Anticipating rise in demand for premium doors and windows, Mario Schmidt, Managing Director, Lingel Windows, says the company is gearing up production for the coming year
India has taken a leap in the fenestration product technology. Use of alternate materials like uPVC and aluminium instead of traditional wood, not only furthers green initiatives but reduces cost in the long-run. This is surely very significant for the growth and acceptance of alternate materials in India.
In the past ten years, Lingel has progressed a lot in in-house designing and manufacturing, especially hardware systems. Initially, the products were manufactured and designed in Germany which was not suitable for the harsh Indian climate. This also has an impact on the products’ cost, and its tendency to rust in coastal areas. So we decided to design and manufacture our own series keeping in mind the Indian weather conditions. All our hardware is made of steel SS 304 and SS 316 for coastal areas since it is rust-free.
We want to market our aluminium products just like our uPVC products. At present, the aluminium windows are pre-fabricated at our factory in Germany and assembled in India. Our aim is to be the best in the industry. There is a current demand for high-end aluminium profiles, individual project specific glazing solutions, quick deliveries, economical costing, and extra large and heavy door panels.
Our company and the window industry has seen the same growth curves in the past years. In 2006, it was a Rs.600 crore industry and since 2015, the industry has grown to Rs.1500 crore. Our company is growing at the same pace. We started 10 years ago when the market for engineered fenestration products had just started. We also utilized the last 10 years to make our presence visible pan India. As of date, there are a limited number of fabricators working across the country. We also explain to customers that a window is not just a profile, but has many key factors like hardware, fabrication, and installation, that are necessary in making the overall product successful.
I would like to highlight that Lingel is now offering all fenestration products under its brand. The range includes uPVC windows made in India and in Germany, timber windows made in India and Germany, aluminium windows made in India and Germany, and internal doors made in Germany.
We have solutions for any and every requirement of our customers, and we make tailor-made products to suit their needs. Our products once installed, will last for at least four decades. We are the only uPVC fabrication company manufacturing 90 degrees corner opening sliding doors. We also provide a range of shutter doors and windows that also provide security, reduce dust and noise, and have in-built air purifiers affixed to the windows. We are always one step ahead in product design, innovation, and technology.
Lingel is the only German manufacturer in India to provide cutting-edge uPVC products with breakthrough thermal insulation that are not only durable in nature but also suitable for all kinds of climatic conditions in India. The company manufactures uPVC and aluminium doors and windows with single, double, and triple glazed high energy saving glass. Window options include fixed, casement, tilt and turn, sliding, bay or a combination of all of these designs. Casement, entrance to balcony, sliding, tilt and slide and sliding folding, are some of our premium doors.
Lingel has a dedicated team of 200 employees in India. We plan to increase production from the current 2000 units per week to 3000 units by 2017. The company has an impressive market share of 2 percent and aims to amass 7.5 percent by the first fiscal of 2020. It also plans to launch India’s first smart windows by next year. We follow ISO 2008 9001 quality assurance in all our products.
