I visited Fensterbau for the first time this year and I can honestly say it lived up to all the hype.

The size and scale of the event were way beyond anything I’ve seen at a construction exhibition in the UK, and the quality and quantity of what was on display meant it was impossible to see everything even in the three days that I was there.

It’s difficult then to pick out just a few highlights, but I would say that the Rehau stand was particularly impressive with the most advanced smart window display I’ve yet seen. They had security devices which could be retrofitted to windows so that they would sound an alarm if someone standing in front of them was behaving suspiciously and colour changing glass which could even replicate a venetian or security blind with no moving parts or cold bridging. And, really for the future, even a clear glass window which transformed into a fully working touch screen TV!

Beyond that, I saw several stands featuring frames with edge to edge glazing where the glass is bonded onto the frame for architectural settings which I liked, lots of top spec aluminium doors where budget seemed to be no object and even glazing with integrated heating elements to stop condensation. Much of it was beyond a social housing budget, but it was an interesting insight into how the market is shifting.

With one entire hall devoted to hardware, I did wonder though why so little of that design innovation finds its way to the UK – is it because the UK market prioritises simplifying fabrication over widening customer choice?

I was there with both my The Window Company (Contracts) and GGF hats on so I spent some of my time in the dedicated UK Pavilion – banging the drum for the UK glass and glazing sector. And there were certainly an impressive number of representatives from UK companies and trade media there too. In most cases it was the most senior execs,so I had some excellent meetings with our key suppliers and was able to chat with the media. I definitely came away wondering why I’ve never been to Fensterbau before!