BAU 2007: premiere for system provider Akotherm

The leading trade fair for the European building and construction industry is held every two years: the BAU in Munich. The next BAU from 15 to 20 January 2007 will also see Akotherm taking part for the first time with its own presentation. With the fair now approaching, we took the opportunity to speak to Akotherm CEO Frank Schneider about upcoming innovations, his further plans and future objectives.

: Mr Schneider, what specific goal do you have in mind with your presentation at the BAU trade fair?

Schneider: We see the BAU as a platform for our future projects, so our goal is quite clear: Akotherm will present itself as a performance-driven partner and manufacturer of aluminium systems for windows, doors, façades and conservatories. We want to use the BAU to reach additional prospective customers in the German-speaking countries and to win new partners involved in system manufacturing. We see the Munich fair location in this respect as the central point for the German-speaking southern area, which also covers our customers in Austria, Switzerland and the South Tyrol.

: Why is Akotherm launching its fair activities precisely at this point in time?

Schneider: There are a number of reasons. Firstly people have been bringing up this issue with us for quite some time now – they seem to have really missed us (smiles). But it's also with a view to our European orientation with the help of licence partners. Being an international fair, the BAU could also open up new avenues for us here.
Winning a new licence partner in Turkey this year has in fact already seen us making a start in terms of international collaboration.

: So at the same time you've got a foot in the door to Asia as well, have you?

Schneider: Well, I suppose you could see it that way. But that's right actually, with our Turkish partner, – who, by the way, with well over 14,000 tonnes annual processing capacity is also one of the most successful aluminium processors in Europe, – this additional step would indeed be possible. Yes, it would seem to suggest itself...

: It's well known that Akotherm has the image in the industry of an innovative system supplier that goes all out for real partnerships. Will you also be fostering this image with your thoughts concerning expansion?

Schneider: If you say so, and if we are attributed with having such an image in the industry, then we've done good work so far. We're not going to change that either, of course. We're sparing no effort to maintain the high standards of service and to pass them on via our sales partners. That's what makes up the major part of how Akotherm sees itself. You see we've always developed the improvements to our product from the dialogue with our partners… That in itself shows you that we have an ongoing, vibrant exchange of ideas and information with our system partners. No, we're certainly not going to change that; strengthening it is rather the case.

: Well, while we're on the subject of product improvements, what new ideas can visitors to the BAU expect to see at Akotherm's booth?

Schneider: Our preparations for the BAU 2007 have seen us working on further improvements to detail and system upgrades, expansions, problem solving – however you want to call it. What I particularly find worth mentioning is the solution for our conservatory roof system AT 430: static undertension making roof outreaches in excess of the five-metre limit possible. This will also enable our system partners to produce larger versions. Much attention was given to a filigree design during the development stages so that we can deliver an architectonically appealing solution, too. We'll also be showing some more new developments in window, door and façade technologies.

: As we know, the new NRWG guideline covering natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators has been in force since 1 September 2006. Can Akotherm hold its own here as well?

Schneider: Yes, of course we can! You bet! We've already had the systems and products in question tested for compliance – with outstanding results, I care to add. Natural smoke extraction — smoke control and protection — has always been on the agenda at Akotherm. I'd just like to mention our smoke protection door AT 600 in this connection, which has been a highly successful product in our system range for a long time now.

: There's also a specialist conference arranged at the BAU 2007 – a forum – under the heading "ClimaDesign meets Visions of Glass". One of the issues being discussed will be the transparent external envelope and the use of glass in construction. Now that's actually a classic subject for a manufacturer of aluminium systems – the aluminium-glass façade. Have you come up with any innovations here too?

Schneider: Well, the "ClimaDesign" conference is not really and exclusively about aluminium façade technologies. This forum, which, incidentally, is being organised by Munich Technical University's Chair of Building Climate Control and Domestic Engineering, is actually a bit more globally orientated, and is also integrating all types of materials. But as you're mentioning the combination of aluminium and glass – yes, there are innovations here as well. We've implemented yet more substantial enhancements for our window systems on the applications engineering side. We've also made thermal separation possible for our door systems with a sliding barrier or insulating bar. The patented sliding barrier prevents the bimetal effect with aluminium systems. What this means is that when it's very hot – which we now have to reckon with in Germany of course, not to mention southern Europe – there is no longer any thermal material displacement which might interfere with how doors work.

: But you mentioned a new idea for façade systems too...

Schneider: Oh yes, our steel-look façade. You know, it's actually just playing around with what you can do architecturally and it's used in particular in the restoration of old industrial buildings. This was also something our system partners asked if we could do, and we were glad to oblige. We're currently presenting a classic, T-section façade look based on our crossbar-crossbar system AT 500 F. Depending on what is required, we see other designs as being perfectly possible.

: So that means lots of innovations for the Akotherm partners.
You're in Hall C 1, Stand 522 at the BAU, aren't you?

Schneider: Yes, we are. I'd be particularly delighted to see prospective customers working in system manufacturing visit us at the fair so that they can get a good idea of the performance-driven partner and system supplier that Akotherm is.

: Mr Schneider, thank you very much for the interview.

Thomas Müller conducted the interview.

+++ Visit Akotherm at the fair BAU 2007 in Munich, Hall C1, Stand No. 522

Press relations:
H.W.G.
Marketing & Werbung
Thomas Müller / Dieter Meyer
Wiedbachstr. 50
546567 Neuwied
Germany
Tel. 49 2631 964674 / 964628
Fax 49 2631 964614

Company contact:
AKOTHERM GmbH
Aluminium-Profilsysteme
Werftstraße 27
56170 Bendorf
Germany
Tel. 49 2622 94180
Fax 49 2622 9418255
E-Mail: info@akotherm.de
Web: http://www.akotherm.eu

At the location in Bendorf/Rhine the staff of Akotherm design and distribute high-quality aluminium profile systems for windows, doors, facades and conservatories, as well as the corresponding accessories. The creative abilities in working with aluminium are demonstrated best by the compatibility and continuous further development of Akotherm systems, as well as by the attention to detail, innovative solutions, and numerous "extras".

Akotherm products and procedures comply with the latest DIN (German Institute for Supranational Standardisation) standards and EU guidelines. The extensive Akotherm service offering and tried-and-true service philosophy top off the quality of the products.
An Akotherm Partner profit from the extensive technical competence and the consultation experience. We'll help you in any way we can!

This release was published on openPR.