'We think about construction process at an early stage'

Prefabricated window frame concept ready for Quality Assurance Act

To increase supervision and control in construction, the Quality Assurance Act (Wkb) will take effect on January 1, 2024. With its prefabricated window frame concept, Twente-based HEBO is already fully prepared for this. "We are involved in the construction process from beginning to end. As a result, we offer contractors a total solution. What the ANWB/RDW is to the automotive industry, HEBO is in fact to the window frame industry," says director Norbert Kuipers.

"HEBO, your partner for window frames," is the slogan of this producer of high-quality plastic and wooden window frames. "But what we do goes much further than just supplying window frames. In fact, we think along from the very beginning of the building process in order to incorporate our window frames into a construction project in the best possible technical way, from the basic design to delivery and maintenance," Kuipers says.  

Step 1: modeling in basic design

The company sits down with contractors, architects as well as the HSB and concrete processing industry at an early stage to help think about modeling a frame in the basic design, Kuipers explains. "That is essential, because it prevents something from being thought up in BIM or Revit during the preliminary phase that later turns out not to be possible in the final design."

Step 2: anchoring to interior walls

Once the basic design is agreed upon and the final design is created, the anchoring of the frame to the interior walls comes into play. "That anchoring to the interior wall - whether of concrete, sand-lime brick, wood or another material - we carry out in close cooperation with the firm of Gebr. Bodegraven, specialists in connections for construction," Kuipers explains. "By doing so, we guarantee that the frame is mounted correctly in or on the wall."

Step 3: completion with site inspection

HEBO's total solution also includes additional inspection of the window frames upon delivery of the construction project. Kuipers: "The prefabricated window frames are delivered from our factory completely finished, fitted with glass and all selected accessories, to the building site or to the processing industry. A construction site inspection (BPI) then checks that the frames have been processed correctly and that everything looks good. All this is done in close cooperation with the concrete and HSB industry, which watches the processing process and looks for solutions if necessary."

Step 4: service and maintenance

Norbert also stresses the importance of proper maintenance: "A window frame can last a lifetime. It is best to do annual maintenance and inspection. You'll really benefit from that in the long run, and this way you invest in a longer life of your window frames."

Quality Assurance Act

Thanks to the completion of all the above steps, HEBO is optimally prepared with its prefabricated window frame concept for the Quality Assurance Act that comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. "That law has to demonstrate whether a contractor has executed a construction work properly," says Kuipers. "Well, as far as quality assurance of window frames is concerned, we relieve contractors completely with which we offer a total solution. In that respect, you could say that what the ANWB/RDW is to the automotive industry, we as HEBO are to the window frame industry." 

Techno space

Since the fall of 2020, HEBO, based in Hengevelde, Twente, has had an ultra-modern, dynamic showroom. "Part of this is a techno-room where both HEBO and Gebr. Bodegraven customers can learn to work with anchoring technology for window frames," Kuipers continues. "To that end, there are some twenty-five frame set-ups in this practical area where customers can practice adjusting or readjusting frames themselves, plus attaching frames to a wall of concrete, wood or sand-lime brick. In this way, we offer our customers additional service."