The Jack of All Trades for Windows and Doors
Interview with Thorsten Karg, Managing Director of BBE Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
The most energy-efficient house is a house without windows, but who wants to live in a windowless box? With the promise to increase energy efficiency by 76% compared to old wooden/plastic windows from the 1980s, BBE Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH invites not only to look outside but also to retain the warmth inside with their custom-made plastic windows.
Since the 1980s, there has been a lot of change in window construction. Triple glazing has become the standard, thereby maximizing energy efficiency. These days, development focuses on other performance aspects, especially sustainability. "Many people instinctively think that plastic is less ecological," emphasizes managing director Thorsten Karg. "However, our windows are 100% recyclable, which cannot be said for wooden windows."
The Ecological Choice
Currently, the windows of the family business are made of 50% recycled plastic. "Our goal is to reach a share of 80%," explains Thorsten Karg. "The reason we are still far from this is that not enough windows have been returned so far." Thorsten Karg has been leading the company, founded in 1990, into its 2nd generation. The company has quintupled in size over the last 30 years.
Nowadays, on a total area of 3,600 m², 150 individually manufactured windows are produced daily using the most modern machines. "For the best quality, we rely on the high-quality window profiles from Rehau," explains Thorsten Karg. "Our customers include joineries and metalworkers, many of whom have been working with us for 30 years."
Broad Product Portfolio
In addition to the short delivery times of only four weeks, these customers appreciate the innovative range of products offered by the company. “We serve the upscale segment and offer many specialty products that are not offered by others,” explains Thorsten Karg. A recent novelty are windows that transform into frosted glass at the push of a button. “The technology has been around for some time, but until now it was only used for simple glass and was therefore mainly used as a partition in interiors. Today, we can utilize this feature in double-glazed windows.”
Current Trends
Despite the current situation in the construction sector, Thorsten Karg looks to the future with optimism: “The sharp price increases of recent times have reached their peak and will now stabilize. There is still significant catch-up potential in the area of energy renovation. Besides replacing old windows with new, more energy-efficient models, aspects such as burglary prevention, smart home technology, and aging-in-place living also play an important role.” The constant development motivates Thorsten Karg every day anew. “The development is very exciting at the moment. There are always new approaches and new products. It's really fun.”