The show has grown by 21 percent in exhibition area and a 5 per cent in business participation

VETECO 2008, international exhibition of the window and the glass enclosure, has achieved their business goals, surpassing the best forecasts. The event, brings together major business concentration in the sector, with a total of 579 exhibiting firms which represents a growth of nearly 5 percent from last year. In this context, one of the prominent notes of the call returns to the significant international dimension of the Hall. The excellent positioning of Veteco in European trade fair circuit strengthens again, thanks to the foreign presence that takes on a renewed prominence. On this occasion, a total of 73 companies, from 17 countries, emphasizing volume of Italy, Portugal and Germany representation has confirmed their attendance.

The show has grown by 21% in respect to the 2006 edition of exhibition area. Photo: Fernando Madariaga

In parallel with the increase in the volume of participation, Veteco has been also grow their level of occupation, with a total net area of 54.718 square meters, representing an increase of more than 21 percent, in relation to the previous edition of 2006.

Precisely to address this growth, and the important demand which has received this year, has given Hall of a larger exhibition area. In particular it has halls 2, 4, 6 and 8, as well as 12 and 14, recently constructed. 12, Completely transparent, and 14, with two plants, have all sorts of facilities, including direct access to the outside and are interconnected with the rest of the fair. Ultimately, this time arrangements have been made of more gross area, in particular of 97.600 square meters, an increase from 22,54% under two years ago.

These commercial successes, posed a new record in the positive trajectory of Veteco, respond to the climate of optimism that the sector. According to the employer Asefave, Spanish Association of manufacturers of Windows and facades light, the imminent implementation of the technical building code, CTE, and the consequent improvement in the quality standards, as well as the growing importance in this area of the rehabilitation, they are going to be a shock for this industry and a special boost commercial and promotional.

In the same direction moves the new building law, LOE, whose objectives are set to raise the quality of the product, which will involve the validity of a new enforceable guarantee housing.

Spain continues to as the second largest producer of Windows in Europe, where there is a clear difference between the countries of the North and the South in relation to the material used. While in the North the base material is PVC, in the South and particularly in Spain, opt for aluminium. It is in the majority of cases of an improved aluminum, which is on the rise and that offers higher quality, which helps fulfill one of the objective of the sector in the short term. Following on from this topic, it should be noted that in Spain, the percentages of production are from 70 per cent in aluminium Windows; 15 percent, in wood; 10 percent, in PVC, and 5 percent remaining, mixed. Of the 70 percent in aluminium, to the demands of the CTE, at least half leads breakage of thermal bridge. The latter trend is to increase gradually, as manufacturers seek increasingly greater quality in their products.

This year the show revolves around two important concepts to which focuses at the moment the sector's future: rehabilitation and quality as the main competitive support. Both lines of action are present in the offer of the fair to meet the new trends of demand in the sector.

In this sense, the construction does not focus only in the residential area but also in civil works and rehabilitation. This latter sector, where Spain is located at distance from Europe, offers great currently expectations of business given the great potential that presents as an alternative to residential construction. While in the European average lies around 37 per cent of the total, in Spain not exceeds 20 per cent.

73 companies from 17 countries participating in the current edition of Veteco. Photo: Fernando Madariaga.

Edition, the Organization of Veteco has outlining a program of seminars, conferences and other activities that take place during the days of the show, in addition to the commercial activity of the Hall. It should be noted the holding, for the first time, of the tall architecture Forum, organized by the group, which takes place on 8 may, in the Centre of North conventions of the Feria de Madrid. The meeting, which will generate discussions and conclusions between practitioners of architecture, and all the actors involved in the construction process, as well as companies related to the new generation of buildings in height in Spain, will be addressed twenty cases of buildingsincluding the four CTBA towers in Madrid, the towers of the Forum and the Plaça d' Europe of L'Hospitalet, Barcelona.

The Conference 'EC and the CTE in Windows and light facades marking', which is celebrated on 9 may, is another conference that hosts the fair, under the auspices of Asefave. In it, qualified experts in the field are about the CE marking and a highly topical subject, as it is the implementation of the technical building code, CTE, in this case the Windows and light facades, as main protagonist of the show.

In this line, coinciding with the 11th edition of Veteco, the Federation of European associations of manufacturers of light facades and Windows, FAECF (Federation of European Window and Curtain Wailling), consisting of 15 countries, has chosen this Hall as part of its fortieth anniversary celebrationamong whose activities programmed figure a commemorative meeting of the countries members of the Association.

Spain remains as the second largest producer of Windows in Europe. Photo: Fernando Madariaga

Also be convened a year over the already traditional awards Veteco-Asefave, which held its eighth edition. With these awards, both Ifema, organizing institution of the contest, as the Spanish Association of manufacturers of Windows and facades light, Asefave, sponsor of the same, are intended to distinguish the good make of this industry and its ability to design and innovation.

These awards include four categories:

-Best window, with assessment of the architectural design and its good manufacturing and delivery at the site; the adaptation to the environment; respect for the environment and the contribution to energy efficiency and the overall sustainability of the building. Also takes into consideration quality assurance provided by the manufacturer and the reception and execution control made in the work.

-Best front light, which provides exactly the same conditions as the previous category, while referring to the facades.

-Innovation Award, with assessment of research and innovation in the exterior carpentry; the design and implementation work; the adaptation to the environment; respect for the environment and the contribution to energy efficiency and overall sustainability of the building, as well as guarantees of quality taken in its design and production process.

-Better projects end of career, category in which the main point of valuation is based on architectural design, as well as the adaptation to the environment, respect for the environment and the contribution to energy efficiency and the overall sustainability of the building.