The dramatic drop in orders from the new construction forced Internorm to make staff adjustments last year. The renovation industry is really picking up now: Thanks to federal funding for window replacement, the manufacturer from Traun now has plenty to do, reveals co-owner Christian Klinger.
The five-year planning that is normally made at Internorm “can be forgotten at the moment,” says co-owner Christian Klinger. “We try to look twelve to twenty-four months ahead. To get an image you also need feeling and instinct. “You adapt to that and at the same time try to remain a little flexible, both up and down,” said the spokesperson for the company from Traun.
More than 29 million windows and doors have already been sold
The family business has sold more than 29 million windows and doors and currently employs more than 2,100 people at its locations in Traun, Sarleinsbach and Lannach, Styria. The workforce shrank slightly last year, in response to the decline in demand for new construction.
“This year our order intake is roughly in line with the previous year, which is not a bad thing,” Klinger explains. The renovation is going well, he says. “That is what is supporting us at the moment,” confirms the Internorm boss. The figures speak volumes: orders for new construction at Europe’s largest window brand fell by around 25 percent compared to the year before, and even by 60 percent with a view to 2022.
“Have plus 50 percent in the renovation”
“We have plus 50 percent in the renovation for 2023 – the financing works, it really has an impact,” says the 58-year-old. Under the motto “Austria is not completely closed off,” the Ministry of Climate Protection has offered a renovation bonus, allowing the federal government to provide up to 9,000 euros for window replacement.
Installing windows in renovation projects is more complex than in new construction. Klinger: “Our dealers are therefore very well utilized. It also looks good for us, because we are prepared that the quantities of ramen will not be available compared to 2021 and 2022.”
He still sees a lot of potential in the renovation industry: “A lot will still have to be done in the future if we want to achieve our goals.” Replacing windows reduces the heating and energy needs in rooms and therefore CO2 emissions.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
