Internorm-Fenster AG (HQ: Ganglgutstr. 131, A-4050 Traun) claims to be Austria's largest window manufacturer and leading European supplier. Its product range includes plastic, wood and aluminium windows, window sills and blinds, various accessories such as wood and aluminium house doors. A total of 1,200 employees are employed at factories in Traun, Sarleinsbach and Lannach. At Sarleinsbach the company has invested DM 55m on a site of 20,000sqm area to build what they believe to be the most modern European factory for the manufacture of profiles, insulating glass panels and window units. The almost completely fully automated plant started production in January 1993, with final completion planned for 1995/96. Output is now running at 1,700 plastic-framed windows per day, with an annual consumption of 6,000 tonnes PVC compound. Internorm emphasizes that the plastic frames do not contain either lead or cadmium stabilisers, and that the usage of both silicones and adhesives has been drastically reduced. An "in house" recycling plant has also been installed at Sarleinsbach. A comprehensive network for the collection of old windows is in the process of being set up throughout Austria.

In addition to the three Austrian factories, there are subsidiary companies in Turkey and Greece. 26% of production is exported to the major export markets Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Spain and Turkey. Approximately 20% of total exports go to Germany and the construction of a new centre in Regensburg will intensify the export effort in the German market.

Internorm is developing a branded goods strategy. Differentiation from the competition starts during the production process, with its own grades of material or special profiles. Recently a new range of windows in "soft-line" design has been introduced, with edges which are both chamfered and rounded off, as well as curved "soft-line" handles. Resulting from the special design, the sealing strips can be fitted almost invisibly into the overall construction, and three seals are also fitted during the production process. The new windows have specially shaped built in stiffeners and generously dimensioned insulating chambers, 68 mm deep, which lead to a significant improvement in "k" value, which is so important for heat insulation. Internorm products are exclusively available through specialist suppliers; there are already more than 100 agencies in Southern Germany alone.

READER SERVICE: "Soft-line" Design series brochure (German): PIE-No. 36065 – Complete catalogue (German): PIE-No. 36066 – Detailed product information (German): PIE-No. 36067.