Bigger, better designed and above all "eco-friendly": WICONA, a key player in the city of the future

There are currently nearly 200 million tons of aluminum in buildings worldwide. In addition to this absolutely spectacular figure, it is also a fact that natural resources are not inexhaustible. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone working in the construction industry take a long-term view of environmental protection.

Hence, as a specialist in aluminum solutions for facades of large buildings, WICONA has integrated new production techniques in recent years. The brand sees the bigger picture while also remaining innovative and, above all, taking into account one of the biggest challenges in today's economy: environmental protection.

With the ever faster growing population, came the constant need to build new structures. Hence, WICONA based its production strategy on the principle of the circular economy of existing products. With the "cradle-to-cradle" concept, the company, which belongs to the Hydro Group, a leader in aluminum extraction, has been able to develop innovative and sustainable solutions based on recycling, and with lower CO2 emissions.

Innovation in production technologies: the key to success

Thus was born the Hydro production technology CIRCAL 75R. This allows 75% recycled aluminum that is at the end of its useful life (post-consumer waste) to be reused for building windows and facades.
Thanks to this system, developed by Hydro Group engineers, the fusion of aluminum for new applications consumes only 5% of the energy required for primary aluminum production. Knowing that aluminum is infinitely recyclable without sacrificing quality and properties, this production process is fully traceable. Furthermore, the product is certified by the independent body DNV-GL.
Moreover, with this certified technique, WICONA has a production system that has the lowest carbon footprint in the world: about 2 kg CO2 (1.5 - 2.3 kg CO2) per kilogram of aluminum. In comparison, this is 6 times less than the global average for primary extraction.

But WICONA's efforts to protect the environment don't stop there. Indeed, REDUXA 4.0 technology is another production system the company is using to significantly reduce its carbon footprint. This low-carbon process produces about 4 kg of CO2 per kilogram of aluminum.

Thanks to WICONA's innovations, sustainable solutions can also be designed. Thus, project developers, architects and investors can be sure that their projects meet all sustainability requirements There are many projects where we have supplied insulation systems for facades that have both the IFT Rosenheim sustainability certificate and the Minergie label. In this sense, numerous projects by construction partners of WICONA are already in line with future building standards and certificates such as LEED, BREEAM and DGNB.

WICONA: "Let's build the city of the future"

To solidify its top position in building the city of the future, WICONA has a wide range of solutions that can be used to create clean buildings with a smaller carbon footprint.
In this sense, the minimalist window WICLINE 75 MAX has a modern design with profiles made of at least 75% recycled post-consumer aluminum. This window system has a depth of 75 mm and an excellent Uw value of up to 0.81 W/(m²K) for the standard size of 1.23 x 1.48, and a window with a Ug value of 0.50 W/(m²K). WICLINE 75 MAX has an innovative design concept with hidden handle that was honored at IF Design Award in 2018, and also won a Red Dot Design Award in the same year.

The breathable window WICLINE 115 AFS offers builders a solution for the most complex projects. This system also provides very good performance in terms of thermal insulation, solar control and sound insulation. Indeed, the WICLINE 115 AFS window is able to control the sun's radiation thanks to its built-in motorized shading system.

The WICTEC 50 solution, which is also ideal for tight façade design, achieves very good results in terms of air permeability (AE rating), water resistance (RE 1200 rating) and wind resistance (2000/-3000 PA). Another technical feature of the WITEC 50 façade solution is its strong acoustic insulation, which is fundamental for customer well-being and satisfaction.
WICTEC 60 is a curtain wall system with a width of 60 mm, both inside and outside. With a few minor additions, WICTEC 60 also meets the highest requirements for burglar, bullet and fire protection.

Besides, there is no better way to show WICONA's real commitment to the environment than to mention some of the projects in which the company has been involved. Lancaster University (England), the DIN Institute in Berlin (Germany), the Terraced Tower residential apartments in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and the Iperion Tower in Bordeaux. All these projects include solutions developed with the CIRCAL 75R production technology. These achievements alone indicate that the WICONA brand can sustainably protect the environment by offering manufacturers energy-efficient systems that are easy to install and have an avant-garde design.