Always focusing on innovation, efficiency and collaboration in the construction industry

Innovation and product development in-house

BUVA is more than an established name in construction. Driven by innovation, ambition and thus helping to shape the future of the industry. Speaking are Detmer Deddens (product management team leader) and Niels Marijnissen (construction and industry sales leader). "Both at product and service level, we want to deliver more added value towards the market. We pull together with customers to bring the quality of our assortment and service to a higher level. Proactively responding to trends in the market and taking a position ourselves as a frontrunner in new developments. The basis is: Building Smart Together."

"Our customers run into all kinds of issues in the day-to-day, for which they don't have an immediate solution. Then they can knock on our door," says Detmer. "BUVA has an R&D department where skilled professionals work on innovative solutions every day. This enables us to think more from concepts rather than individual products. If you look at hardware, you can clearly see how the field has changed. Where it used to be primarily a purely functional product, today it's all about a combination of laws and regulations, aesthetics, safety and sustainable technology. Our mission is therefore not only to respond quickly to market demand, but above all to develop products that fit seamlessly into that broader picture.

Seamless locking plate

A good example is the SP840, an adjustable striker plate for our project locks. Niels explains, "We developed that in-house simply as a result of discussions about it with our customers." Detmer adds: "They indicated that an additional function of 'adjustment' on the frame side would be welcome. Wood has a natural action and in addition, for example in renovations, doors and frames do not always fit together seamlessly. An additional option to adjust the locking plate is a nice solution. After all, you want the door lock to always close properly. Our product engineers have come up with a well thought-out solution. Of course, we did not do this overnight. We made sketches and presented them to the customer. Then we had prototypes tested. By thinking along with the customer, the result is a perfect practical example of Smart Building Together."

In order to properly test various new product developments, BUVA has its own test room. So exactly there is the place where further developments - such as the SP840 and also the MultiFin multi-point locks - or completely new innovations are tested and then see the light of day."

Sustainability

Sustainability is an integral part of our operations at BUVA, Detmer and Niels explain. "When developing new products, the use of sustainable materials is a standard consideration. But sustainability goes further than that: we also make progress in the areas of packaging, logistics processes, ordering convenience and deliveries. More and more customers are actively requesting documentation of our sustainability policy. This is why we explicitly enter into discussions within the chain with both suppliers and customers, so that we can build a future-proof approach together. A QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety & Environment) manager has also been appointed. Sustainability is not hype, it is a structural responsibility and we also want to continue to innovate in that area."