Manufacturer makes windows and doors more intelligent
Schüco presented a number of innovations, products and concepts in Living Tomorrow, the renewed European innovation platform around living, working and living in the future. The entire building envelope was finished with high-quality, sustainable and smart Schüco products, such as Lift&Slide windows with barrier-free sill (AS PD 75.HI) and windows that ventilate and provide acoustic insulation at the same time (AWS 90 AC.SI). Internet of Façades (IoF-ID) - a tag that makes the building envelope smart - was implemented for the first time in the construction process. Innovations were also announced for next year, such as the IoF.Pulse. Among other things, this sensor can measure the force with which a door is slammed.
As a co-initiator, Schüco - a German company that mainly develops window, door and curtain wall systems made of aluminum, steel and plastic - plays a crucial role in the realization of the renewed European innovation platform of Living Tomorrow in Vilvoorde around living, working and living in the future. As co-initiator, the world leader in aluminum systems for windows, doors and facades wants to innovate, inspire and co-create with its partners.
Schüco developed and applied a number of future trends and innovations within the industry there. The entire building envelope was finished with high-quality, sustainable and smart Schüco products. "Living Tomorrow fits perfectly into our vision of living and working in the future and offers us the opportunity to cross-pollinate with like-minded partners," says Geert Michels, General Manager Belux. "We no longer focus on individual products, but on smart, integrated concepts with a digital touch. The project is fully circular. All construction elements can be taken out smoothly so that new elements can be used."
Schüco incorporated numerous concepts and new products into the building. In the office spaces, for example, AWS 90 AC windows were installed that can ventilate and keep out noise at the same time. On the top floor, the AS PD 75.HI Performance Line, fully automatic panorama design lift-slide system with barrier-free lower sill was installed. In the restaurant, sensor-controlled windows (AWS 75.SI+ TipTronic) were installed that open or close automatically depending on indoor and outdoor temperatures, air quality and wind. "Thanks to a digital twin - a digital representation of a physical object or environment - it is possible to check, for example, how many times a window has opened and closed," says Joep Römgens, head of marketing and product management at Schüco. "Also, for example, the condition of the motor - that the window closes or opens automatically - can be tracked. Based on that, predictive maintenance can be planned. The digital twin also provides more info on how parts can be recycled."
The entire facade meets the requirements of a smart building envelope. The façade is fully controlled and monitored by sensors that were integrated into the building management system. Schüco implemented the Internet of Façades (IoF-ID) for the first time in the building process at Living Tomorrow. IoF-ID is a small tag that is added in the processor's workshop. The (NFC) tag gives each façade element of a building its own digital identity. It contains installation data and maintenance information. The advantage is that the elements can be tracked from the workshop, through assembly and the entire life cycle, up to and including disassembly and reuse. It is not only the first important step toward a digital building envelope, but also makes the daily work of Schüco partners much easier.
"By scanning the chip, which is concealed invisibly, the installer immediately sees on what floor and in what position the window should be placed," says Joep Römgens. "Comments or photos from during installation are also immediately recorded in the system. It also offers advantages in terms of saving time in the service, installation and acceptance process. Just think of page-thick completion files that are now in the cloud. When glass breaks, the tag just has to be scanned and the window can be ordered immediately with the correct dimensions, without taking measurements."
Schüco never stops innovating no matter what. Next year, the new sensor IoF.Pulse will hit the market. IoF.Pulse will include even more active sensor information such as an accelerometer making it possible to know the speed and force of closing a door or window. "This is essential for the maintenance of the elements," says Joep Römgens. "For example, if a system indicates that the maintenance cycle of a door is 10,000, this will vary depending on the environment. Think about the application in a retirement home versus in a school. This allows us to move from ´predictive maintenance´ to ´use-dependent maintenance. The goal for 2024 is to be able to measure usage-dependently thanks to IoF Pulse. This will allow us to respond even better to circularity and the reuse of materials."
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