GEZE with two world firsts on the digital stand
Even in these unusual times, Gerald Haas, Managing Director Development at GEZE, is looking ahead with confidence. He reports on the new products from GEZE, his expectations, market prospects – and what he is really proud of.
Mr Haas, contact with the market and stakeholders is difficult in the age of ‘physical distancing’ – as head of development, how are you dealing with the situation?
First of all, of course, it is a real shame that we are currently not in a position to be in direct contact with our customers and prospects. We are a global business, however – so we are used to being in close contact with employees, customers and partners through all other possible channels. Whether it is through online training sessions or virtual meetings, and of course the traditional telephone. These methods allow us to discuss development and market trends, find out about customer demands – and receive some very open feedback about our products. Moreover, many of our products meet the demands of the situation; just think of our solutions in the field of accessibility or hygiene. Quite simply: I do not have to touch a door which opens automatically. This is a particularly attractive prospect right now. Finally, online channels such as our website are increasing in significance and we are also using new forms of communication, such as a digital stand to present our new products and solutions.
Go to the digital fairOn the subject of new products and solutions – what should visitors to the digital stand expect?
With GEZE F 1200+ and GEZE NatVent we are seizing the opportunity to cement GEZE’s position even more firmly in the field of window technology and automation. Our F 1200+ automates very large and heavy turn and tilt windows in a way that means they can also still be operated manually. Currently, if a window of this size is automated, it cannot be used manually. The F 1200+ has two modes of operation: the window can be brought automatically into a tilted position, but there is also a manual setting which I can use to operate the window like a normal side-hung window. The user can therefore switch between the two modes with virtually no delay – there is nothing else like it on the market!
Our F 1200+ automates very large and heavy windows such that they can also still be operated manually.
Gerald Haas, Managing Director Development at GEZE
Working in the diverse fields of ‘electronics, mechanics and software’ for many years – Gerald Haas, shown here with an employee from his development Team.
And what’s the special feature of GEZE NatVent?
With GEZE NatVent, we are taking up the global trend of ‘saving energy’. It’s a fact that the greatest consumer of energy in buildings is always the heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology. In temperate climates, an incredible amount of energy can be saved by means of natural ventilation and automated night-time back cooling. We had a couple of decisive puzzle pieces in our kit regarding this: firstly, window automation and secondly, our GEZE Cockpit solution. So it was obvious that the two should be combined – and now, for example, we are able to offer our new F 1200+ with networked ventilation control. However, GEZE NatVent also works with the GEZE Slimchain or Powerchain, of course. Overall, I am very excited to see both our newcomers in the range arrive on the market.
More about natural ventilation
More about automated overnight cooling
The keyword of internationalisation: Are particular target markets a priority for you?
Our products generally reach an international market. China is a particularly important growth market for us. We have a lot of expertise in the field of the national and international certifications needed for our products.
What do the topics of ‘consulting expertise’ and ‘service providers’ mean to you?
The topic of consulting is extremely important. Digital consulting expertise in particular is increasingly the decisive purchasing criterion. Take BIM, for example: in this instance, we explain to architects and operators how our products can be incorporated into the door planning process by means of BIM models. And how we provide the right functions in actual application to meet many demands, some of which can be contradictory. Germany in particular has extremely high demand for consulting, and the negative example of Berlin Airport has made many of us aware of just how important the right fire protection is. There is also an increase in consulting for installation companies: we advise them on selecting products, installation and maintenance with training sessions, workshops, installation videos and much more.
Germany in particular has extremely high demand for consulting, and the negative example of Berlin Airport has made many of us aware of just how important the right fire protection is.
Gerald Haas, Managing Director Development at GEZEOne final question, Mr Haas. What part does the topic of ‘design’ play for GEZE’s customers – and what position do you see yourself in regarding this?
We take the topic very, very seriously – the fact that we regularly win international design awards is proof of this. Nowadays, good design is practically a hygiene factor, because architects in particular expect a visually high-quality impression as standard. For example, look at our newest product F 1200+: here, we have a high-end and elegant aluminium housing with high-gloss operating elements for intuitive operation in capacitive technology – all on the level of the highest quality smartphone technology. And you have to have that these days!
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