HEGLA and FAKRO: A Partnership Driving Innovation in Glass Processing

The story of FAKRO shows how bold vision and consistency can evolve into global success and significantly shape the roof window industry. From the very beginning, the company focused on innovation, gradually transforming the way attic spaces and their comfort are perceived. Today, it is an international leader setting new standards through technology and ambitious projects.

The history of FAKRO dates back to a time when a young graduate of the Cracow University of Technology, Ryszard Florek, recognized the potential of transforming attics into spaces filled with natural light. His personal experiences played an important role - memories from childhood, when he would play in the attic and observe with fascination how a single glazed roof tile could completely change the character of an interior. The combination of acquired knowledge, inspiration, and the growing interest in roof windows in Western markets became the impulse for a decision that would, in the years to come, significantly influence the development of the entire industry.

The foundation of the business was the Florad company, established in 1986 by Ryszard Florek and Jacek Radkowiak. It produced paneling and joinery elements, but it was also there that the first ideas of windows mounted in roof slopes began to take shape. FAKRO was officially founded a few years later, in 1991, in Nowy Sącz. From its roots in Małopolska, a business emerged that first steadily built trust among local customers, and by 1994 successfully entered international markets, opening the path for further expansion.

From the very beginning, the company focused on developing technical aspects of windows that enhance the functionality of attics and ensure everyday comfort. This approach led to increasingly innovative roof windows that introduced a new quality to under-roof spaces. As the brand developed, the product portfolio steadily expanded to include flat roof windows as well as internal and external accessories.

A significant milestone was the development of a new product category - attic ladders. Today, FAKRO is one of the leading manufacturers in this segment.

The year 2016 marked a breakthrough in the company’s history. At that time, the portfolio was expanded to include a new product range: FAKRO INNOVIEW vertical wood-aluminium joinery. Large-format façade windows and patio doors opened up new possibilities for designing spaces in which light plays a key role. The offering was complemented by vertical awnings and INNOVIEW Line garage doors, all designed in a consistent aesthetic.

Another important milestone came in 2022, when a new generation of roof windows - GREENVIEW - was introduced. Designed with energy efficiency, acoustic insulation, and modern design in mind, GREENVIEW windows also reflect the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and care for future generations.

Over the years, the company has systematically built a network of partners and distributors, strengthening its position in key market segments. Today, FAKRO products are present in over 70 countries worldwide, with exports accounting for approximately 70% of total revenue. These figures confirm the company’s strong and well-established international position. Efficient operations, the ability to deliver large-scale projects, and global market service are supported by a dynamic network of 12 production facilities and 17 distribution companies. This reinforces the brand’s reputation, increases its credibility, and creates opportunities for continuous growth.

A highly skilled workforce of nearly 4,000 employees forms a reliable pillar of the organization. Employing such a large team strengthens the Group’s position as one of the largest employers in the region. The company consistently invests in modern technologies, recognizing innovation as a key element of its development strategy. Nearly 200 engineers work on pioneering solutions that play an important role on the international stage.

For HEGLA, cooperation with FAKRO is of particular importance - not only because of the scale of the project, but above all because of its nature. Although by 2012 many glass cutting lines manufactured in Beverungen were already operating in Poland, the project for FAKRO clearly stood out from the standards of that time.

From the very beginning, it was clear that this would not be a “typical” project. FAKRO set very high expectations, clearly defining key conditions that had to be met.

One of the priorities was a high level of warehouse automation while ensuring full continuity of production - even during glass deliveries. This was one of the first projects in which the system was designed to reduce production downtime to an absolute minimum. A key role was played by a portal storage system with a specially designed layout of storage zones and carefully defined safety zones. This solution not only organized logistics but, above all, stabilized the entire production process.

Another major challenge was optimizing the use of residual glass. Even then, FAKRO accurately identified a problem that remained invisible to many plants - significant losses resulting from inefficient management of offcuts. The lack of clear inventory tracking, complex logistics, and the need for additional racks and operators meant that a large portion of glass was not used effectively and often ended up as waste.

In a world where raw materials were becoming increasingly expensive and glass increasingly technologically advanced, such inefficiency could no longer be justified.

The answer to these needs was the automated residual glass storage system ReMaster. It enabled not only efficient inventory management but, above all, full automation of handling residual glass sheets. Thanks to its design, installed above the cutting line, it also saved valuable production space. It was the first system of this kind in Poland - today, it has become an industry standard, without which modern production is hard to imagine. Currently, nearly 40 such systems are in operation across Poland.

Another pioneering element of the project was the direct connection between the cutting line and the glass edging line. Although not yet a fully automated system, it significantly simplified logistics between processes and substantially improved overall production efficiency.

FAKRO is a company whose organizational culture is built on a consistent pursuit of the best possible solutions. It does not accept compromises where more can be achieved. It is a demanding environment - but it is precisely in such conditions that projects are created which genuinely push technological boundaries.

That is why we see our cooperation with FAKRO not merely as project execution, but as a joint search for solutions that over time become standards for the entire industry.

Today, FAKRO - the world’s second-largest manufacturer of roof windows - is building its future on a foundation of over 35 years of experience. Remaining true to its core values of development, innovation, responsibility, and reliability, the company continues its mission of delivering high-quality products that enhance the comfort of living spaces.

It is stories like this that best illustrate how the Polish glass processing industry has evolved - and why we are proud to be part of it.