The screw that connects - Behind the scenes of a facade system
Within KÉSZ Group, close cooperation and the careful coordination of various fields of expertise ensure that even the most complex projects are completed on time and to the highest standards. This is showcased in KÉSZ Metaltech’s latest video short, “The Journey of a Screw”, which offers a glimpse into the complex and precise process through which a small fastener finds its final place within a facade of urban architectural significance. The film provides an inside look at the manufacturing and installation processes of KÉSZ Metaltech, showcasing step by step how a panel facade is realized – all with the engineering precision and technological prowess that distinguish KÉSZ Group.
The screw in the story: the making of a facade
The film begins at the Budapest office, where the product manager coordinates the team to ensure the necessary components are manufactured on time and to specification as per the production plans. From here, the “journey of the screw” begins, guiding viewers through the complete manufacturing and installation process.
The next stop is KÉSZ Metaltech Architectural Product Manufacturing Centre in Kecskemét, where the real-life processes of sheet metal forming, bending, perforating, and assembly are showcased.
After manufacturing, the completed elements are transported to Székesfehérvár, where they are assembled with the metal and glass elements produced by ALUFE Kft., resulting in the final panelized facade.
In the closing scenes, viewers are taken to the final location in Zugló, Budapest, where cranes lift the completed facade panels into their final positions – marking the end of the “screw’s journey” and ensuring that every element finds its rightful place.
The significance of the project
This film goes beyond illustrating a production process: as part of a major Budapest development, KÉSZ Metaltech was involved in a project where technology, collaboration, and sustainability are tightly interlinked.
For ALUFE Kft., this was the largest contract in the company’s history, requiring the manufacture of 3,520 façade elements for 18,340 m² of façade area within a short time frame – a milestone achieved an impressive 3.5 months ahead of schedule. Coordination between the manufacturing of design elements in Kecskemét and ALUFE’s fabrication and assembly processes was a particular challenge. The exemplary cooperation of the project teams has fostered relationships that will be valuable for future endeavors.
Key figures and interesting facts
The facade elements were delivered to three buildings. For buildings Two and Four, a total of 3,520 panelized facade structures were produced, utilizing 165,984 linear meters of aluminum profiles and 12,554 square meters of glass surfaces. Across buildings Two, Three, and Four, an additional 15,913 composite decorative moldings were installed, demonstrating a remarkable material efficiency rate of just 10% waste.
KÉSZ Metaltech contributed 36,540 man-hours, while ALUFE added another 71,891 man-hours to the realization of the project.
Materials and solutions
The project utilized ALUCOIL LARSON A2 Copper aluminum composite panels, various thicknesses of bent, perforated, milled, and assembled aluminum substructures, along with aluminum-glass unitized facades manufactured by ALUFE. The build featured a variety of fasteners and configurations, including large “monitor” projection elements, smaller cornices, and solid panels.
Collaboration and intra-group relations
KÉSZ Group continues to expand its presence on the international market. The acquisition of a 90 percent majority stake in FRONTAL Holding Zrt. underscores the company’s commitment to strategic development and long-term partnerships. This acquisition has created one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading aluminum-glass facade technology groups, opening new doors for international expansion and the realization of innovative facade solutions.
The member companies of the Frontal Group – including Frontal GmbH in Germany, Alufe Kft. and Alu Front Kft. in Székesfehérvár, Frontal Fassadentechnik Kft. in Budapest, and Immocom Kft. – together ensure that KÉSZ Group can deliver complex, large-scale domestic and international projects to a professional standard. The group’s close internal cooperation, coordination across disciplines, and sharing of international expertise ensure that they can offer innovative and reliable solutions tailored to the needs of each partner.