30 years of TECEprofil – a story of success
The aim was to launch a system that not only offers a wide range of design options and is quick to install, but also impresses with its exceptional stability and durability. TECEprofil is based on a well-thought-out modular principle that requires only a few, but versatile system components. This allows for individual bathroom designs in renovation projects as well as standardised construction methods for new buildings and commercial properties. This was the case in 1995 when TECEprofil was launched – and it remains true today.
An essential element of TECEprofil remains the corner connector, which ensures a precise, quick and extremely stable connection between the system components. This clever connection technology not only guarantees secure installation, but also contributes significantly to the robustness and long-term resilience of the entire system – while at the same time greatly simplifying the installation process.
The beginnings: generating enthusiasm for something completely new
Many installers recognised at first glance how extraordinarily versatile and robust the system was. Nevertheless, a lot of persuasion was needed: ‘Pre-wall systems? That was uncharted territory for many tradesmen at the time,’ explains Robert Gärtner, from the Gärtner commercial agency, who joined TECE at around the same time as TECEprofil. ‘Our task was to find tradespeople who were open enough to try something new – and, in the best case scenario, were even enthusiastic about it.’
He had a key experience at his former vocational school when he presented the system to the master craftsman teacher: ‘He was immediately fascinated by the idea and the stability of TECEprofil. The following year, the school completely switched over. That's when I knew: this is going to be a success.’ Since then, the vocational and master craftsman school in Nuremberg has been training exclusively with TECEprofil. And it wasn't just the teachers who were convinced – practitioners in everyday life also quickly realised that the system delivers what it promises.
Creativity from within the system
‘One of the first enquiries we received didn't come from a plumber, but from a drywall installer,’ recalls Jürgen Vossenberg from Technical Services. ‘He wanted to use our profiles to suspend ceilings – that was the moment we realised the potential of this system.’
Looking back, he describes what happened next with a smile: "Installers suddenly came up with completely new ideas. Kitchen cabinets, double beds and even exercise equipment were built using TECEprofil. One even converted a coach into a motorhome.‘ TECE received so much feedback on spectacular misuses that training manager Erich Pfeiffer regularly pointed out with a wink in his product training courses that ’you can also build pre-wall units with TECEprofil, by the way".
A system that carries
‘I have trained over 100,000 people,’ says Pfeiffer, who is now enjoying his well-earned retirement. ‘What everyone eventually understood was that the strength lies in the shape – the beads in the profile tube provide rigidity and strength without adding weight. That's engineering artistry that you have to see and feel.’
But it wasn't just the technology that impressed – the new way of working also fundamentally changed the everyday lives of many plumbers. ‘In the 1990s, this was completely new for many people: previously, they had been dependent on bricklayers or drywallers. With TECEprofil, they were suddenly able to design things themselves and take responsibility – it was a real expansion of their skills.’
Small optimisations to the system, such as shortening the profile pipes to 4.5 metres – so that they would fit in the van – or changing the screw drive for the corner connector from hexagon socket to hexagon round for better power transmission, show that TECEprofil has been continuously developed – always with practicality in mind. However, the basic principle of the three components – profile pipe, corner connector and fixing bracket – has remained the same for 30 years. And so it remains true today: TECEprofil is a practical solution in every respect – and one that is here to stay.