The E/D/E Fachkreis PRO.ELEMENT expert group with its 42 structural elements traders in 55 sites was founded back in 1999 from the Structural Elements expert group. Today, 53 members at 93 sites belong to the PRO.ELEMENT expert group. All partners have a high level of structural element competence in their region, the prerequisite for membership into the PRO.ELEMENT group. The preservation and development of regional market leadership in the field of structural elements was defined as the superordinate objective of the entire task back in 1999 when it was founded.

The fundamental difference to other comparable groups is that wood and metal-focused companies have both merged into the PRO.ELEMENT group, from whose collaboration fundamental synergy effects have often resulted.

In order to be up-to-date for “special subjects” as well, two further specialist groups have been formed from the expert groups. There are currently 26 members of the steel construction element competence group, who focus on dealing with the marketing of steel doors, gates and drives as well as the industrial gate business. The main target groups here are locksmiths and other metalworking companies. On the other hand, the 20 current members of the wood construction element competence group have focused their work on interior doors made of wood/wood materials and glass with the core target groups of carpenters and joiners.

The entire E/D/E Fachkreis PRO.ELEMENT expert group benefits from the results of the two competence groups in many cases. For example, further education and training within the industry: up to now, there was no adequate training measure for the structural element industry, in order to be able to further qualify the next generation of workers in the field of structural elements after their vocational training. In cooperation with the members of the competence groups and some suppliers, an extensive job profile has been developed and, with the training centre of the Zentralverband Hardwarenhandel (ZHH), an independent and competent supporter of this further educational measure has been found. Today, the industry now has a structured, extensive further training course entitled “Technical Specialist for Structural Elements”.

There are constant innovations in all sectors; this naturally also applies to the world of structural elements. With our structural elements report, we keep our members in the loop. In the structural elements report, we provide extensive information about the latest happenings from the industry, introduce member companies and industrial partners and report about the activities of the expert group. With the building legislation report, we keep our members in the loop about the latest decisions in building legislation, a must fur anyone who deals with the marketing of structural elements including their installation.

The improvement of communication in the industry and the creation of an optimal platform for discussions at the highest level were the objectives which we wanted to achieve with the creation of the structural elements forum. Every two years, the structural elements forum, which has now become well-established and very popular, takes place. The agenda includes renowned speakers, who deal with interesting subjects, some of which are very industry-specific and others which are less so. The conclusion of the forums is a communal evening with trade and industry, at which discussions can be held in an informal atmosphere away from daily business.

Recently founded in 2013, the "Arbeitskreis Marketing" (marketing working team) offers new opportunities: Here, E/D/E PRO.ELEMENT expert group-members work on new, individual concepts, matched to regional and branch-specific requirements. 

It is a constant challenge to set your company apart from the direct competition when it comes to technically comparable, sophisticated and high-quality products. For this reason, the trade requires distinctive characteristics, which enable it to position itself as a particularly effective partner in its regional market. Together with structural elements contract suppliers, the PRO.ELEMENT expert group has developed marketing tools, which are provided to affiliated members in order to strengthen and highlight their competence.

It is no longer possible to imagine life without the internet as a medium for information, advertising and marketing. In 2002, the PRO.ELEMENT door planner became one of the first, if not the first, interactive door planners freely available on the internet and has had new functions and a new design since 2009. All door manufacturers who are important to our participating traders have integrated their door models into the door planner, in their various surfaces, wood types and glass. Since 2009, the door models have been shown in context. To do this, six different ambient images are available, which represent living styles in which the user can find oneself. In addition, attractive handle designs are stored, which round off the overall image of the door so that the user gets a realistic impression of the effect of their selected door.

43 of our expert group members use the PRO.ELEMENT door planner, giving their customers, the tradesperson and architects, planners and private owners the option of designing their dream door online. The door planner is designed in such a way that it always appears in the individual corporate identity of the relevant trade. For this reason, the user always has the feeling that they are on the internet site of their trader - the trader is the brand in their region.

You can access that door planner directly here: www.tuerenplaner.de

The history of the gate planner is comparable with that of door planner. Here too, the design of the trader’s homepage is individually adjusted. The user, who is able to select their dream gate on the PC from a multitude of conceivable combinations, is not the only one who benefits greatly from the gate planner. Specialist dealers also benefit from the countless advantages. They receive another unique selling point within the market, which sets them apart from other traders in the region. The trader shows a high level of competence in consultation towards the customer and the website increases the attention of the customer with regards to the company. In addition, the trader can show an extensive range without any further processing costs arising.

You can access that gate planner directly here: www.torplaner.de

“Türen öffnen (T)Räume” Door Magazine [Doors open Dreams]:

Classic media still have their authority. In connection with several door suppliers, the 64-page “Türen öffnen (T)Räume” magazine was published in summer 2010. This door magazine sets itself considerably apart from the “normal” door brochures of the industry. “Türen öffnen (T)Räume” intends to awaken the appetite for new doors and is meant to inspire the reader to change their old doors. The different characteristics and properties of doors are clearly and simply described in text and images. For the end consumer, the “fear” of renovation is taken away. Almost 40,000 pieces were published in the first edition of the magazine.