Delivering customer success
Glass Times editor, Luke Wood, visits Winkhaus UK following a recent overhaul of its Kettering offices, and learns more about the hardware specialist’s comprehensive product and service offering, its UKAS accredited in-house testing facility and plans for the FIT Show.
Officially unveiled in June last year, the upgraded Winkhaus offices in Kettering are a fantastic showcase for a company that has had a presence in the UK for 30 years.
Originally founded in 1854 in Halver, Germany, the Winkhaus Group now boasts state-of-the-art plants in three locations in its home country, as well as an advanced facility for window technology in Poland and is well represented throughout Europe with international subsidiaries.
Over 170 years since it was launched, the company is still 100% owned by the Winkhaus family, with the current, fifth generation now heading up a team of more than 2,300 employees.
It was fitting then that Sofie Winkhaus, a managing partner of the Winkhaus Group, was present at the ‘launch’ of the upgraded UK HQ last summer, following extensive works to create a more inviting space for employees and visitors and a more modern environment in which to nurture the company’s wealth of talent and expertise.
Numerous staff members based at the Kettering offices have been with Winkhaus for many years, with the in-house laboratory and UKAS accredited test facility alone boasting over 40 years of experience in testing, R&D and industry knowledge.
The company’s ‘vision’ is to guarantee its customers success, which it aims to do via a commitment to offering the highest quality products and services with what it calls ‘real added value’. According to Winkhaus, it delivers this through an in-depth understanding of the market and the needs of its customers, and the ability to quickly identify trends – and react to them – to gain a competitive advantage.
Winkhaus UK supports its customers with multiple solutions that include technical and marketing support, as well as with its customer portal, a digital platform that allows users to access a wealth of information that includes product catalogues, media downloads, order placement and accounting.
It is also a leading authority on Fire Doorset Solutions, with the largest combined evidence of third party certified timber and composite fire, smoke and security internal doorsets and UKCA third party conformity assessed external doorset data.
But it is Winkhaus’ ability to work with customers at the initial design stage of new products and systems, as well as its capacity to assist with product testing, that is arguably one of the company’s greatest assets.
This is evident in the development of AluPilot, which can be used across a range of tilt and turn applications and includes a range of restrictors, turn limiters and ventilation accessories. By working with systems companies, AluPilot has been designed to introduce significant efficiencies for aluminium fabricators, reducing production time by up to 10 minutes per window.
Winkhaus UK has also developed a bespoke development process that is designed to enhance new product R&D for customers.
The product, technical and laboratory teams help customers to develop solutions through consultation, CAD Design, 3D prototyping, product assessment, product development days and UKAS laboratory accreditation.
Technical development days represent a particularly innovative approach to product development. As Ade Collins, laboratory manager at Winkhaus UK, says: “Traditional testing outcomes often end with a pass or fail result, which can significantly impede development progress. Technical development days mitigate these setbacks by enabling iterative design adjustments without the time and cost constraints associated with formal testing.”
Looking forward to FIT
Winkhaus UK will be returning to the FIT Show for the 2025 exhibition on 29 April to 1 May and will be highlighting important changes to PAS24-2022 and Approved Document Q, as well as launching a range of smart security solutions, showcasing the modular aluPilot system and introducing the primePort range of versatile patio and balcony door and window fitting systems.
Andrew Wilkins, head of marketing at Winkhaus UK, said: “We will have a larger stand, new product and service launches, and hospitality throughout each day – including a special Wednesday evening event.
“This year, we are focusing on three key innovation areas designed to support the latest security and fire standards while addressing the evolving design challenges in our sector. It’s why the Winkhaus UK stand will be a must-visit at FIT Show 2025.”
