QFort launches in the UK
As the UK’s aluminium fenestration market continues to expand, Romanian manufacturing giant QFort has set its sights firmly on long-term growth with the launch of its first UK showroom in Egham, Surrey. Glass Times editor Luke Wood was among the guests at the launch event, which attracted more than 100 visitors from across the glazing industry, keen to explore the brand’s premium product offer and ambitious plans for the UK market.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Romania, QFort has grown into a major European player in the fenestration sector – with subsidiaries in Italy and France and operations spanning Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland, the business generates turnover of around €145 million.
A highly recognisable and respected brand in Romania, QFort is now bringing its vertically integrated, highly automated manufacturing model to the UK.
“We have a real presence in the UK; we’re not just importing product,” explained Paul Cherciu, managing director of QFort UK. “Our business model is built around establishing a fully supported subsidiary here, including a dedicated distribution hub in Bicester, backed by UK-based sales, marketing, and technical teams.”
The newly opened Egham showroom forms a key part of that strategy, following a £500,000 investment by QFort. It has been designed to offer QFort’s existing and prospective Partners an immersive, hands-on experience of its premium aluminium product range, with a standout feature being the impressive Panorama 7Stars sliding door system.
The Panorama 7Stars embodies the high-specification approach that defines QFort’s product portfolio. Offering sash heights of up to 3,600mm, widths of up to 3,000mm, and a minimal 25mm interlock, it addresses growing demand in the UK for expansive glass surfaces and minimalist aesthetics. The system also offers design flexibility with configurations for up to six sashes on three rails, as well as a corner-opening option – features that appeal to architects, developers, and discerning homeowners alike.
The Egham showroom opening marks a significant milestone for QFort UK, coming after more than a year spent establishing operations and fine-tuning its offer for the British market. Paul confirmed that around 40 Partners have already signed up, underlining growing confidence in the brand’s offer.
At the heart of QFort’s value proposition is its commitment to quality, enabled by significant investment in manufacturing. The business operates one of Europe’s most advanced production facilities, having invested £120 million in a site that now spans over 538,000ft² – including 226,000ft² dedicated solely to aluminium production.
Manufacturing up to 1,500 windows and doors per day, the facility integrates fully automated insulated glass unit production, Qualicoat-certified powder coating lines, and precision engineering processes, including automated crimping and hardware assembly.
And it is this control over its manufacturing processes that Paul believes will be a key differentiator in the UK market. “We use the Cortizo system, but we are delivering fully finished products, glass bonded if required, ready to install, with lead times of four to five weeks, combined with exceptional quality and competitive pricing,” he said. “That’s the result of our vertical integration and our focus on automation and precision.”
Looking ahead, the company has ambitious growth targets. Having projected around £3 million in sales for this year, QFort is targeting £20 million turnover within five years. However, Paul is keen to stress that QFort is in the UK for the long haul, with an emphasis on forging sustainable, long-term relationships with its Partners.
“We’re an international business with 1,500 employees and over 1,000 trading partners across Europe, but here in the UK, we’re offering dedicated, personal support through our UK team, our QFort Academy, and our showroom,” he said. “It’s about helping our Partners grow their businesses alongside ours.”
With a strong product offering, substantial investment, and clear commitment to the UK market, QFort’s new Egham showroom marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for the European fenestration leader.