Technal is a brand of

Norsk Hydro Norsk Hydro ASA (often referred to as just ''Hydro'') is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. It is one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide. It has operations in some 50 countries around the world an ...

, the

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

group whose business focuses on aluminium extrusions. Part of Hydro's Building Systems division, Technal is present in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It is engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of aluminum glazing systems for commercial, public and residential buildings.

History

In 1960, André Bos founded Alusud, designing aluminum window systems. The company was based in Amidonniers, Toulouse in the south west of France. Products included aluminum profiles and anodised sheets. The company worked with glazing companies, metalworkers and locksmiths, enabling the development of shopfront systems in the early 1960s. The business continued to develop in the south of France. In the 1970s, Bos took activity abroad, creating Technal International. By 1986, Technal Export had licensees in Lebanon, South Africa and the Ivory Coast. Exports to the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian ocean regions, West Africa, North Africa, Central America, South America, and Asia followed. A joint venture in Bahrain was established in 2000. In 2002, the Norsk Hydro group bought Technal, and when Hydro merged its aluminium extrusion activities with Sapa's extrusion business in 2013, Technal became part of the new Sapa joint venture.

History of the logo

The Technal logo sympbolises one of its key product components - the 4114 profile. In 1960, the first logo showed the company name "Alusud", the "A" becoming a stylised graphic in 1966. When the company opened overseas in 1970, the name and the graphic representation of the 4114 profile were brought together to form a new logo and the emblem of the Technal system; Alusud became known as Technal. In 1983 the brand and logo were brought together and two years later, a new graphic was created and became internationally widespread. In 1995, the graphic identity of Technal was redesigned to represent the much evolved business.

Activities

Technal markets its products through aluminum glazing companies. It has a network of certified installers – "Technal Aluminier" network - in France, Spain and Portugal to ensure fabrication and installation quality, and compliance with standards and regulations. Technal also works with architects, contractors and building owners directly on projects from design to completion. The main product categories are aluminium doors, sliding windows, casement windows, balustrades, curtain walling. The headquarters in Toulouse (France) has a product development and research centre which carries out prototype manufacture and testing, and product testing. Technal offers laboratory testing to verify compliance with European and international standards, and product performance, for both internal requirements and external certification bodies. Technal also works for the recycling of its products in factories.

Technal worldwide

Technal is present in Europe (Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal) and in over 70 countries. Operations are conducted from the headquarters in France, Toulouse, and from its subsidiaries in south east Asia, Middle East, India, South America, South Africa and Morocco.

References

{{Authority control Manufacturing companies based in Toulouse Manufacturing companies established in 1960 French companies established in 1960 French brands Norwegian brands