Individual planning, sustainable production: Fensterbau Pötschke GmbH, Löbau
The innovative yet sustainable product range from Fensterbau Pötschke GmbH appeals to architects and discerning private builders. But municipalities are also increasingly banking on timber and timber-aluminium windows, as well as main doors and transom / mullion facades, from the Löbau-based company.
“In fact, despite the housebuilding crisis, we were actually at full capacity in 2024,” reports Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Pötschke. Together with his wife Katrin, he promotes digitalisation and automation. “Both of these improve the efficiency of our processes and the quality of our building elements,” highlights the timber construction engineer. She accompanied her husband from Munich to Löbau, where they both joined the company that is run by the sixth generation of the same family.
Comprehensive service
The specialists plan the perfect element for every project and every room. They combine security, thermal insulation, sound insulation, design and function without any hassle. Thomas Pötschke describes the benefits for customers: “We currently employ some masters, technicians and engineers in work scheduling and planning, and another in production. This is how we can give our customers exactly what they expect from us: complete plant and installation planning, even for very complex projects and solutions.”
Nowadays Fensterbau Pötschke installs windows and sliding elements, but also external and internal cladding, fully electrical main door systems, elements with electronic gear drives and sophisticated locking systems, smoke extraction systems, alarm systems, and many windows and facades with electronically monitored burglary-proof glass.
An in-demand development partnership
The married couple at the head of the company expects its suppliers to possess considerable prowess in development and innovation.
“We choose our partners depending on whether they can help us further develop our company, in addition to offering components of exceptional quality,”
emphasizes Thomas Pötschke. The company has been working with Roto for as long as he can remember.
He recently started using the Roto NX | C concealed hinge side. The introduction went quickly, as is standard with the established partnership with Roto. “Previously, we made the far more wide-ranging complete switch from Roto NT to the Roto NX hardware product range while we were in the middle of fulfilling a major contract,” recalls the timber expert. We changed over from one day to the next and manufactured the same high production volumes. “The preparations made by Roto and the Roto data service for this type of changeover are so extensive and precise that we can use new hardware solutions straight away with only minimal additional effort and without any notable interruptions,” adds Katrin Pötschke.
TPE seals from Deventer
Pötschke Fensterbau is also in demand for its services in the preservation of historic buildings. For example, the experts at the company designed a tightly-sealed, double-sashed timber window with a historical look and a weather profile strip, as well as a Deventer seal chosen by the company. The double-sashed timber window without a weather strip bar boasts class E 1200 proof of driving rain impermeability in accordance with EN 12208. Thomas Pötschke explains:
“In close collaboration with Roto and Deventer, we can offer special developments for the preservation of historical buildings, too.”
All windows and main doors from Pötschke are equipped with TPE seals from Deventer. “The perfect interaction between hardware and seal is definitely important if you want to meet today’s requirements for operating convenience and sealing,” states Thomas Pötschke. He has just taken a look at the latest sealing profiles which are ideal for very large sash formats. All of the Turn-Only and Tilt&Turn hardware that Pötschke works with comes from the Roto NX range. In the window professional’s opinion, this is the perfect modular hardware system for the efficient production of Tilt&Turn windows.
“Roto NX offers everything we need for any design, any format and even for very high sash weights.”
Including data service
The Roto NX | C concealed hinge side for sash weights up to 180 kg was eagerly anticipated. “We equip almost 50% of our Tilt&Turn windows with concealed hinge sides. And because the new NX | C has many of the same parts as the Roto NX | T surface-mounted hinge side, introducing it has definitely made our processes even more straightforward,” explains Katrin Pötschke. Ralf Nieblich prepared the data relating
to the introduction. He is the Roto data service’s specialist for the Klaes window production software. “Ralf Nieblich is an expert. You can see this from the quality of the data and the coordination,” states Katrin Pötschke.
“Every question is answered, we receive help straight away. The data quality is excellent.”
Digital data exchange
Katrin Pötschke thinks that it’s important for window manufacturers to ensure complete digital data exchange with trade and industry, not least for sustainability reasons. “Sharing all data digitally prevents mistakes and therefore extra journeys due to reorders or incorrect deliveries. The lower the error rate, the more emissions we all save in logistics. A high level of process reliability thanks to this digital exchange protects the environment.”
Trend: outward opening
Recently, Pötschke has been looking at hardware solutions which had more of minor role in the past. The expert planners at the company have identified a trend towards outward opening windows. Thomas Pötschke explains the reason behind this: “In large cities, every square meter of developed space is expensive and valuable.” Outward opening windows don’t take up any usable space when opened for ventilation and can be equipped with Roto hardware for reliable operation, enabling them to play an even greater role in future.
A proactive approach to the future
Decades of tradition and experience make up the solid foundations of Fensterbau Pötschke, highlights Thomas Pötschke: “We have always loved what we do, and still do to this day, plus we’re adaptable. A modern and efficient way of working is more important than rapid growth. The aim isn’t to expand our team massively. But having said that, we’d like to further develop automation and digitalisation.” The company currently has 42 members of staff, six of whom are in training. His wife adds: “This company was founded in 1856. The objective has always been to use the most modern technology available at any given time. We don’t want to break with this successful tradition.” The company appreciates Roto’s pioneering role in digitalization and how it comes up with the exact innovations that Pötschke needs to keep pace with trends on the market, such as the NX | C concealed hinge side.
This article was published in Roto Inside 59.