Industry association bets on information, demonstration and networking

Window fabricators and facade builders from northern Germany gather in Brockel

The market is evolving rapidly, and as a window manufacturer and facade builder it is also important to always know the latest trends and most current developments. The Nordtreff Fenster Fassade (NFF), an industry association with 13 participating partners, wants to support companies from northern Germany in this regard. At an event on Sept. 13, they informed visitors around innovations, products, production, sustainability, trends and visions for the future within the industry. There was also plenty of room for live demonstrations and being able to network.

Marc Nickel, sales manager construction for Germany and Benelux at Stadur, and Björn Schröder, managing director of the Jürgen Schröder GmbH, are the founders and driving forces behind a new platform that aims to inform window manufacturers and façade builders from northern Germany about what is going on in the market. After all, the NFF (Nordtreff Fenster Fassade) is an industry association in which 13 players from different segments of the market join forces: Jürgen Schröder GmbH and Farben Schröder, PPG, Kontex, Meesenburg, Enno Roggemann, Kora, Klebebandfabrikation Günter Klauß, Regel-air, Weinig, SMK Group, Saicos Coating Systems, DEHA and Stadur. 

First edition of event

"The event was immediately an ideal opportunity for industry professionals to discover and discuss the latest developments, exchange knowledge and network. The program included subject-oriented presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities. This allowed visitors to learn more about the latest technologies and trends in the window and facade industry, as well as environmentally friendly materials, energy-efficient solutions and ecological building concepts. There was also room to share their own challenges and solutions with other attendees and with industry experts," explained Marck Nickel. 

"Visitors there could also learn about the products and solutions of numerous companies from different segments of the industry: from the processing of wood for window production and the use of hardware and other fasteners over products for sealing and ventilation technology to sandwich elements and substructure profiles for window sills and sliding systems, lacquers and oils. Attention was also paid to coatings for interior and exterior applications with a special focus on fire protection solutions according to DIN EN 13501-1, which play an increasingly important role when it comes to safety in buildings."

Looking to the future

Meanwhile, organizers and visitors look back on the first edition of this event with satisfaction. Companies not only showed samples of finished products, but there was also room for live demonstrations. In the Schröder GmbH production hall, for example, there were several hands-on sessions, where visitors could directly see the result of machining operations or perform tests themselves. "The visitors also listened attentively to the presentation by our guest speaker Franz Obst. He elaborated on possible conflicts that can arise at companies in the industry. As a lawyer and problem solver specializing in such cases, he obviously has to deal with this on a daily basis. Just think of disputes with local residents, problems with employees, a hostile atmosphere during a takeover, ... these are just a few examples," Marc Nickel concluded. "The next edition of our event on September 12, 2025 is already marked in red in the agenda of many companies. Once again, the emphasis then will be on information, demonstration and being able to network."