'German frame manufacturer has more than earned its spurs in the Netherlands'

28 years later, son Peter took over the helm and immediately added a new strategy: producing and assembling plastic frames, windows and doors. "The well-known company Schüco from Bielefeld became court supplier for the profiles and machines; a cooperation that is still in force today," says Sales & Marketing Manager Benelux Anthonius Gabeler. "For several years we have even been a Premium Partner of Schüco."

Expansion into the Netherlands

For the first few years, the plastic frames, windows and doors went mainly to German construction sites, within a radius of about 50 km around Lengerich and a half-hour drive from Twente. This changed in 1999, when a large building materials dealer pointed some Dutch contractors to Gerdes' window frames. "Initially, we were not so eager for this expansion," Gabeler confesses. 

"Mainly because the Netherlands has a different construction method, where window frames are installed from the outside in. In addition, many Dutch window frames have a recessed edge/stop and the installation depths are larger. Our saw blades were not suitable for this. Therefore, the first products were made with a handheld circular saw. In 2002, we got access to new machines and saw blades specifically for the Dutch market."

Meanwhile, more than 60% of orders come from the Netherlands, where the company is popularly known as "Gerdes Kozijnen. Three trucks continuously drive back and forth to supply new construction and renovation projects throughout the country. In addition to plastic frames, windows, doors, lift-slide doors are particularly popular, Gabeler knows. "Not only because of their very good value for money, but also because of their excellent insulation values, seals and burglary protection." In addition, demand is growing for ecological and passive house inherent windows and doors, in which Gerdes has several years of experience. "And we can also participate excellently in BENG and NOM projects with our products."

'A window frame from Gerdes is just good'

According to Gabeler, Gerdes' multilingual services, among others, contribute to the enormous success in the Netherlands. "We are very good at translating Dutch working and thinking into Schüco's Research & Development department in Germany," he says. "For example, Peter Simon-Höke - the nephew of current Managing Director Thomas Gerdes - regularly takes a seat at the Schüco drawing board and is actively involved in trial designs. A cooperation of which we are enormously proud and which has already led to very nice (product) results and references. A frame from Gerdes is simply good, you hardly need to adjust it," is something we often hear back from the industry. We like to keep it that way. The quality has also been confirmed with certificates from VKG and SKG-IKOB."

Loyal customer base

Thomas Gerdes has been at the helm of Gerdes Fenster und Türen since 1999. Under his wings, the family business moved to a new factory in 2011, which is currently being remodeled and expanded from 1,200 to 4,700 m². The new factory will cluster Gerdes' complete services, except for work preparation for Dutch customers, which is housed at the Oldenzaal site. The latest machine tools will also be set up and Gerdes is exploring the possibilities for robotization. Thanks to these efforts, the production capacity of lift-and-slide doors, for example, can be doubled. 

"As an organization, we are constantly looking at how processes can be optimized," Gabeler said. "In addition, we closely follow trends in the market and regularly spar with our supporters on how to stay in tune with these developments. This has led to an extensive and very loyal customer base. From dealers to contractors, architects and property developers."

But innovation, he says, also relates to the internal process. "We are constantly looking at how we can make work less stressful AND more fun, with the goal of engaging, binding and retaining employees for a long time and taking product quality to the highest level."

Total package under one roof

Gerdes' services will soon be expanded to include Schüco aluminum window frames, made by Gerdes. A logical development, according to Gabeler, because the market is increasingly asking for a total package. "In addition to plastic frames, windows and doors, the demand is growing for larger windows and fire-resistant doors, which are best made of aluminum. In the past we had to outsource this work, but soon that will be a thing of the past. Then we will be able to realize a complete package under one roof."