INTERVIEW WITH TOBIAS KETTELER, REGIONAL SALES MANAGER AT WINKHAUS AND BENEDIKT SCHINDELHAUER, EXPORT AREA MANAGER AT WINKHAUS.
BRIEFLY TELL US ABOUT WINKHAUS’ HISTORY?
“As a traditional manufacturer, the owner-run Aug. Winkhaus GmbH & Co. KG currently sells products and services for windows and doors all over the world. Winkhaus is active in three areas: Window technology, security door locking systems and access control. This includes fitting technology and monitoring systems for windows and patio doors, mechanical and electronic locking systems, access control and time keeping systems, as well as mul- ti-point locking systems for external doors.
The medium-sized company has been impressing customers with these innovative products and competent service for 160 years. Window and door manufacturers and vendors, architects, builders and users worldwide value the diverse range of services and the high quality of the intelligent system solutions from Winkhaus.
Based in Telgte and Münster, the family-owned company has been run for five generations and is renowned for its innovative power. Winkhaus currently employs around 2,000 employees at its five locations in Germany and its international subsidiaries in eight countries. Winkhaus and its partners are present worldwide.”
WHAT MAKES WINKHAUS’ R&D DEPT UNIQUE?
“Winkhaus maintains research cooperations with renowned institutes and universities. Winkhaus currently holds 700 registered patents and trademark rights. Every year, Winkhaus invests around 200,000 working hours just on developing new products. ”
AS THE FIRST SUPPLIER OF WINDOW FITTINGS FOR UPVC IN THE IRANIAN MARKET, HOW WOULD YOU RATE WINKHAUS’ PRESENCE IN THE IRANIAN MARKET?
“Iran is currently a developing market. We can feel the pioneering spirit. Winkhaus has been represented in Iran for many years and has an experienced partner by its side in the form of WBH. Some employees from the company were trained in handling Winkhaus products in Germany.
Like when Winkhaus delivered turn-tilt fittings in Iran in a pioneering move some years ago, we aim to continue to enhance the market in Iran with high-quality, innovative products in the future. The latest Winkhaus turn-tilt fitting system “activPilot” is now also available in Iran.”
WHAT ARE THE NEW FEATURES OF ACTIVPILOT AND WHAT MAKES IT SUPERIOR?
“Winkhaus’s turn tilt fitting activPilot is setting standards on an international level. With fewer components, greater flexibility for customized solutions and many additional intelligent functions, activPilot offers window manufacturers distinct advantages. This modular fitting system stands out due to its easy installation, quicker processing and greater adaptability to different levels of automation.
With its manageable number of components, activPilot opens up a wide range of system solutions for window manufacturers. Manufacturers also benefit from significant cost advantages with regard to warehousing, investment in inventory, distribution and production achieved due to the reduced number of components.
activPilot’s many advantages are also of great benefit to end users as the new locking system excels due to its particularly easy, smooth operation. activPilot even achieves extremely high design standards with fittings in a class of their own with regard to aesthetics, ergonomics and functionality. With a range of attractive additional functions, activPilot offers sample scope for designing and implementing individual customer wishes.
A key feature in activPilot is its innovative locking system with its new octagonal locking bolt. Several different security levels can be implemented on a single platform (security levels according to DIN V EN V 1627- 1630 to resistance class 2).
Windows which include Winkhaus autopilot fittings can also be retrofitted with a completely new fitting due to identical corner and shear hinge drilling templates.
AS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL COMPANY WITH A GREAT REPUTA- TION, WHAT ARE YOUR SUGGESTIONS/TIPS FOR THE DOOR AND WINDOW PRODUCERS IN IRAN?
“We believe that high quality is one of the secrets to success. Focusing on quality is the only way for a company to ensure long- term success on the market. Cooperation with reliable partners plays an important role in this respect. It is the basis for outstanding quality, a high level of reliability and adherence to deadlines. The product range must also be suitable for the market. The topics of security and energy efficiency are becoming increasingly important in the field of windows and doors.”
