Istanbul Windows 2004 ... showcased the latest in windows and glass technology.
Leading profiles, strong crowds
Gulf Construction was in Istanbul last month to speak to exhibitors and visitors at Turkey’s major trade fair for the windows sector.
01 April 2004
Exhibitors and crowds turned out in force at Turkey’s annual Windows fair held in Istanbul indicating the strength of the market for window profiles and related products.
Istanbul Window 2004 – the fifth windows, glass technology, accessories, related industry and auxiliary products fair – held from March 4 to 7 at the Tuyap fair grounds, attracted around 15,000 visitors from 45 countries and nearly 300 exhibitors.
The fair was organised by Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organisation in co-operation with Pukad (Plastic Profile Manufacturers Quality Union Association) and Pukab (Plastic Window Manufacturers’ Quality Union Association) and Pukab (Plastic Window Manufacturers’ Quality Association).
The organisers expect to have a bigger and more comprehensive participation next year.
Speaking to GCM, Basak Ozugergin, promotions and public relations co-ordinator of Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organisation, said over 97.5 per cent of the visitors had expressed their intention to return to the fair next year.
A total of 295 exhibitors from the US, Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Singapore and local companies promoted their products and services at the show.
Most of the exhibitors have established markets in the countries of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen, Sudan, Cyprus, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, says Ozugergin.
Visitors arrived from various parts of globe including Germany, US, Austria, Azerbaijan, Albania, Belgium, Ethiopia, Morocco, Croatia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lithuania, Hungary, Moldavia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tunisia, Yugoslavia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Bosnia Herzegovina, UAE, Armenia, France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Britain, Iran, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Serbia and Greece.
The show focused on window profile companies and profile processing companies; window and glass companies; manufacturers of window mechanisms and door systems; software manufacturers related to the production and sale of window glass, window-related industries, profile processing, window production machines and auxiliary equipment, both to professionals and consumers, she says.
PVC profiles, as usual, were a major source of interest for most visitors.
Turkish companies that took part included Secil, Tek Metal, Silko, Penmak, Eurotech, Europen, Pensa, ProMetal, Bilka, CMS Glass Machinery, Asas Aluminyum and Veratec and Lisec Software.
“The fair gave us an opportunity to display our products to a vast market and also to witness the interest and demand for our products,” said Semih Bozkir, sales manager of ProMetal.
ProMetal, which aims to be a major global brand, focuses on the production of reinforcement steel profiles for PVC windows systems, door frame profile production, production of suspended roof profiles, and marketing of galvanised and DKP rolled steel sheets and corrugated sheets.
Bozkir said: “When the company was established in 1995, our target was to create a brand that was preferred across the country. Today, through the dedicated efforts of a team of 100 experts, we are advancing towards newer targets.”
Another exhibitor, Tek Metal, said that it would continue to add new products and services for both domestic and export markets.
Tek Metal is an affiliate of Tekim, said to be Turkey’s first producer of double glass spacer bars. The company focuses on customer satisfaction, high-quality products and services.
“Tek Metal has the highest production capacity in the Turkish market with its four machines and aims to be a leader in Europe,’’ commented a company spokesman.
New technology was also in focus at the fair,as Lisec Software highlighted the benefits of construction software for glass processing.
The company says its software, GPS.cadcam, can calculate the smallest block size by an integrated shape-optimisation process. The software can be incorporated as part of order processing as well as production planning.
“This integrated software offers full functionality to sales and production and ensures that the specific production requirements of the glass industry are met with,” said a spokesman.
“The full integration into order entry and production planning makes GPS.cadcam the most advanced computer-aided design system for glass processing. The specifically designed functions of the application allow the creation of nearly all imaginable product variants,” he added.
During the exhibition, Austrian technology leader Technoplast, held a seminar focusing on wood extrusion and tool concepts. “Essentially it’s all about focusing our attention to understanding our customers’ needs and developing products that help to design and build projects more easily and safely,” said regional sales manager Gerhard Hemetsberger.
Various other seminars related to the industry were also organised throughout the fair.
