60 years of ift Rosenheim stand for competent services and the trust of the industry. At the same time, it is also a journey through the technological development of window, facade, and building technology.
In 2026, we take a look back, but also forward, together with the industry.
True to the motto “Into the future with knowledge and experience” we want to celebrate our anniversary year with you!
Institute foundation
The Institute for Window Technology (ift Rosenheim) was founded on March 10, 1966, by the industry to improve the quality of wooden windows through research, testing, and certification. It started with four people and a budget of DM 103,400. Over the following 60 years, many new products, materials, technologies, and areas of activity have been added. As a result, ift Rosenheim is no longer just a window institute, but a modern and efficient institute for building components and materials.
The picture shows the beginnings of the Institut für Fenstertechnik e.V. – in the entrance of the first research hut:
Senior civil engineer Erich Seifert and Josef Schmid surrounded by students – a lively lecture in the countryside.
The most important milestones of our institute
Foundation of ift Rosenheim
On 10.03.1966, Institut für Fenstertechnik e.V. (ift Rosenheim) was founded. The then senior building official and later Professor Erich Seifert is appointed Director of Institute. A detached house in Aisingerwies near Rosenheim provides the first rooms for the institute.
Move in converted barracks
The move into a converted RAD barrack makes it possible to use the window test rig even in bad weather.
New buildings with offices and test lab
The company moves into new buildings with offices and a test laboratory.
First Window and Façade Conference
The first Rosenheim Window and Façade Conference takes place. Within a very short time, they develop into one of the most important industry events.
New Director of Institute Josef Schmid
Professor Josef Schmid takes over the management of ift Rosenheim according to the retirement of the first Director of Institute, Professor Erich Seifert.
Institute expansion through new building
Due to the number of employees, which has meanwhile grown to 40, an expansion of the institute is necessary. A new buildings on the "green meadow" creates ideal working conditions.
Expansion by neighboring building
The institute expands again. The halls of the acquired neighboring building offer optimal space for the test of facades, doors and burglary resistance.
Centre for Fire Testing in Nuremberg
ift Rosenheim expands its variety of services to include fire tests at the Centre for Fire Testing in Nuremberg. A new facade test rig in Deggendorf for facades with a size of up to 10 x 14 meters is also added to the range of tests.
Integration of institutes PTE and LSW
By integrating the institutes PTE and LSW, the forces in Rosenheim are bundled and the performance increased. The aim of the merger was to improve service for clients and members by optimizing structures and processes and making flexible use of the increased resources and competencies.
New Institute + Managing Directors
The previous Deputy Director of Institute, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Ulrich Sieberath, and later Professor, takes over as Director of Institute at ift Rosenheim. Dr. Jochen Peichl becomes managing director.
Modernisation of main site
The existing building at the main site in Theodor-Gietl-Straße in Rosenheim is being extensively modernized. An extension is being built with new offices and a large training room. The ventilated curtain wall is equipped with photovoltaic modules in thin-film technology.
Foundation of ift MessTec GmbH
As a subsidiary of ift Rosenheim, the new company ift MessTec GmbH will be launched on 01.08.2016. The decades of experience of ift Rosenheim enables the planning and design of modern and reliable test rigs and test laboratories.
Inauguration of new technology center
On 08.06.2016, the ift Technology Centre (TZ) in Rosenheim is inaugurated. With an investment volume of 7.5 million euros, one of the most modern test centers for construction elements has been created on an area of 3,000 m². Large-format doors, facades and lightweight construction walls with dimensions of up to 8 x 5 meters are tested here for mechanical durability, burglar resistance, wind load, air, wind and watertightness as well as for smoke protection and fire resistance.
Foundation of ift Hellas + ift Hrvatska
In order to provide customers in other European countries with ift services more quickly and flexibly, the two companies ift Hellas P.C. and ift Hrvatska d.o.o. were founded in 2018. ift Hellas with Managing Director Dimitrios Moustakidis serves ift customers in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Bulgaria. Hrvoje Komac (Managing Director ift Hrvatska) and his team are active in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Slovenia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
ift Rosenheim goes West
The location "ift West" in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, which was officially opened on 21.11.2018, improves the customer proximity in Norht Rhine-Westphalia and the northwest of Germany. The ift building "Die Alte Wache" on the grounds of Rheda Castle serves as a base for ift West for the technical coordination of test specimens, tests on company-owned test rigs as well as other services.
New Director of Institute Jörn P. Lass
Professor Jörn P. Lass takes over the management of the Institute for Window Technology e.V. from Professor Ulrich Sieberath.
Notification according to PPE Regulation
ift Rosenheim is notified as a test and certification body for respiratory protective devices as well as filtering half masks with/without valves according to EN 149. This means that particle filtering half masks (FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3) can be tested, certified and monitored.
New Lab for Building Acoustics & Facades
The inauguration of the ift Laboratory for Building Acoustics and Facades was on 09.06.2021 in Rosenheim, in close proximity to the ift Technology Centre. On 1,440 m², ift Rosenheim can optimally test the building acoustics characteristics as well as air and watertightness, wind load, impact resistance, earthquake resistance and alternating climatic loads, especially for large-format construction elements.
Expansion of the management
Michael Breckl-Stock (Dipl.-Ing. (FH), M.Eng., MBA) takes over the task of technical managing director of ift Rosenheim and thus the responsibility for all aspects of testing and technical service.
50 years of Rosenheim Window and Facade
Over 700 participants came to Rosenheim for the 50th edition of the industry get-together. Despite the anniversary, the 2023 event was fully focussed on the important topics of the present and future. The focus was on the motto "climate.safe.building", highlighted by Prof Jörn P. Lass, with a new evaluation system for sustainable and climate-resilient building products.
New Director of Institute
Prof. Dr. Winfried Heusler takes over the directorship of the Institut für Fenstertechnik e.V. from Prof. Jörn P. Lass.
