Producers of thermopan windows urge quality and loyal competition

Over 70% of the companies that produce thermopan windows work illegally, do not keep financial accounts and do not pay taxes to the state. The disloyal competition caused by them exerts great pressure on the producers that work legally and offer products of a high quality to clients. The problem was raised by the initiative group for creating the Association of Ethical Producers of Thermopan PVC Windows, Info-Prim Neo reports. The subject was discussed on April 10 in a roundtable meeting that involved specialized companies, lawmakers, specialists of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction and of the Energy Efficiency Agency, university lecturers and representatives of the European Business Association and of other associations of national and foreign businessmen. ”We decided to join efforts and found an association that would promote honest business practices and would take into account all the interests – of the state and the consumers who are our clients. In the current European context, the business no longer represents only a chase for profit and enrichment by taking advantage of the state and the clients,” said the director of Profsistem SRL Natalia Gudima, who is a member of the initiative group. Natalia Gudima stated that the businesses should be responsible from social viewpoint. “We call on all the businesspeople in Moldova to subscribe to these principles. The state should support the ethical businesses that aim to provide products and services of a high quality that satisfy the beneficiaries,” she said. The initiative group for creating the Association of Ethical Producers of PVC Thermopan Windows sent invitations to associate to over 60 companies operating in the field. Only 13 of them provided an answer. Seven of them consented to founding the Association of Ethical Producers of Thermopan PVC Windows. The Association aims to become involved in the improvement of the procedures for purchasing products, services and works for public institutions. “Given that the ‘lowest price’ principle is applied at tender contests to select the winning companies, strained-glass windows are often set up at schools and kindergartens instead of thermopan PVC windows. There are kindergartens with 70 windows, of which none can be opened. They are fixed with cables and glue. The materials of a poor quality used to make these windows lead to their deformation. Thus, the institutions increase the costs for energy resources instead of diminishing them,” said Natalia Gudima. Iuliana Osoianu, director of Fermod Plast SRL, said that a square meter of window and the installation works cost €55.2. “A square meter of window of a high quality and all the necessary accessories cannot cost €30 as they often say in advertisements and the bids for schools, kindergartens and other social facilities. These reduced prices show that the windows were made from materials of a poor quality or that state taxes and other costs are not paid,” she stated. Iurie Zagaevschi, who manages Conplast-Design SRL, and Vitalie Gnatiuc, the commercial director of Plastal SRL, also spoke about the poor quality of some products and dubious business practices. They pleaded for the immediate adoption of the European quality standards for the production of thermopan windows and the replacement of the outdated GOST standards. The initiative group for creating the Association of Ethical Producers of PVC Thermopan Windows demands allowing only producers with stand testing certificates to take part in tender contests for purchasing such products from public money, introducing an online Common Register of the documents issued by the state to economic entities (registration certificates), and carefully inspecting the windows after the installation works are compelled and not paying the company if the works are not of the required standard. MP Ion Ionas, who earlier worked in the construction sector, welcomed the idea of creating such an association. According to him, it may become a good partner in the dialogue with the Government and Parliament on the problems identified in the field. He said that the legislature intends to improve the public procurement procedures and stressed the necessity of reviewing the conditions of licensing the producers of thermopan windows. Iurie Socol, division head at the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, informed that the standards mentioned by the initiative group are being designed or adapted. Next week, there will be made public a bill on the energy performance of buildings that stipulates certain conditions concerning the production and installation of thermopan windows, the average temperature in rooms that must be ensured, the average energy saving level, etc.