When choosing windows and doors, it is essential to decide on the material, PVC, aluminium or wood, but it is becoming increasingly important to be able to choose from the many variants available. Finstral, a leading South Tyrolean company in the sector, has been moving in this direction for several years now, and has recently presented its new ‘Inlay‘ claddings. These inlays make it possible to customise the interior side with fine wood, ceramic or metal surfaces, without any restrictions on the choice of functional features and additional fittings of the window or door.
Inlay is the result of a wonderful collaboration between the company and Alex Ploner, who was doing his internship at Finstral in 2020 as part of his study programme at DHBW Mosbach. During this time, he was able to closely observe various company processes, such as profile extrusion, insulating glass production and, of course, window assembly. At the headquarters in Auna di Sotto, he moved from one office to the next, until he found space in the development department, where the fundamental construction issues of window design are dealt with. It was here that Alex Ploner had the opportunity to collaborate on a large and complex project as part of his three-year degree thesis, to implement the modular system already used by the company, in terms of functionality and aesthetics.
On a functional level, Inlay features improvements in the areas of burglary resistance, fire protection and even bullet resistance; in terms of aesthetics, it enhances Finstral’s already extensive range of materials, based on PVC, aluminium and wood. Says the 24-year-old: “I asked myself whether and how different materials could be applied to an existing profile with as little processing as possible. Suddenly, he found the perfect fit, in the truest sense of the word: what if we used an aluminium support profile as an additional internal module, to which strips of material could simply be applied? Millable or not, mouldable or not, it makes no difference: we could conceivably use any material and give the window an innovative appearance, without altering its function or equipment.”
The responsible technician Franz Gufler and Joachim Oberrauch, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Head of Product Development at Finstral, chose to pursue and engage in the development of this insert system. Using the 3D printer, the then graduate student produced an initial support profile into which Finstral’s existing materials could be inserted, but also completely different alternatives. Precious wood, metal, even ceramics. “We knew immediately that the idea was a winner,” Franz Gufler emphasises. “With a reduced effort in development and production, we are able to realise windows with unusual designs“. This is precisely the key to modularity: maximising variety and minimising complexity, making it manageable in every case.
After three years of development, the Inlay innovation reaches the market. Customers can choose from five precious wood, five metal and twelve ceramic inserts to customise the inside of the window, creating the aluminium support in the shade they prefer from among Finstral’s more than 250 aluminium colours. “And without any limitation in the choice of other features or equipment – from the shape of the profiles to shading systems and burglar protection,” Franz Gufler further emphasises. “Inlay is available for double-hung windows and also for sliding doors. It is even possible to equip the frame with a different Inlay variant than the sash profile!” And Joachim Oberrauch adds: “With Inlay, we offer even more customisation options to interior architects and interior designers, just like with furniture. In this way, a special touch can be given to every room or individual windows.” Specifies Alex Ploner: “Thanks to the aesthetic modules available for the inside and outside, a total of 41,594,475,000 possible combinations of material, colour and sash shape are achieved.” Alex Ploner is now part of Finstral’s Development team and continues to study innovative solutions to further increase the customisation and personalisation possibilities of Finstral windows and doors.
For more information visit: www.finstral.com
