Retrospective Fensterbau Frontale 2024 in Nuremberg

'Structurally looking to improve manufacturing processes and increase interest in seamless welds'

At the Fensterbau Frontale, visitors will find - in the organizers' own words - everything they are looking for. Whether it is about making new contacts, getting to know innovative products or getting tantalizing inspiration. It's all there. When we submit these "official" fair statements for verification to Cees and Niels van Essen of Kruba of Baarn, they nod in agreement. "Promises were indeed fulfilled. There was a quality audience. You noticed that by the questions that were asked: people are structurally looking for improvement in their own production processes and there is an increasing interest in seamless welding joints."

When the twosome from Kruba are asked what is the "biggest concern" for the (window frame) industry in the coming years, they immediately point to rising personnel costs and the impending staff shortage. "Many industries are at a loss," says Cees. "People want an answer as to how their own production can still maintain or even grow with fewer people. Technical efficiency is the magic word. Fortunately, it can be done. For example, with Thorwesten's machines. I am thinking of the sawing and machining center in combination with the steel sawing center. This is also user-friendly and very easy to operate compared to alternatives on the market that are often too complex."

Niels says that production managers and company owners in particular expressed the need for fast delivery times. "Fortunately, we always manage to deliver the requested production setups within a few months so that they can be put into use immediately."

Seamless welding joints

The second topic that was talked about a lot at the fair concerned seamless welded joints. "Urban offers - as far as we are concerned - the best and most beautiful solution," Niels explains. "This supplier does things substantially differently than the already existing patented solutions. Urban has managed to keep the compressive strength of the corners high despite the machining. After all, the weld is only allowed to fail under a certain pressure: that bar has now been raised much higher. In addition, Urban has demonstrated that they have been able to take a step forward in terms of aesthetics. From now on, the welds are invisible. So you no longer have to post-color."

Niels explains that good examples could be shown at Urban's booth. "Think of profiles with a color film and an acrylic top layer. This is in fact also possible in combination with the HVL welded connections."

Follow up

For Kruba's staff, the task for the coming weeks is clear. "We are focusing on following up properly on all the questions and requests we received in Nuremberg. We will discuss further details during all upcoming company visits; we will delve even deeper into the production processes of the contacts we have made. A lot of great things will undoubtedly come out of that. For 2024, therefore, we remain very positive."  

Contract signing

During the fair in Nuremberg, there was also an official moment for Kruba BV,
namely the signing of the renewal of the agreement for the exclusive
dealership for Urban in the Netherlands. Cees and Niels van Essen, Nicole Braunmiller and
Herman Deller of Urban put their signatures.