News from the EDSF

Thursday, 08. July 2010 - E.D.S.F. sets the course for the future

Successful General Assembly sets new topics, elects a new Presidium and decides to open the association for companies/manufacturers.

Stuttgart/Germany. On 29th of June 2010 delegates from 10 nations get together at the yearly General Assembly of E.D.S.F. European Door and Shutter Federation e.V. in Stuttgart. Besides the delegates of the national door-associations, representatives of the door industry from Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Spain could be welcomed as guests.

After the lay of foundation for the activities of E.D.S.F. in autumn last year, together with the reorientation and establishment of the secretariat in Hagen, now the substantial development of future topics could be initiated.

One working group will deal with the topic "sustainability and environmental product declaration". In this working group the different experiences by dynamic U-values as well as the possibilities concerning the development of environmental product declarations are to be dicussed.

Basic requirements for a modern and "environment-friendly" door to work effectively and energy-efficiently is that the door functions also perfectly. Therefore the E.D.S.F. recommends a regular service and maintenance for doors within the commercial and private sector. Due to the different legislation in the European countries, another working group "service and maintenance" will deal with the qualifications trained service staff should fulfil European-wide. Additionally the working group wants to inform and sensitize the public about the necessity of regular maintenance to prevent damages and accidents.

Fundamental decisions could also be made because of the election of the new Presidency.

Jan Persson from the Swedish association Portgruppen was elected as new president. As Vice Presidents were elected Nicola Fornarelli, UCCT ? Italy; Michael Janssen, Bothe-Hild GmbH ? Germany; Kai Teckentrup, Teckentrup GmbH & Co. KG ? Germany and Gines Padilla, Tecnifuego AESPI ? Spain.

As a special innovation for E.D.S.F., who was the roof association for national associations in the past, it was decided, that companies/manufactures could become a direct member in the future. Condition is, that the company is a member of a national association. If there does not exist a national association, the possibility of direct membership is given. With this opening the E.D.S.F. wants to bundle the interests of the door and gate sector and to act more effectively e.g. towards the EU-authorities.

The large interest in the General Assembly could not only be attributed to the new topics, but also to the lecture forum "Sustainability & Service" following the main meeting. Here themes as Green Building, Environmental Product Declarations, service and maintenance were presented by experts. Interesting discussions were the result of this future topics.

Afterwards the possibility for an intensively personal discussion with the European colleague was used at the information-exchange-platform in a relaxed atmosphere.

Summarizing it can be said that 2009 was a difficult year with a strong winter. Now the European-wide door and gate industry looks positively at the next years. For 2010/ 2011 a light and slowly growth in the door industry is expected. With this forecast and the positive feedback of the General Assembly the E.D.S.F. European Door and Shutter Federation e.V. goes strengthened into the future.