Following time spent at Fensterbau Frontale 2026 alongside the Voilàp Group, Stuga’s sales director, Danny Jones, shares his thoughts on the technologies showcased at the exhibition and how the realities of UK fabrication continue to differ from wider European manufacturing trends.

Visiting Fensterbau is always valuable because it gives a clear view of where manufacturing technology is heading across Europe and how that compares with the day-to-day realities of the UK market.

One thing that stood out this year was the level of focus on aesthetics-driven technology, particularly around weld finishes and automation. The Voilàp Group stand brought together technologies and representatives from across the group, including Someco, Emmegi, Elumatec, Stürtz and Stuga, highlighting the wider development taking place across machinery, automation and digital manufacturing systems.

The two welding technologies attracting the most attention on the stand were Someco’s CM1H and the Stürtz ContourLine, both designed to produce a near-seamless weld appearance and high-end aesthetic finish. The results are genuinely impressive, but the conversations I had throughout the exhibition really highlighted how different manufacturing priorities remain between the UK and mainland Europe.

Across much of Europe, manufacturing is still heavily focused around standard square frames and tilt & turn products, where these technologies offer a relatively straightforward way to differentiate aesthetically.

In the UK however, our manufacturing model is inherently more complex. The majority of PVC-U frames we produce require transoms and mullions to create the functionality of multiple sashes, satisfy British home aesthetics and maintain structural performance.

That complexity creates very different production demands and whilst premium weld finishes continue to be a specialist solution, rather than the mainstream standard, for the UK market, most British fabricators will continue to differentiate themselves through their wider product offering and production flexibility. Consistent, efficient manufacturing across a wide variety of specifications is the ultimate priority for the masses.

But, for those UK fabricators who are keen to introduce specialist options, such as near-seamless welds, buying a machine that’s designed around mainland European production styles isn’t the answer. That’s where Stuga has a unique advantage within the UK market.

As both a UK manufacturer and the UK representative for Stürtz, we’re able to work closely with the wider Voilàp Group and sister brands to help develop machinery around the realities of British fabrication, rather than simply trying to apply European production methods directly into UK factories.

This collaborative approach ensures that global innovations are specifically adapted for the UK’s unique manufacturing demands. The Stürtz 4AM-TC-UK corner cleaner is a great example. Designed with UK manufacturing complexity in mind, the machine includes functionality like intelligent product-style recognition that’s capable of automatically identifying frame, transom and cruciform configurations, alongside automatic profile recognition to accommodate the wider production variations that are required by British fabricators.

That ability to combine wider group development with practical UK manufacturing knowledge is becoming increasingly important as production demands continue to evolve.

Ultimately, the priority is making sure machinery genuinely fits the way UK fabricators manufacture day to day. Whether that’s high-end aesthetic technology or dependable high-throughput production equipment, the right solution depends entirely on the customer’s product mix, production style and long-term goals.

Just as importantly, that investment needs long-term support behind it. With a dedicated UK service team, strong parts availability and remote diagnostic capability, the focus remains on helping customers keep production moving and get long-term value from their machinery investment.