Gartner clads the German Embassy in Tokyo with a façade

Sampling with Japanese experts in Gundelfingen (Bavaria)

Ambassador for German façade skills in Japan

GUNDELFINGEN, 20 APRIL 2004. Josef Gartner GmbH is producing a façade for the German Embassy in Tokyo. Japanese experts sampled a façade element containing a very robust sunscreen at Gartner’s headquarters in the Bavarian town of Gundelfingen. The façade, which covers an area of 2,000 m2, will be installed in Tokyo from the end of September 2004 onwards. "This façade will be another prime example of German façade skills in Japan. In 2003, we cladded the building of the PRADA fashion house in Tokyo and we are currently installing the façade on the Chanel Ginza Building”, said Klaus Lother, Managing Director of Gartner. The company, which has a worldwide workforce of around 1,000 employees, is one of the leading façade manufacturers and has been represented on the Japanese market by a subsidiary since 2001.

Two employees from the general contractor, the Tokyo-based Taisei Corporation, an architect from Nikken Sekkei Ltd., Tokyo, and three employees from Oiles, a manufacturer of sunscreens, travelled to Gartner’s headquarters in Gundelfingen from Japan. Together with three representatives of Mahler Günster Fuchs, the Stuttgart-based general planner, they appraised the sample façade which was mounted on a mobile stand. In addition to external corners made of glass, another special feature are the sunscreens from Oiles. These sunscreens were fitted to the façade in Gundelfingen. The external sunblinds need not be retracted even when a strong wind is blowing. The façade was produced in Gundelfingen at a cost of €2.9 million. It will shortly be shipped to Tokyo where it will be installed between September 2004 and December 2005.

Japan is turning into a key market for Gartner. The German market leader in façade construction, which recently cladded the world’s highest skyscraper in Taipei, established the subsidiary Gartner Japan K.K in 2001. In 2002, Gartner constructed a double-skin façade for Sekisui House, Kudan-Minami, Tokyo. In 2003, Gartner cladded the building of the Prada fashion house in the Minami-Aoyama district of Tokyo. The company is currently starting the installation work for an aluminium element façade (4,100 m²) on the Chanel Ginza Building in Tokyo.

Accompanying press photos Caption:
The façade of the new German Embassy in Tokyo was sampled in Gundelfingen (Bavaria) by Japanese experts. Josef Gartner GmbH is producing the façade, which covers an area of 2,000 m², in Gundelfingen. The façade will be shipped to Tokyo and installed there from the end of September 2004 onwards.

Model photo
You can obtain photos of the model of the German Embassy in Tokyo from Frau Monika Nicklaser:
Tel.: +49 (0)90 73 84-23 78
e-mail: monika.nicklaser@josef-gartner.de

Further information:
Klaus Lother, Managing Director
Josef Gartner GmbH
Gartnerstr. 20
D-89423 Gundelfingen
Tel.: +49 (0)90 73 84-0
Fax: +49 (0)90 73 84-2100

Dr. Jochen Mignat, Dr. Mignat PR
Am Hexenpfad 11
63450 Hanau
Tel.: +49 (0)61 81/507 91-0
Fax: +49 (0)61 81/507 91-11
e-mail: pr@mignat.de

www.josef-gartner.de

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