Spanish Market for Sun Protection
disadvantages that this caused in terms of differences in quality
legislation make it mandatory for these solutions to be incorporated
PECULIARITIES IN THE SPANISH SECTOR
The Spanish solar protection sector has historically been characterised
of professionalism. Until a few years ago, there was not even
an association that represented and defended its interests. It
is now represented in the form of Group VII: Blinds, awnings
and accessories, from ASEFAVE, the Spanish Association of
the Manufacturers of Light Façades and Windows.
28 or lack of creative coherence in the work. Now, the new
into the project.
by being individualised, fragmented and by its lack
R+T markets 2018
Furthermore, this year has seen the creation of ANEGS, the
National Association of Solar Management Experts, which
was born out of a desire to bring the sector together.
All of these initiatives are yielding results, such as the ”Solar
protection manual. Blinds, awnings and textiles”, published
by ASEFAVE as well as the work begun for putting together
an ”installation manual”, also carried out by this association.
In Spain, the awning sector is formed around three types of
different players:
• Manufacturers of raw materials:
– Support elements
– Fabrics
– Lifting systems: cranks, motorisation and management
and automation
• A fitter – a professional that manufactures the awning, tailor
making every hole and place.
• An installer: It can be the same manufacturer or another
professional, who sells the awning when it is ready.
What is more, last October saw the first session of Veteco
Solar taking place in Madrid, celebrated in tandem with Veteco,
the Window and Glazing enclosure hall. At its first
event, Veteco Solar brought together more than 80 companies
and held the ”1st Iberian Congress on Solar Protection
and Management”, organised by its own competition, the
”Protección Solar” magazine and Interempresas Media.
TENDENCIES IN THE SPANISH SECTOR
Spain possess a climate that allows for most social activates
to be carried out outside the home, whether that is in gardens
or on terraces that can be either private or public. This means
that there is a variety of different solar protection solutions.
With this in mind, we can group the tendencies as follows:
• Awnings that take a minimalist approach, marked by to -
day's modern architectural style.
• Awnings, blinds and textile blinds created to take advantage
of the energy efficiency of homes and buildings in the
third sector.
• Bioclimatic pergolas for public use of terraces, bars and restaurants,
as well as private use.
• A tendency towards smooth colours in awning fabrics.
• Integrating apps for managing Smart Home systems, which
can be run from a smart phone or tablet.
• A tendency to personalise fabrics by means of digital printing
or 3D printing technology.
• Using intelligent fabrics that are able to act according to
requirements.
• Using augmented reality or 3D tools on the part of the manufacturers
themselves for determining products.
In conclusion, Spain's solar protection sector is confronting
new challenges with large hopes, by also bearing in mind that
the work being carried out for professionalising a sector that,
until now, worked in a very individualistic way.
José Luis París – Editor-in-chief ”Protección Solar” magazine Awnings are an integral part of the terrace design in Spain.
Photo: Protección Solar