Presentation of the latest key aesthetic gains in the profiles industry

Hidden hinges, the last pillar of tantalizing innovation strategy

The patent is in pending. For the management and employees of KUFA window systems in IJmuiden, a tantalizing innovation process of several years seems to be successfully concluded. The last (fourth) pillar is now entering the market and can be seen as an important aesthetic gain in the window industry: the concealed hinge. Invisibility - but truly invisible from both outside and inside - is becoming the relevant standard. That is one thing that is certain.

Speaking are the always inspired Didier Holslag and Henk Weber of KUFA. "As far as we are concerned, there was a misconception in the market for years: people too often - and actually wrongly - defined the 'concealed' hinge as an invisible hinge. But nothing was further from the truth. Certainly not now that we dare to state here that we market a hinge system that is not directly visible. Covered is indeed concealed, we do not deny that, but concealed does not mean that something was invisible. You could still see on the frames and profiles with the naked eye that there was "something of a construction. However, we now say that 'concealed' will become the norm in the coming years. Or at least truly invisible. Call it a revolution or call it an evolution, but the fact is that no one else is introducing this to the market. We are. After all, the eye wants something, especially in construction. Well, so now that can be offered. Yep: aesthetic gain."

The hidden hinge system - that is, the truly invisible variant - is of course SKG2-certified. Didier: "Safety always comes first, of course. That was always the starting point during development and innovation from day one. The concealed hinge system is also applicable to all Gealan profiles and every door series."

A pilot project with the concealed hinge system in the Northern Netherlands was recently completed properly and successfully. KUFA window systems can therefore now roll out further. "Indeed, several of our partners have already launched the new concealed hinge system 'InviKu^®'. The reactions were positive. Logical too, because the question had actually been running in the market for a long time. There was simply a need and people are now discovering that this 'InviKu^®'hinge system is the solution. So the future looks promising in that regard."

Henk and Didier explain that the development of the hidden hinge system actually once started from the innovativeness of the RenoS9000^® saw the light of day. "We were working on one thing but because of that - during all those development and innovation processes - we discovered that there could be more. The lowered sills at the RenoS9000^® was the step after that. Wheelchair-friendliness became a reality. And so did the ease of the RenoS9000^® series: it simply fits over the existing window frames and is finished on the inside with a clickable finish with all the corresponding advantages (including time savings in installation!). But this also allowed us to take the next technical steps. We therefore see these as an important and relevant new added value for both the renovation industry and new construction."