Through the windows to Europe DAKO

THROUGH THE WINDOWS TO EUROPE

DAKO Windows Factory, a company from Nowy Sacz, Poland, has a long history of innovation. In just over 20 years it has sold millions of windows to more than 20 countries. Dariusz Balcerzyk reports.

DAKO is one of Poland’s leading producers of vertical windows (PVC, wooden and aluminium windows), doors, roller blinds and garage doors. Its history goes back to 1994 when it was founded by two brothers, Jerzy and Janusz Studzinski. Initially DAKO focused on PVC windows and door joinery in its 600m2 production hall. However, its commercial offer was soon extended to include interior and exterior window sills, textile roller blinds and mosquito nets.

This was followed by the launch of DAKO’s specialised line for the production of roller blinds and aluminium constructions. The following years saw an increasing number of customers which encouraged the company to enlarge its offer with wooden joinery. The significant growth rate and constant expansion of its distribution chain resulted in the decision to build a new 6000m2 production hall in May 2002. After just one year the first windows were coming off the production line.

In 2004, the offer was extended yet again to include garage doors and fire-fighting doors. Four years later, owing to increasing production demands, a new office building with huge production halls equipped with the latest generation technological park for the production of PVC, wooden, aluminium, wooden-aluminium and steel joinery was set up on the outskirts of Nowy Sacz. The new head office, covering a total surface area of 13500m2, was opened in July 2008. The factory included a new, well-equipped powder paint shop for the production of aluminium profiles and steel construction elements in both black and galvanised steel.

Growth in western Europe

“Now, the production takes place in our innovative 20,000m2 technological park, equipped with modern saws and welding machines for PVC profiles, precision saws, milling machines and woodworking machines, a fully automated, unique SAC line and the latest generation machining centre for aluminium,” says Kamil Sokolowski, Marketing Strategy Manager at DAKO. “Furthermore, the electronic document circulation and numerical machine control ensures the precise fulfillment of orders. The quality of aluminium profiles is guaranteed by the powder paint shop with two chambers designed for painting the profiles, a profile edge banding machine working on the basis of hot melt adhesive technology and a professional testing laboratory.”

DAKO employs more than 600 people. “It is worth mentioning that there are people who started 20 years ago with the company, as this shows how stable our employee base is. On the other hand, in the past three years our staff has increased by 250 people, including 100 in 2015 alone,” adds Mr Sokolowski.

Exports make up 50 per cent of the company’s sales, mostly accounted for by western European markets such as France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the UK and Scandinavia. DAKO products are also sold to such distant markets as Canada, Japan and Israel. The company’s activity in foreign markets over the years 2012–2015 has been supported by funds from the Innovative Economy Operational Programme. “Our great advantage is our ability to adapt our offer to the specific needs and conditions of each market,” says Mr Sokolowski. “We take into account that each market is unique, so we have to be

SIMONSWERK GmbH

SIMONSWERK, headquartered in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, is a leading manufacturer of sophisticated hinges and hinge systems for more than 125 years. Today with some 530 em-ployees, SIMONSWERK currently ranks amongst the leading suppliers of hinges and hinge systems in Europe.

With the strategic focus as a full-service provider, SIMONSWERK offers a wide product range of hinges and hinge systems for residential, commercial and entrance doors. For the various designs of doors in timber, steel, aluminum, PVC and glass, over 1,700 models are used in nearly 5,000 versions. All products are invariably “Made in Germany”. With this range SIMON-SWERK is the absolute market leader in Germany. At present the company is active in over 70 international markets, 35 of those are served con-sistently by independent subsidiaries, by representatives or own staff members.

Guidelines For more than 125 years SIMONSWERK stands for high-quality requirements, a constant inno-vative spirit and active customer retention. SIMONSWERK combines technological innovation with impressive aesthetics and a contemporary view of hinge systems and movement. The company ensures that doors open and close properly – with a holistic concept incorporating dynamics, balance, stability and aesthetic.

flexible. DAKO owns a fleet of yellow and blue trucks that operate regularly around Europe, using an innovative system of transport monitoring which guarantees full and efficient information flow.”

Innovative systems

DAKO is not only a manufacturer of windows, doors and gates: its offer also includes innovative, complex home systems. The DAKO HarmonyLine is a unique, aesthetically integrated composition of windows, doors, garage doors and roller shutters in harmonious colours and patterns, emphasising the nature and class of the facade. A customer may select one of the 12 unique HarmonyLine compositions available in five colour variations to achieve their dream of a beautiful home. n

Visit: www.dako.eu