Doors, windows and façades Alumil

DOORS, WINDOWS AND FAÇADES

Alumil, the largest privately owned European aluminum extrusion group, provides complete state-of-the-art solutions for modern buildings. Marketing director Nick Salpingidis shares his insights with Julia Snow.

Alumil SA is among the top designers and producers of branded aluminium systems for architectural use. The company was founded in 1988 and was listed on the Athens stock exchange in 1998 – but the shape of the business today is the result of rapid expansion over the past 20 years. Currently Alumil employs more than 1800 people and the group’s turnover is estimated to reach €200 million for 2014.

With almost 30 years of experience, Alumil is one of the most advanced aluminium extrusion companies globally. It has 11 stateof-the art production sites in Greece and the Balkans and 24 subsidiaries. “The individual production sites are operating independently in day-to-day business, but the overall direction comes from our headquarters in Greece, where human resources, marketing and overall organisation are coordinated.”

The sales network already covers 45 markets in Europe, the USA, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The plan is to expand sales throughout Europe, the USA, India and Africa by promoting advanced architectural systems.

The many faces of aluminium

Alumil designs and produces architectural aluminium profile systems for all kinds of applications, including doors, windows, façades and office partitions, as well as industrial aluminium profiles. Its main customers are aluminium frame producers in the architectural and building sector as well as industrial profile producers in the automotive, railway, shipbuilding and general construction industry.

The group also produces composite panels, polycarbonate sheets and automated systems such as those for automatic doors in lifts, internal doors, solar protection products and a range of complementary products like railings or pergolas.

Alumil is responding to a range of key market needs: the first of these is the increased demand for energy saving and energy production – this is covered by high thermal insulated aluminium systems, solar protection, controlled ventilation system and the integration of photovoltaic systems into building cells. The second of these is the need for security – aluminium offers the highest level of protection from burglaries, vandalism, fire, smoke, earthquakes and so on. Thirdly, Alumil architectural systems can offer supreme protection from extreme weather conditions as they are certified by the most renowned institutes worldwide in terms of water proofing & resistance to wind load. Finally, Alumil can meet the highest requirements in terms of aesthetic standards combined with architectural trends such as minimalist design. Product development

But how does the company keep its finger on the market pulse? “Our marketing department cooperates with our sales network, architects and consultants and develops products in accordance with contemporary trends and market needs,” explains Mr Salpingidis.

Innovative systems are designed and developed in the group’s research & development department and then tested and certified by internationally accredited certification institutes and laboratories, such as Ift Rosenheim (Germany), A.A.M.A (USA), Instituto Jordano (Italy) and EKANAL (Greece).

The research & development department has a team of more than 20 technicians and mechanical engineers in Greece, supported by more engineers and R&D staff at its locations in the Balkans. Apart from the constant focus on improving quality and functionality, the R&D team creates two or three new products every 12 to 18 months.

High-profile references

Alumil is well known for its involvement in large-scale projects worldwide. “We have been chosen for the renovation of the Google offices in New York,” said Mr Salpingidis. “The Google offices are at 111 8th Avenue in New York, with a total area of 270,000m2 .

For this project, Alumil’s R&D department designed one of the most sophisticated, hi-tech aluminum hinged systems with a very low U value (Uw = 1,2 W / m2K). Google’s system was designed according to the US standards for window walls with an emphasis on particularly robust constructions and high levels of waterproofing and air permeability. This system includes external shading with specially shaped louvers for holding ice. This project confirms once more the superiority of Alumil systems and the know-how of the company regarding the design of advanced aluminum systems.”

But this is not the only high profile project Alumil is currently working on in New York: “We were also selected for an impressive project that will be realised in the heart of the city, at 60 Water Street, Brooklyn. This is a groundbreaking glass building, the surface of which has a unique shine generated by the reflection of light through the glass surfaces and glass ‘fins’ that are perpendicular to the sides of the building. Alumil used a structural system designed specifically for this project, which was developed by the technical office of Alumil North America.”

International expansion

“We participate in the largest trade shows worldwide and an important upcoming event for us is BAU FAIR in Munich, Germany. This is the world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems which will take place from 19–24 January,” says Mr Salpingidis. “We look forward to presenting our brand new innovative systems and products: options for smart and energy efficient products with a modern design. We will exhibit new sliding and hinged thermal insulated systems, new high-end entrance and interior doors and also important projects with impressively innovative aluminium systems specially designed according to individual customer needs.”

Alumil is expanding its network over all continents. Having focused on Greece and the Balkans during the 1990s, the company has set up subsidiaries in central and eastern Europe, the Gulf, the USA and recently in India and Africa.

“Our company wants to grow through organic expansion, based on important investments in recent decades,” concludes Mr Salpingidis. “Our strategic target is to maintain our leadership in the Balkans and Greece, while creating new products in order to increase sales in western Europe. In terms of international markets, the target is to reinforce our presence in new markets such as India and Africa and to increase our market share in the USA and the Gulf.” n