a special case. Rafal Koźlik, Roto Lean specialist in Poland, explains its contents: “The c hecking facility case provides valuable support for ongoing production monitoring. The tools it contains can be used by us to quickly explain the key quality parameters. Are the weld joints correctly executed? Are the strikers OK? Are the drill holes the correct depth? At the end, the manufacturer receives a checklist, which can be used to further optimise its plants, if necessary, in order to produce windows of an even higher quality.”
Practical ongoing production monitoring tools, compactly stored in the Roto checking facility case.
Without a doubt, all production plants’ as well as all transport and storage capacities’ integration in a central complex will enable additional process optimisations in the future, says Ostrowski. The investments in machinery and plants expansion have also set the foundation for further growth. “PLASTIMET currently has a fully automated production line with profile cutting and process ing modules, automatic welding, machining and cleaning units, a frame and sash assembly plant as well as an automatic glass sorting plant. As a result, we will be operating in Niedźwiedzkie a highly automated and what must surely be one of the most cutting-edge production plants in Europe.” Successful implementation with the right partner For the planning and implementation of all measures, Łukasz Ostrowski and his team were able to rely on the support of their long-term partner Roto. The company has been working with Roto, both professionally and as partners, since the establishment of the company, that is to say, for 25 years, says the authorised representative. “We incorporate a wide range of Roto solutions: TiltFirst child’s room window systems, Roto Designo hinge-sides, Roto Line and Roto Swing window handles, door sills and floor to door gaskets, virtually the entire Roto NT component system as well as Roto Patio S, Patio Z and Patio PS based Tilt&Slide solutions can all be found in our windows, main doors and sliding doors. Accordingly, our Roto partners are almost as familiar with the PLASTIMET manufacturing processes as we are, and they were able to actively help us manage the many challenges we faced during the centralisation process.” The sales pro Łukasz Ostrowski naturally also considers the external impact of all these changes: “The changes that we are currently undertaking are ultimately intended primarily to benefit our customers. And we make sure that this is also clearly commu nicated. Together with our production area’s centralisation, we are also introducing a new corporate design, which will be reflected in our trading partners’ sales offices. The Roto brand, which enjoys an outstanding reputation amongst many of our regular customers, will also be part of our marketing communication in the future.”
After extensive expansions and refurbishments, this year all PLASTIMET production areas will be merged in Niedźwiedzkie.
PLASTIMET currently employs around 250 staff. Of the around 140,000 PVC windows manufactured each year, about 40 percent are exported to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and to the Kaliningrad area.
Systematic quality manage
As sales manager and author
ment: PLASTIMET product
ised representative, Łukasz
and process quality is contin
Ostrowski is also responsible
uously checked.
for promoting PLASTIMET’s further development.
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Roto Inside | 11.2016
HM Heinrich Meyer Werke Breloh, Germany
Foresight and leadership for satisfied customers ■■ PVC Timber “We decided to specialise in supplying developers at a time when there were a number of good reasons against precisely this kind of specialisation”, remembers Volker Meyer, managing shareholder of HM Heinrich Meyer Werke Breloh. “At the time, many competitors were exiting the market.” Due to weak new building activity and often poor yield then, the manufacturing industry was searching for new standards and concepts in order to convince private builders. “The designer house, the healthy living house, the particularly secure house, the passive (low-E) house – these days you can find all of this on the market”, explains the 59-year-old entrepre neur, “but these concepts have only developed since roughly the turn of the millennium. And HM committed itself to delivering windows, which are required for every one of these house concepts, to developers and prefabricated house manufacturers. Faster than everyone else, including assembly, and with impressive all-round service.” Only HM’s decision to spe cialise made it possible to tailor products and service perfectly to the demanding professional customer base’s requirements. “For instance, even our in-house freight forwarding department is highly specialised for developers’ require ments and the processes at a construction site on which a high-quality single-family house is being constructed.”
more reliability in our windows’ everyday use. At the same time, our customers can advertise improved burglary protection thanks to the adhe sive technology and Roto security engineering.” Optimised end-stop positions In order to enable optimal and highly efficient manual end-stop operation, HM planned the establishment of the workplaces and the production logistics together with the Roto Lean Team. “I have now visited the Roto roof windows factory in Bad Mergentheim numerous
times in order to draw inspiration as to how we can better organise the production area in Bispingen. Successful processes are the result of countless improvements – often in the detail. And, as the saying goes: better is the enemy of just good.” Even he himself is generally on the path and rarely at the goal, says Volker Meyer. Following commercial and technical training in the family-owned company forty years ago, he has never stopped attending external training events to learn about new management or industrial production techniques. For a number of years HM has been supervised by a Lüneburg University institute that supports the implemen tation of the “Operation excellence” manage ment approach. “Anyone wanting to change a company’s culture will encounter resistance. This is completely normal”, states Volker Meyer. “But, in addition to a willingness to change, you
need to have a r ecurrent daily commitment to improvement, if you want to remain your cus tomers’ best partner.” Commitment to continuous improvement This is precisely the aim behind the cooperation between Roto and HM with the continuous product and production development. HM is continuously working together with Roto on new hardware configurations as a result of an extraordinarily high percentage of triple glaz ing and functional glass orders by developers, as well as due to the sharp rise in interest in security engineering. “Every additional security innovation, such as the Roto lever-operated espagnolette Plus, is immediately incorporated by HM”, reports Gunter Kämmerer, who has supported the company for a number of years as a Roto sales representative. “HM tests almost
Impress with seamless processes “We are continuously refining the factory as well as construction site processes, strictly focussed on these companies’ requirements”, emphasizes Volker Meyer. “We are not interested in nasty surprises in the production area. So, we prefer long-term partnerships with suppliers with im pressive product and service quality. This applies to Roto and Deventer in all respects.” HM wants reliability – with respect to delivery performance and product quality as well as a partner’s inno vative capacity. “Roto always works – we can confirm that.” Complete changeover to adhesive technology In 2016, HM’s production area in Bispingen, northern Germany, manufactured around 70,000 PVC and timber windows as well as roughly 4,000 main doors. For about two years, the company has been using adhesive tech nology and an unusual manufacturing process in the PVC window production area in order to incorporate the Kömmerling 88 mm system: window frames and sashes only meet at the end-stop position. “We operate with a flow process and individual workstation solution combination, which is also made possible in no small measure by the durable adhered sashes. This means that we can reliably meet delivery dates, even if a high number of windows with very different technology have been ordered for one building”, Volker Meyer justifies this process. “In the next step, we will convert the entire PVC window production area to adhesive technology with the changeover from the 70 mm profile to Kömmerling’s new 76 mm system. Because, adhered glazing also provides a number of construction site installation benefits. The sashes are lighter and are easier to work with, and the sash’s one hundred percent right-angle reduces the settings adjustments required onsite. According to our measurements, normal window adjustments will be reduced by about 80 percent in the following years. This means
All production areas at the Bispingen plant (in picture: the PVC window production area) are continuously optimised and modernised. The PVC, timber and aluminium main door production areas will be merged in 2017. Timber-aluminium window production will commence at the same time.
In order to enable optimal and highly efficient manual end-stop operation, HM planned the establishment of the workplaces and the production logistics together with the Roto Lean Team.
HM production, sales and logistics have been aligned to support developers and prefabricated house manu facturers. “HM has established a significant lead over competitors thanks to this customer group’s specialised services and impressive products. This overall package is difficult to replicate and even more difficult to top”, says the general manager Volker Meyer with conviction.
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ALVES Stores & Fenêtres, France
Ready for the future all of both its PVC as well as timber innovations at the Roto ITC International Technology Center and employees receive continuous Roto product range assembly training.” Volker Meyer nods in agreement: “We test each of our suppliers’ innovations for our customers and try to use new products in order to satisfy the forecast single-family housing market requirements. Roto as well as Deventer provide comprehensive sup port whenever we want to push ahead – from a technical as well as a service perspective. HM is not a vicarious agent, but rather an idea generator. That’s why we have a good repu tation amongst developers and prefabricated house manufacturers.” The industry is promoting security It is little wonder that the Roto Quadro Safe campaign flourished in Bispingen. The number
of these kinds of windows, fitted with security hardware based on RC 2, leaving HM’s pro duction area, is constantly rising. “In particular, prefabricated house buyers expect a closed and convincing security concept and, naturally, also very good thermal insulation”, reports Volker Meyer. “That’s why our customers expressly advertise the performance of windows manu factured by HM. Because they themselves have to survive in a hard and competitive market, they know how to appreciate that we are constantly looking to improve of our own accord”, the entrepreneur is convinced. “HM has established a significant lead over competitors thanks to this customer group’s specialised services and impressive products. This overall package is difficult to replicate and even more difficult to top”, he explains with a smile, before he opens his production plant’s doors for Roto Inside.
■■ PVC Leonard Alves, general m anager of the family-owned company ALVES Stores & Fenêtres, and his team consider themselves to be close to and at the customer’s place. ALVES Stores & Fenêtres has been manufacturing, selling and installing PVC windows and doors, Venetian blinds, garage doors and pergolas since 1976. Since then, the company has continuously invested in modern fabrication techniques so that now almost every production step is automated or at least computer-assisted. Vétraz-Monthoux, the company’s Départe mente Haute Savoie production location, is located at the southern end of Lake Geneva. Switzerland is not far away. “In fact, it is barely five kilometres to the border, Geneva is essentially just a stone’s throw away”, confirms Leonard Alves in discussion with Roto Inside. “However, we are not currently considering ex porting to Switzerland, as our capacity is being well-utilised by our French customers’ orders.” The Départemente Haute Savoie, in the far west of France, has for years become increasingly popular as an attractive border region. Real estate, especially housing, has been in strong demand and urgently sought. “We have been following a trend away from the traditional single-family house for about two to three years. There is virtually no longer any demand for them. New-builds are almost exclusively focussed on multi-family houses and larger residential complexes. However, the replacement of old 1970s windows and doors account for most of our sales orders. They clearly no longer meet home-owners’ and potential buyers’ comfort requirements.”
Following positive experiences with adhesive technology to produce a window system, HM will now convert its entire PVC window production area. Developers can advertise their windows’ improved burglary protection provided by the adhesive technology and Roto security hardware.
Invitation to the manufacturing area The quality of the products manufactured by Alves has spread by mouth-to-mouth advertising in the four decades since the company’s foundation. This means that a large amount of advertising is no longer necessary. “The proximity to the customers in the region is paying off. Someone knows someone else and they recommend us. New customers are sometimes surprised when I tell them: anyone who places an order with us can come to the workshop and supervise the production
of ‘their’ window. But, this is an absolutely serious statement. We want to convince with transparency.” What you will see on such a visit is primari ly high-tech equipment. For Leonard Alves, self-taught machinery technician, modern production technologies are an absolute necessity for high-quality products. Just seven employees work in the ALVES Stores & Fenêtres m anufacturing area, which still produces around 6,000 PVC windows every year. In 2008, the company relocated to new premises, which included a tripling of the production area. The entire manu facturing d epartment was automated by 2010: four-headed welding units, fully-automatic machining centres, saws and glazing tables reliably perform their services under the supervision of the production employees. “As a result, the Roto product ranges’ capacity to integrate into our fully-automatic manufactur ing processes was p articularly important to us. The Roto NT Tilt&Turn hardware system allowed us to automate the entire hardware installation process.” Current issues: barrier-free accessibility and burglary protection Alves gives a positive assessment of the cooperation, which is just shy of its sixth year, and this is even more positive when he thinks of the future. “Our manufacturing processes could not have been implemented in this form without Roto NT. I greatly appreciate the fact that new developments, such as the Roto NT with the Eifel TB threshold, are always at least one step ahead of what legislators demand. Roto hardware technology lets us seamlessly satisfy the current convenience and security requirements demanded by our customers: barrier-free access to their apartments and effective burglary protection. Roto’s threshold and locking solutions in this regard already allow us to provide genuine added value and, thanks to Roto NT Designo, also offer a concealed hinge solution.”
Leonard Alves, general manager of ALVES Stores & Fenêtres, gives a clear quality promise: “Anyone who places an order with us can come to the workshop and supervise the produc tion of ‘their’ window.”
The French family-owned company, ALVES Stores & Fenêtres, has been manufacturing, selling and installing PVC win dows and doors, Venetian blinds, garage doors and pergolas since 1976.
In the HM production area, window frames and sashes meet at the end-stop position.
New-builds in the attractive Haute Savoie border region are “We need our suppliers in order to move forward and our customers in order to
generally multi-family houses, as there is an urgent demand for
develop.” Volker Meyer is the sixth generation to manage his family’s company,
new living space in this area.
including the window and door production facility in Bispingen. This is where he completed his commercial and technical training course almost 40 years ago. “Since then, he regularly attends professional training sessions, these days primarily on the ‘Operation excellence’ topics.”
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Roto Inside | 11.2016
Extrugasa, Spain
From Galicia to the world ■■ Aluminium If you think of the place name Santiago de Compostela, most people primarily think of pilgrims with backpacks on isolated hiking trails. By contrast, it is likely that only aluminium facade manufacturers will know that a global player in aluminium profile production and machining is located just 20 kilometres to the south of this world-famous pilgrimage city. Extrusionados Galicia S.A. – Extrugasa for short – currently employs 565 staff and around the world is considered an experienced aluminium specialist. The company premises, which extend across 115,000 square metres, are located in Valga in northern Spain, in the Galician province of Pontevedra. This is where employees are dedicated to processing and machining alu minium on an operating area covering around 85,000 square metres. “We have built up and maintained our reputation over time as a reliable aluminium profile specialist with consistently good performance”, explains general manager Francisco Quintá. His father, Andrés Quintá, in the early 1960s laid the foundation for the company, which obtained its current legal form in 1981. “My father initially sold other Spanish manufacturers’ aluminium profiles, but then decided to manufacture aluminium profiles independently with his own extrusion facility as well as his own paint shop and anodising work shop. Demand for coated profiles rose rapidly in the 1980s.” It started with the coating The aluminium professional considers the commissioning of the country’s first electrostatic paint shop by Extrugasa in 1982 as well as the inauguration of the first extrusion system in 1984 as milestones in the company’s history. “This was the period during which we became an industrial firm and our customers now ben efit from our workforce’s wealth of experience, which has grown for more than thirty years. Our qualified employees and our continuous investment in modern facilities means that, for many of our customers, the name Extrugasa has become a byword for the high-quality alumin ium profile extrusion, painting and anodising as well as window, door and facade system manufacture”, says Francisco Quintá.
offices as well as a professional team of sales representatives. The original extrusion system has been joined by three additional modern lines as well as three fully-automatic anodising plants. Francisco Quintá is looking to add to this number in the coming years. “In 2017 alone we will be investing ten million euros and increasing our production capacities by almost 20 percent”, says the general manager about his future plans. “Our customers can look forward to some very exciting innovations.” Extrugasa recently introduced a Roto Patio Inowa hardware sliding door system with great success. “We have been working together with Roto for many years and the professional ex change of ideas is spurring on both parties. We also appreciate Roto’s high level of supply readi ness. Besides Roto AL product range hardware, we have now ‘discovered’ Roto Patio Inowa for our sliding doors and windows. The convenient operation, high impermeability and the sliding doors’ design, all of which are made possible by this hardware, convinced us and our customers’ feedback has been extremely positive.”
The company premises, which extends across 115,000 square metres, of Extrusionados Galicia S.A. – Extrugasa for short – is located in Valga in northern Spain, in the Galician province of Pontevedra. This is where employees are dedicated to processing and machining aluminium on an operating area covering around 85,000 square metres.
Andrés Quintá, in the early 1960s laid the foundation for the company, which obtained its current legal form in 1981. “My father initially sold other Spanish manufacturers’ aluminium profiles, but then decided to manufacture aluminium profiles independently with his own extrusion facility as well as his own paint shop and anodising workshop’, explains his son Francisco Quintá in discussion with Roto Inside.
Approximately 65 percent of the aluminium profiles coated in Valga are used in various industries, while about 35 percent is used by the construction industry. The company’s cur rently around 2,000 loyal regular customers are located around the world: Extrugasa products are exported to almost every country in Europe as well as to Africa and America, reports Quintá. “About half of what we produce is exported. Our customers include corporate groups with multi-national presence as well as small window fabricators, who successfully service their local markets.” More investment Fifty company-owned trucks are currently on European roads for Extrugasa, in order to transport profiles, windows, doors and facades. In Spain itself, the company now has nine sales
These days, Extrugasa aluminium systems adorn countless prestigious buildings, such as Toronto’s York University Bergeron Centre For Engineering Excellence (left in picture) or the over 180-metre-high Torre Sevilla.
General manager Francisco Quintá has big plans: “In 2017 we will increase our produc tion capacities by almost 20 percent.” Approximately 65 percent of the aluminium profiles coated in Valga are used in various industries, while about 35 percent is used by the construction industry. The company’s currently around 2,000 loyal regular customers are located around the world.
10 |
New cylinder operated rotating latch door lock
Easy to install: Roto Safe C | C600 ■■ New at Roto As the established Roto Safe C | C500’s successor model, in late summer this year, Roto presented the new cylinder operated door lock generation Roto Safe C | C600. “A generation with impressive performance features”, finds the responsible product manager Daniel Zähringer and names a small, but important detail as an example, which leads to a huge workload reduction.
few degrees causes the latch to retract through the changeover. The Roto Safe C | C600 also ensures single-turn locking: the lock is safeguarded against manipulation after a single 360-degree turn of the key and does not allow the additional locking points to slide back. “The new door lock generation thus provides a high convenience and security level, which the customer can
notice and hear primarily due to the whisper latch. When the door enters the frame, if generates a deep and full sound, similar to a closing car door’s sound”, Daniel Zähringer describes the new Roto Safe C | C600’s strengths. The door lock can be used in tim ber, PVC or aluminium main and back doors with a 3,000 mm sash rebate height.
At first glance, only the main-lock casing seems to have changed in the Roto Safe C | C600 compared to its predecessor. But, the actual “highlight” is the newly developed whisper latch: it ensures a door locking noise reduction, which is sure to impress builders, and also provides an unbeatable installation benefit. “The latch can be rotated from right to left, or vice versa, even when it is already installed”, explains Daniel Zähringer. “This means that on the one hand fewer separate right and left components need to be kept in stock and on the other the fitter benefits from a kind of ‘safety buffer’. If a manufacturer has not aligned a lock correctly as DIN left or right, the fitter can adapt the latch themselves on-site in just a few simple steps.” A further advantage: at 213 mm, the Roto Safe C | C600’s routing dimension corresponds precisely to all Roto door locks’ standard routing dimension. This means that a manufacturer with cylinder operated and lever-operated Roto door locks in its product range will make a permanent savings in setup costs. Convenient, safe and quiet The new door lock generation remains as convenient as ever for end users: The exceptionally smooth running espagnolette ensures a high ease of operation. The locking movement is performed quietly and without resistance. Even a very slight key turn of just a
Product features at a glance Simple fabrication
§§ New: Reversible latch when set up for easy installation §§ New: C600 routing dimension corresponds to all Roto door locks’ standard routing dimension for easy operations scheduling §§ Striker location pattern, security breakthroughs and escutcheon-cover fixings remain in place
The new Roto Safe C I C600’s “highlight” lies in the newly developed whisper latch. It ensures a door locking noise reduction, which is sure to impress builders, and also provides an unbeatable installation benefit: the latch can also be rotated from right to left, or vice versa, when it is installed.
Maximum convenience
§§ New: Door closing sound reduction by whisper latches §§ Smooth running and yet powerful espagnolette for convenient tightening §§ Push-back safeguard after just one key turn to protect against burglars
&& Comprehensive information in German on the new Roto Safe C | C600 cylinder operated door lock generation can be found here: www.roto-frank.com/de/roto-safe-c
Trusted quality
§§ Certified continuous operation features for more than 100,000 operations provide investment security
§§ Corrosion-resistant surface ensures a permanently
&& Comprehensive information in English on the new Roto Safe C | C600 cylinder operated door lock generation can be found here:
high-quality aesthetics and flawless function
§§ Performance test of every lock before shipping for
www.roto-frank.com/en/roto-safe-c
maximum reliability
Roto mourns Rainer Kohn
Great loss ■■ Obituary Roto Frank AG is mourning the loss of a prominent management personality and long-term colleague. Rainer Kohn passed away on 7 June 2016 at the age of 73. A painful loss for the company, in which Kohn worked for a total of 56 years, his entire professional life. But, also a loss for many Roto customers and partners. He was well-known beyond the bounds of the company and highly respected in the industry as a sales professional who epitomized Roto’s “close to the customer” strategy “more confidently and persuasively than just about anyone else”, emphasizes Dr Eckhard Keill, the chairman of the board of directors. Rainer Kohn’s passing is in every respect a great loss and leaves behind a painful void. Born in Stuttgart in 1943, Kohn joined the company on 1 May 1960 and initially completed a three-year industrial business management assistant training program. People quickly realized that the dedicated and outgoing young man possessed a marked
talent for sales. His special strength for openly and optimistically approaching people and building lasting trust-based relationships with them influenced his professional career just as positively as his well-founded technical expertise. It was a pleasure to be able to work together with Rainer Kohn”, Dr Eckhard Keill pays tribute to the deceased. “Mister Roto” will be missed by the window and door industry In his eulogy at the funeral, the supervisory board chairman, Dr Michael Stahl, paid tribute to Rainer Kohn and his services. He also recalled the positions held by the deceased at Roto. “From the Offenbach sales office manager from 1966, to the appointment as sales manager for Germany in 1976 until 1990, when he was appointed divisional director of sales for the window and door technology division – Rainer Kohn tackled all of his roles with great commitment and enthusiasm. His constant positive attitude was contagious. He identified with the company
and remained in close contact with Roto, even after his retirement in 2008, as a consultant to the board of directors. Many custom ers and partners even referred to Rainer Kohn as ‘Mister Roto’.” This clearly expresses the respect paid to him, says Dr Stahl. We must also not forget his many years of association work. With his passing, the window and door industry has lost a competent and always constructive voice.
This is how Rainer Kohn will be remembered in the company and the industry: as an optimistic, compe tent, dedicated and always a customer-oriented sales professional. After a life-long professional career span ning 56 years with Roto Frank AG, the former divisional director passed away in June 2016 at the age of 73.
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Roto Inside | 11.2016
Gowercroft Joinery, Great Britain
Timber windows for the highest demands ■■ Timber In 2006, WillowAcre Investments and Development constructed an attractive property with high-quality apartments in the north of London, on Bishops Avenue, in the city’s Highgate area. At the time, the demanding project’s modern timber windows and terrace doors were manufactured by Gowercroft Joinery over a period of about two years. The more than 200 elements were fitted with Roto NT range Tilt&Turn hardware and Roto Patio Life range sliding hardware. Even after ten years, the renowned window fabricator concludes that this was a good choice in every respect! The windows and doors still function faultlessly. Many timber window and door manufac turers rely on Roto hardware technology with complete conviction. Andrew Madge, of Gowercroft Joinery’s general manager, is one of them and explains why: “In Highgate you can see what impressed us about Roto. Even ten years after installing the first units, all doors and windows are still functional and are not causing any problems. Roto hardware gives us absolutely no cause for complaint. We might have had one or two assignments to replace individual components. But, it is highly likely that their damage was caused by incor rect or excessively aggressive use. This is an extremely low complaint ratio for an order of this size.”
as a window’s functionality points to its quality. However, this quality requires the hardware’s perfect configuration. For the project in Bishops Avenue, extensive consideration had to be given to the most capable large element hardware. “At the time, we asked Roto for an opinion on our ideas for the Bishops Avenue project”, remembers Andrew Madge, “as some of the Tilt&Turn French doors were outside the normal size parameters. However, fortunately, the Roto d esigners confirmed that our proposed configurations were exactly right.”
Imprint Proven durability The conclusion, which the Gowercroft Joinery can draw after ten years is also satisfying for Roto. “Even if we naturally did not as sume that this would be the case, ultimately we are pleased with the assurance that, after ten years, Roto hardware technology functions just as smoothly as it did on the first day”, Dharminder Binning, Key Account Manager at Roto, is pleased. “For us, it is important to have real case studies to demon strate that the combination of Roto products, high-quality profiles as well as professional installation and assembly enables doors and windows to function reliably over a long period of time.”
Editorial board Sabine Barbie, Udo Pauly Editorial office Comm´n Sense GmbH Lensbachstraße 10 D-52159 Roetgen Telephone: +49 (0)2471 9212865 Fax: +49 (0)2471 9212867
[email protected] Design and production avency GmbH Kiebitzpohl 77 D-48291 Telgte Telephone: +49 (0)2504 888-0 Fax: +49 (0)2504 888-199
[email protected]
Andrew Madge, Gowercroft Joinery’s general manag er, sums up: “In Highgate you can see what impressed
Specialist timber and hardware know-how Satisfied Highgate houses’ residents have also helped Gowercroft Joinery to constantly grow since its foundation in the late 1990s. After all, as a customised timber window and door specialist for the development and manufacture of renovations and new-builds, Gowercroft Joinery relies on a good reputa tion. And on high-quality hardware technology,
Publisher Roto Frank AG Wilhelm-Frank-Platz 1 D-70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen
us about Roto. Even ten years after installing the first units, all doors and windows are still functional and are not causing any problems.”
Printers Griebsch & Rochol Druck GmbH Gabelsbergerstraße 1 D-59069 Hamm Telephone: +49 (0)2385 931-0
[email protected] Total print run 10,300 copies
In 2006, WillowAcre Investments and Development constructed an exclusive residential property in London’s Highgate area. The attractive apartments’ modern timber windows and terrace doors were manufactured by Gowercroft Joinery experts.
The investors were familiar with Gowercroft Joinery company from previous projects, in which the building ele
Roto NT c omponent system hinge-sides and locking components were combined with Roto Solid door hinges for
ments they delivered were praised for their quality and the company for its high degree of professionalism. Over
the installed Turn-Only windows.
200 elements for Highgate were fitted with Roto NT and Roto Patio Life product ranges’ Tilt&Turn hardware and sliding hardware.
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