Inspired by nature NorDan

INSPIRED BY NATURE

NorDan is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of low energy windows and frames. The company is focused on using only sustainably produced raw products, reducing its energy requirements and minimising waste. It continues to gain market share and to create innovative and energy-efficient windows and doors. Philip Yorke reports.

NorDan was founded in 1926 by a creative master carpenter named Johannes Rasmussen, who began by making staircases, windows and doors. His enterprise and innovative designs soon meant he had to invest in larger premises and at this stage he also decided to focus exclusively on the manufacture of windows and frames. Rasmussen put his innovative talents to work and set about designing a window that was versatile but completely secure against the elements. The result was the advent of the world’s first ‘tilt and turn’ window, which became an instant success. The company remains privately owned by the third generation descendants of the founder.

Today NorDan is one of the world’s most successful and progressive window manufacturers with state-of-the-art factories located in Otta, Egersund and Arneberg in Norway and Varnamo, Kvillsfors and Tanumshede in Sweden. In addition, NorDan has a major facility in Wolsztyn in Poland. The company employs more than 1500 people and in 2015 recorded sales of more than NOK 2 billion. Putting safety first

NorDan believes that secure windows make for a safer home and all its products are manufactured from robust materials to safeguard a home against possible intruders. When a NorDan door is locked it offers the resident optimal security and the company takes pride in ensuring that each individual window and door leaving its factories lives up to the strict requirements it sets for itself and to the high standards its customers have come to expect.

By constantly reviewing the market and how its products can be improved, NorDan develops ever safer and more efficient windows and doors. Features that come as standard include the Swan safety mark, burglar resistance, aluminium-clad windows and doors, prefinished surface treatments, pre-glazed windows and doors and passive windows with an insulated frame and sash.

From the selection of raw materials to the development of machines and tools, NorDan is in full control of its quality, which

gives it complete flexibility to target the latest market trends. With its extensive knowledge of timber and glass, it is the supplier of choice for the construction industry. At NorDan product development is a continuous process with the environment, comfort and safety in clear focus.

Energy saving, green solutions

It is clearly more efficient to have better insulation than to use more energy for heating, therefore windows and doors developed by NorDan feature the company’s acclaimed N-Tech system as standard and are the best-in-class when it comes to insulating properties. This affords a more consistent internal climate and as a result provides significant cost savings for heating.

At the core of NorDan windows is wood, which is sourced from certified producers, guaranteeing sustainable forest management based upon the latest industry standards. The company was the

first to be awarded the coveted ‘Swan’ Nordic Eco label and its environmental approach extends from selecting the right materials to production and the transportation of its finished products.

Innovation driving sales

At NorDan, innovation is a natural part of its business and traditions. The company was the first to produce ready-glazed windows and doors that come with valves, aluminium cladding and burglary protection. NorDan believes that good design is about much more than aesthetics: good design must be functional and solve the problems that present themselves.

The windows and doors that form the basis of the NorDan portfolio are designed not only to suit the architecture and colour scheme, but also to add something new and exciting. Form and function should work together to optimise the efficiency and beauty of the product. Innovation continues to drive sales at NorDan and to keep it one step ahead of its competitors. High performance production

With eight factories in the Nordic region and products available in markets across the world, there are great demands for an efficient production line at NorDan. Its production processes ensure that its products maintain the high quality expected of it and its advanced production systems also ensure that unnecessary tasks and processes are removed. The company’s production systems guarantee that its quality products keep waste and the use of energy at an absolute minimum.

“The key to good conversion is continuous improvement,” NorDan told Industry Europe magazine. All its factories employ the company’s tried and tested management system, where clear goals are set and regularly checked to ensure that the company remains on the right track. The result is efficient and environmentally friendly production facilities that ensure the highest possible quality across its extensive range of windows and doors. n For further details of NorDan’s range of innovative products and services, visit: www.nordan.com