News - July 2024

The right frame anchoring

The right window frame Anchoring

The new edition of the "Timmerfabrikant" (a Dutch Trade Journal) had published a great article on our collaboration with Hebo Kozijnen and our joint initiative to share knowledge about frame anchoring. Thanks to; the text and images by Timmerfabrikant/Kees de Vries.

Hebo Kozijnen in Hengevelde and Gebr. Bodegraven (GB) in Nieuwkoop have entered into a coorperation in the field of frame anchoring. Besides having their own Techniekplein and a series of knowledge sessions, both companies are working in Buildify in 3D on an automatic anchor assessment. TAfter all, a lot can go wrong between the rear structure and the frame due to a lack of knowledge, as some three hundred interested parties recently saw at the Kozijndagen (Window Frame Days).

The photo of the sagging wooden frame in the prefab concrete wall is shocking. "It’s only been in place for five weeks, and the element still needs to be moved to the construction site. It’s a matter of improper anchoring," says technical advisor Michel Vernooij of Gebr. Bodegraven (GB) from Nieuwkoop. "We are seeing a lot of construction knowledge on this subject dissipate, while the diversity of the underlying structures to which the frame is anchored is increasing. Just consider: sand-lime brick, concrete, aerated concrete, porotherm, and wood all require their own approach. And not everyone refers to the KVT guidelines."

Hebo Kozijnen in Hengevelde has noticed this as well. Commercial manager Paul Meulman: "In the top five most common service reports related to anchoring, we see twisting of the side posts, warped posts, frames out of alignment due to over-tightening screws in incorrectly positioned anchors. Also, improper or completely missing anchoring of the top rail of sliding doors and incorrect setting/anchoring of the bottom rail of sliding doors, or even the use of incorrect anchors, occur."

Technique square

Hebo Kozijnen and Gebr. Bodegraven have recently entered into a collaboration to bring the technical knowledge of connections between frames and interior walls back to the construction industry. This initiative kicked off with several meetings in Hengevelde where interested parties are informed and updated on frame anchoring. The interest is remarkable, with already three hundred registrants over multiple days.

Participants are first given a comprehensive practical presentation by Gebr. Bodegraven and Hebo. Then, the construction professionals are taken to the Techniekplein where practical examples are set up to link theoretical and practical knowledge. Both companies have jointly supported this training facility, because a good frame deserves the right anchoring.

Buildify

Hebo is one of the major players in the field of wooden and plastic frames. Every week, its over 200 employees process approximately 3,600 meters of frame wood, around 5,000 meters of plastic profile, and about 1,500 square meters of glass. Note: this is per week. Gebr. Bodegraven has an extensive range of construction anchoring products. Project advice during the preparation phase and execution phase is also part of their service package. In addition to the Techniekplein, the frame manufacturer and anchoring specialist are also joining forces in the field of digitisation, particularly in 3D modeling and BIM. Vernooij: "We are working on an addition to our own calculation tool. When Hebo designs its frames in BIM, we ensure that the proper anchoring according to KVT is included." This is done using Buildify, a platform that serves as a 'Single Source of Truth' for construction projects. Buildify integrates BIM for accurate design simulation and efficient project execution. It gathers all essential project information in one accessible place, making fragmented tools unnecessary and enabling project teams to collaborate with a clear overview and up-to-date information. This leads to better communication, fewer errors, and a streamlined construction process.

With Buildify as the Common Data Environment (CDE), you can prevent chaotic situations where data and information get lost or are impossible to find amidst the chaos of WeTransfer and email traffic. Additionally, Buildify ensures that construction partners are well-prepared for the Quality Assurance Act. The platform provides accurate documentation and traceability of changes, which is crucial for compliance with the Wkb legislation. Hebo director Norbert Kuipers expects to launch the nationwide presentation of this automation initiative at the latest by the Bouwbeurs 2025. Other carpentry manufacturers have also approached GB about this. To ensure the quality of facade carpentry on the construction site, frame and door specialist Hebo has started conducting its own site inspections. Similar to the site inspections of the Hout100% participants, a multitude of topics are covered in a checklist. Besides delivery and storage on the construction site, positioning and embedding, special attention is given to anchoring and support.

Calculation tool 

GB has had its own calculation tool for some time now for frame and element anchoring (screw, corner, and anchor), which was developed in collaboration with the NBVT (Dutch Trade Association for the Carpentry Industry). Using the calculation tool, users follow a step-by-step plan to determine which frame connection should be used in which specific situation. All of this is in accordance with the applicable standards and practical guidelines such as KVT. This tool can be found at: kozijnverbindingen.gb.nl. On the upcoming 6th and 13th of June, another Hebo/GB anchoring knowledge session will be held. Due to the overwhelming success of the current series, it is not excluded that the series will continue after the summer.