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13th October 2009
High quality facades still in demand despite
financial crisis/
One of the world-wide leading curtain wall manufacturers
with 1200 employees/
Curtain wall manufacturer Gartner focuses on
creative engineering
GUNDELFINGEN: 13th October 2009. With a total of 1200 employees Gartner is one of the leading curtain wall manufacturers world-wide. Last year the Bavarian company achieved a turnover of 275 Million Euros with its aluminium, steel and glass facades. Despite the financial and economic crisis and decreasing building activity, Josef Gartner GmbH expects a high degree of stabilisation in the coming years.
“The global demand for high quality curtain wall constructions is stable. However competition is on the increase. For this reason our focus is on creative engineering and technological excellence. We are inspired by outstanding architecture and are happy to realise enterprising ideas from our clients and architects,” said Klaus Lother, General Manager of Josef Gartner GmbH.
A look at the ongoing curtain wall projects shows that Gartner is involved in numerous architectural highlights. In Frankfurt, Gartner recently completed the façade works for the Opernturm, whilst the curtain wall assembly of the Deutsche Bank towers and podiums will continue until summer 2010. The Deutsche Bank façade will considerably increase energy efficiency and enable natural ventilation. The building will have achieved the highest international Energy Efficiency Standard, the Platinum-Standard according to LEED. In autumn Gartner is expected to begin with façade assembly of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, which includes world-wide unique curved and printed glass. At present Gartner is working in the UK on the curtain wall installations for the projects One New Change, Riverbank House and The Walbrook.
The Gartner family business was founded in 1868 in Gundelfingen on the Danube, and in 2001 became a part of the construction group Permasteelisa, which is listed on the Mailand Stock Exchange. With over 6000 employees Permasteelisa S.p.A. is world market leader in curtain wall construction. In 2008 Permasteelisa achieved a turnover of 1,137 Billion Euros and an EBIT of 58,7 Million Euros. Regarded as a premium brand of the Permasteelisa Group, Gartner is responsible for around a quarter of the Group turnover. Approximately 80% of Gartner turnover was achieved globally, with important key international markets in the UK, as well as the USA and Canada.
Gartner employs 655 staff at its headquarters in Gundelfingen, Germany. Currently, 47 draughtsmen/designers and construction technicians and 10 trainees are undergoing training. This year, the focus has been on the further development of sales in Germany with further offices in Deggendorf and Selbitz and Gartner Steel and Glass GmbH, who specialise in steel and glass constructions, being located in Würzburg.
In Europe there are offices in London and Arlesheim (near Basel), each with 30 employees. In USA, 15 people are employed in Chicago who manage projects designed and developed in Germany. The activities in Asia are concentrated in the Hong Kong office, with 70 employees, as well as a subsidiary in Macau. The Middle East is covered by an office and factory complex in Dubai. Together with the project offices in Abu Dhabi and Doha Qatar, a total of 250 staff members are employed.
The construction of high-rise buildings and the curtain wall market in the individual countries has been affected by the economic crisis. “The market in England has contracted, the time frame from planning to realisation has been protracted. In contrast, there is still brisk building activity in Germany, although industry competition has increased, a repeat of the market a few years ago. In Germany, highest technological and quality standards are demanded of facades - an advantage for Gartner as technology leader. The market for museums and company headquarters in USA is of increasing importance and focus for us, as this particular market sector is independent of the demand for rental space," said Klaus Lother.
For further information:
Klaus Lother, General Manager, Josef Gartner GmbH, Gartnerstr. 20,
89423 Gundelfingen, Tel.: +49 9073 84-0, Fax: +49 9073 84-21 00
Dr. Jochen Mignat, Dr. Mignat PR, Am Hexenpfad 11, 63450 Hanau,
Tel. +49 6181 50791-0, Fax +49 6181 50791-11, pr@mignat.de
Press Photos
Monika Nicklaser, Tel. +49 9073 84-2378,
monika.nicklaser@josef-gartner.de
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