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All articles of topic Germany

German Design Award 2026

Award-winning PV roof by Lamilux combines daylight and energy performance

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Recognised with the German Design Award 2026, the PR60 glass roof with PV integration blends transparency with solar output. Ventilation, smoke extraction and insulation are integrated into a single system, making it suitable for complex modernisations and ambitious sustainability targets.

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE 2024
Fensterbau Frontale 2026

Practical supporting programme opens doors and broadens horizons

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The supporting programme of Fensterbau Frontale 2026 will allow trade fair visitors to delve deep into the topics that are driving the industry – from sustainable building concepts and digital solutions to new business models. Here is what you need to know.

Rethinking versus tearing down

Revitalising a derelict department store in Berlin with glass from Saint-Gobain

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A former department store in Berlin Neukölln has been extensively revitalised and transformed into the creative cosmos ‘Kalle Neukölln’. In the newly designed facades, energy-efficient Saint-Gobain solar control glass ensures optimised daylight entry.

Christian Bako, incoming CEO of Saint-Gobain Germany and Austria.
Leadership change

Christian Bako to become CEO of Saint-Gobain Germany & Austria

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Saint-Gobain is implementing a planned change in leadership: Raimund Heinl, CEO of the German and Austrian organisation since January 2019, will hand over the reins to Christian Bako, most recently Vice President Marketing & Development of the Saint-Gobain Group, on 1 December 2025.

The new Pilkington Executive Board member Tobias Breil (left) with Christian Quenett, who has now been appointed spokesperson for Pilkington Germany.
NSG Group

Tobias Breil appointed to the Executive Board of Pilkington Germany

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On 13 November 2025, the Supervisory Board of Pilkington Germany, part of the NSG Group, appointed Tobias Breil to the Executive Board. At the same time, Dr Christian Quenett, Head of Architectural Glass Europe at the NSG Group and member of the Executive Board of Pilkington Germany AG, was appointed Spokesman of the Executive Board.

glasstec 2026

Secure the early-bird rate for next glasstec before it‘s too late

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Exhibitors wishing to take part in glasstec 2026 have until 30 November 2025 to secure the early-bird rate. From 20 to 23 October 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for the glass industry will once again bring together international companies, decision-makers and key players in Düsseldorf.

Solar roof

Wiegand-Glas commissions large PV roof in Thuringia

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Realised by its own renewables subsidiary Wiegand Green Energy, the Wiegand Group’s production site in Großbreitenbach in central Germany now has a solar roof fitted with more than 18,000 solar modules generating around 7,000 megawatt hours of green energy. Here are more details.

From right to left: Elke Harreiß, Head of Department; Chiara Sträßner, Event Manager; Ramona Wißmüller, Head of Marketing.
Trade fair with a new look

Fensterbau Frontale 2026 focuses on sustainability and networking

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Fensterbau Frontale will have a completely new look for its 2026 edition: “The trade fair. Windows. Doors. Facades” will become “Framing what's next.” What's behind this change? Answers can be found in an interview with the trade fair management and marketing team.

The Obel office building

A living laboratory for the ventilation of the future

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With their new office building in the German town of Donauwörth, Obel Architekten have created an ultra-modern working environment that also serves as an innovative living laboratory. Behind the striking louvre-blade facade, state-of-the-art ventilation technology from Schüco is installed. The systems are being tested and evaluated during operation. This project exemplifies how design, comfort and technical innovation can be combined convincingly. Here are the details.

Velbert Test Institute

Air tight or not air tight, that is the question

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When windows and doors are tested in accordance with the applicable standards, enormous forces act on the building components. The pressures generated during air permeability testing are high. The alternation between pressure and suction would be uncomfortably noticeable for people. See more on how Schösser und Beschläge Velbert in Germany are handling this.

Magura Bosch Parts & Services

Velux Commercial: Everything combined under one roof

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The goal of the new Magura Bosch Parts & Services (MBPS) building in Nürtingen was to combine administration, service, and logistics under one roof. The two-story building complex sets high standards for sustainability across approximately 9,000 square meters. In addition to a flat roof used to generate solar power, skylights from Velux Commercial also make an important contribution.

From left: Martin Geiss, Technical Manager; Martin Hammerl, Maintenance; Alexander Frey, Production Level Manager and Thomas Riedl, Production at FLACHGLAS Wernberg GmbH
Glaston

Flachglas Wernberg modernizes second laminating line

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Flachglas in Germany has just completed a second laminating line upgrade at its Wernberg facility with Glaston's ProL featuring patented Convection Control. This follows on last year's upgrade of a glass lamination line with ProL, which delivered significant improvements in energy consumption, product quality and ease of use.

The column-free glass roof was designed and installed with consideration for the historic building fabric and monument protection.
Isolar

High-tech glass above the rooftops of Speyer

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The Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer, Germany, has been given a new glass roof. The construction, realized by Hunsrück-based glass refiner Wagener, now makes the traditional event venue usable all year round. Read how printed glass made it possible to dispense with external shading.

The curved, green roof blends perfectly into the floodplain landscape.
Glas Natter / Isolar Group

Glass and wood – such a beautiful combination

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The “Kita Unterm Regenbogen” daycare center in Dingolfing is a prime example of child-friendly construction: the result is a building that combines expressive architecture with sustainable materials. In addition to regional wood from the city forest, functional special glass from Glas Natter, part of the Isolar Group, was used.

Compact news from Germany, Austria ans Switzerland 

Letter from Germany – Industry Highlights

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Dear readers, here updates and highlights in compact form from the facade, sunshade and glass industries in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (we call it the DACH region). Enjoy.

CEO Gottfried Brunbauer opens the Lisec Technology Days.
Lisec Technology Days 2025

A glimpse at the future of glass processing

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The Lisec Technology Days 2025 took place in Bad Arolsen on June 25 and 26. Around 60 trade visitors from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium took the opportunity to exchange ideas and information on trends, automation solutions, and forward-looking technologies for flat glass processing.

Messe Düsseldorf

glasstec will have a new Director: Daniel Feische

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On 1 September 2025, Daniel Feische will move to the Glass Technologies portfolios as the Director and will be fully responsible as of 1 December. He succeeds Lars Wismer, who is taking on the role of Regional Head Messe Düsseldorf for Asia in Singapore.

The grid shell construction by seele, which has now been uncovered, consists of 403 nodes and a supporting structure made of 110 tons of steel.
Glass dome for Stuttgart 21

seele: Masterpieces in glass and steel

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The completion of the first glass grid shell for the new Stuttgart railway station marks a significant milestone for the Stuttgart 21 infrastructure project. With the completion of this impressive steel and glass dome by seele, a visible connection between the new underground track hall and the city center has been created for the first time.

Interview

Presenting the new event manager for FENSTERBAU FRONTALE: Chiara Sträßner

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Chiara Sträßner is taking over the organization of the trade fair for windows, doors and facades. Elke Harreiß, who has been with the trade fair for over 20 years, will remain as Head of Department. In this short interview, Chiara Sträßner talks about her connection to trade fairs and her goals for the future direction of FENSTERBAU FRONTALE.

BIPV

PV for multi-family homes in Germany – Part 2

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Photovoltaics, both in the facade and on the roof, clearly is a key source of power for the residential sector. Not all residential buildings are the same, however. Four models of implementing PV in multi-family homes are possible: In Part 1 we showed you how the power can be either used within the entire building or just to operate the shared services. Today we present the other two models.

Retrofitting

Seen Elements: Modern bird protection for German modern art museum

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While glass facades are an indispensable part of contemporary architecture, they often pose a risk to birds. At the Museum Folkwang in the German city of Essen, this problem was resolved using marking elements from Seen. The measure combines effective bird protection with design restraint.

A selection of PV colors of the german producer Ceramic Colors Wolbring GmbH
Photovoltaics

PV in shared buildings: How the Germans do it!

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Not only homeowners, but also property owners' associations and tenants can benefit from photovoltaic power, both on the roof and as part of a building-integrated PV facade. There are four models available, depending on what you want to achieve. How do they work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages? Find out here. Plus at the end: a short interview.

glasstec is the world's leading trade fair for the glass industry, which last time featured more than 1,257 exhibitors from 50 countries.
Messe Düsseldorf

glasstec 2026 now open for exhibitor registration

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Companies across the entire glass value chain can now register for glasstec 2026. From October 20 to 23, 2026, providers from all over the global glass industry will once again meet at the trade fair in Düsseldorf. With its highly international pedigree, glasstec itself is the central platform. It also hosts a supporting program that showcases the future of the glass industry and facilitates knowledge transfer.

Safety glass

GPD 2025: New thin laminated glass with safe breakage characteristics developed

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A research project involving the TU Dresden, Folienwerk Wolfen, Schott Glass and the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has just been presented at the Glass Performance Days in Finland: A thin laminated glass that combines defined strength with safe breakage characteristics. This marks a major leap forward in material innovation for facade design. See the details.

From left: Dr. Michael Szerman (Veka), Dr. Michael Stöger (Rehau), Frank Zimmermann (Rehau), Christian Fischer (Schüco).
Gütegemeinschaft Kunststoff-Fensterprofile

New leadership at German Quality Association: Schüco manager Fischer succeeds Stöger

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The Quality Association for PVC Window Profile Systems has reorganized its management team. Christian Fischer from Schüco is taking over as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Michael Stöger from Rehau, who has held the position for many years.