As we wrote in a recent article, European windows are very popular in the US market. Speaking of transactions over such a long distance, it is impossible not to take into account the extensive logistical issues, including, among others, the transportation of products across, including across the ocean. How, then, is it done?
When considering the purchase of window joinery products, it is important to start by choosing the right supplier for us. Located in Luzin, BERTRAND has been producing high-quality windows and doors since 1969. Wooden and wood-aluminum products are made in-house from A to Z, with no outside involvement. The first windows were already exported in the 1990s, and significant quantities began to be sold for export to European countries in 2002. Around 2008 our windows began to go to various corners of the world outside Europe, most often to the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia or New Zealand.
Our company’s structures include experienced customer advisors who will help match the right products and solutions for specific needs – both for private buildings and larger projects.
– The most popular products in the US market are primarily PVC products with an acrylic exterior and black veneer, and Smoovio sliding doors, primarily because of their airtightness, which translates into greater resistance to weather, noise, etc., they also have excellent thermal performance and an attractive price. The Smoovio door can also serve as a sliding window, as its minimum height is 39 inches. This can be useful if you want to use such a window in places where opening inward will interfere with things inside the room when opened. The maximum height, on the other hand, makes it possible to meet the needs of most buildings for sliding doors, as they can measure as much as 96 inches, says Olaf Bertrand, marketing and export director at BERTRAND. – Most often, we also supply folding doors and large-size aluminum sliding structures. We produce sliding doors of the multislide type, i.e. with a large number of running fields, and so-called pocket doors, i.e. sliding solutions in which the structure completely hides in the walls of the building and allows you to enjoy the view without any visual barriers, brings you closer to the nature that surrounds the house, and makes it easier to bring in larger items such as furniture. We also produce french double doors, typical of the American market, with handles in each door leaf. Wood and aluminum products have also gained recognition. Most often, Americans and Canadians buy the Synergic Alu line from our company, which has a very modern look characterized by angular shapes and a hidden leaf on the outside. Depending on your preference, because of the hidden sash, we can hide the window frames in the facade of the building. In this variant, only the glass will be visible from the outside. In addition, the frames of the Synergic and Synergic Alu systems are 33% lower than conventional competing systems. Customers also opt for BB Line 82 products characterized by high thermal U factor and an excellent price/quality ratio, as well as PVC systems, such as Linear because of its modern design, thanks to which the window gives the impression that it is made entirely of aluminum at the same time with an excellent U factor and 3 gaskets around the perimeter of the structure, which are responsible for an additional thermal barrier and against atmospheric conditions. We also offer passive windows and wood-aluminum windows in the Alutrend system, which allows for many configurations of design (from retro to modern), color (wood-like colors on aluminum overlays, anodizing of overlays, matte or structural varnishing) and construction shapes, such as trapezoids, triangles or arches. As an interesting side note, we recently produced once again a dutch door made of wood, which made its way to California. Dutch doors are characterized by two wings. These doors have the additional possibility of opening independently only the upper leaf while the lower leaf is interlocked.
Pictured: Dutch doors with closed and open top sash
Due to the nature of the goods and storage conditions, windows and doors are transported to the US by sea (which can take 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the job site location) and, occasionally, by air. BERTRAND invariably strives to make this process smooth and uncomplicated.
– Years of experience have allowed us to increase loading efficiency and product safety for container shipments, Olaf Bertrand points out. – We are constantly analyzing not only how our products behave after time assembled in the building, but we are also streamlining the packaging of products. BERTRAND products are loaded into the container on wooden racks and are properly secured using transport slats from the bottom of the structure. In addition, our windows, depending on the structure, are secured with thatch and cardboard boxes. Panes from unglazed structures or for facades are secured with special transport frames, sometimes, in the case of larger dimensions, reinforced with steel.
Appropriately prepared windows and doors are then transported by land to the port, where, even before sailing, it is approved by the shipping company. Once the goods arrive at the port, the ordering party is contacted by a customs agent or shipping company, which also handles the delivery of the order to its destination.
Information about the other products and solutions are available on our website. We also invite you to follow our social media channels.