News from the EDSF

Thursday, 06. October 2011 - BAU forges alliance with Europe´s door and shutter federation

Mirko Arend (BAU) and Christian Grabitz (E.D.S.F. e.V.)

The E.D.S.F. is the umbrella organisation for Europe´s associations and manufacturers of doors, gates, shutters and components (drive mechanisms). Founded in 1985 and based in the town of Hagen in Westphalia, Germany, the federation now has 18 members from ten countries, among them also the Industrieverband Tore Türen Zargen (ttz, German association for gates, doors and frames). Many members of ttz and of the overarching industry organisation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Industrie- und Bausysteme (WIB) are already exhibitors at BAU. 

Under the terms of the agreement, the E.D.S.F. will promote BAU 2013 to its European members and hold a lecture event at the fair together with the Industrieverband Tore Türen Zargen. BAU in turn will communicate the cooperation with the E.D.S.F., for example in its advertising materials and as part of the presentations and press conferences which it puts on throughout Europe and around the world. 

"This cooperation with the E.D.S.F. is a logical step," says BAU Exhibition Director Mirko Arend. "It helps us to strengthen the important exhibition section of doors, gates and frames and to better leverage its international potential for BAU in terms of both exhibitors and visitors." Speaking for the E.D.S.F., Christian Grabitz, General-Secretary of E.D.S.F. commented: "This cooperation with BAU is important for us because it helps us to communicate our themes and activities to a wider audience. Both contracting parties will be able to significantly boost their European networks through this cooperation. The trade forum will help us to communicate current and future themes in the door and gate sector at the world´s leading trade fair, BAU." 

The main goals which the E.D.S.F, representing the door and gate industry in Europe, has set itself are:

• Sustainable energy-saving through automation and standardisation
• Safe and energy-efficient operation through regular, preventive maintenance, and
• Barrier-free accessibility to buildings. 

For the implementation of these goals ? which it will also be focusing on in the trade forum at BAU 2013 ? the E.D.S.F. has formed corresponding working groups: 

• "Energy and Sustainability": An energy calculator to deliver data on the influence of doors and gates on the energy consumption of buildings.
• "Service and Maintenance": Here the focus is on working out EU-wide regulations for regular maintenance (at least once a year) of doors and gates.
• "Fire and Smoke": This working group produces guidance on how to implement the 'Fire resistance and smoke control' product standard which comes out at the end of 2012. In addition a sector forum for manufacturers, associations, testing and certification institutes is being organised on the forthcoming prEN 16034. 

This press release and a photo showing Mirko Arend and Christian Grabitz are available on the website of BAU and the E.D.S.F.