Europe consumed almost 1.8 mln tons of polymer for profiles in 2009 as per a study by AMI. PVC is the major polymer used for profiles accounting for 90% of total polymer consumption in this sector. The remaining 10% includes many other polymers but PE is major among the lesser used polymers. The profile extrusion sector primarily covers rigid profiles mainly for the manufacture of window, door and conservatory frames. Shutters, cladding, furniture and automotive components, ducting and curtain tracks are also part of profiles. Window is the major profile used. It accounted for more than 55% of profiles used in Europe during 2009. The largest share of the market (around 56%) was in window and building profiles. Germany is the largest market both in terms of production and demand for profile products. It is estimated that Germany accounted for almost 0.8 mln tons out of 1.8 mln tons in 2009. UK was the second largest market for profile and France was the third largest market. These three countries accounted for over 65% the total 1.8 mln tons consumed by profiles in 2009. Central and Eastern Europe has gained market share over the last few years, accounting for almost 11 % of the total European profile market. Germany’s Profile is the largest profile extruder in Europe with a capacity of about 450,000 tons of profile. Veka is the second largest producer and Deceuninck of Belgium is the third largest producer. The economic recession and slowdown of 2008 has caused loss of almost 20-30% business in this sector in 2009. It has also led to closures, mergers and bankruptcies of many profile producers in Europe. The building industry has been severely affected by the economic and financial downturn which has in turn affected the profile extrusion industry. The credit crisis of 2008, reduced the availability of mortgages, and weakened consumer sentiments that compounded the woes of the building industry in these countries. The impact of the downturn was more noticeable in Western Europe compared with Eastern Europe, where the slowdown amid growth in construction output in 2008. The market in these countries is mainly driven by large infrastructure projects and non-residential building activity. The construction sector shrank further during 2009, resulting in continuing weak demand for plastic building products. It is expected that recovery in 2010 could be slow. Profiles were first commercialized in sixties with the double glazed PVC window systems, whose low maintenance led to instant consumer acceptance as replacements for wooden windows. The market first started in Germany and then spread in UK, the Benelux regions and certain parts of France. The Mediterranean markets of Spain, Italy and Southern France, largely due to climatic conditions and related building practices had a lower market penetration. In these markets, aluminum systems retain a good share of the domestic market. As technology progressed, new and more efficient products were introduced and the areas of application broadened with matching doors and windows being offered by more and more companies. Initially only basic white profiles were available but many customers preferred their replacement windows to look like wood so various techniques to produce a timber look were introduced. Many coloring and texturing techniques were tried, of which the most successful were solid coloring of the compound, co-extrusion with a coloured acrylic cap and lamination with a coloured and textured foil. Forty years later these techniques are still in use. However, foil lamination is now the most popular. PVC windows that use compact hollow profiles now dominate the replacement window market across Europe and they are being increasingly used in the new building sector. As the replacement market approaches saturation, profile demand is now being stimulated by other applications such as conservatories. Other widely used products constructed from compact hollow profiles include external and internal doors, patio doors, roller and louvered window shutters, multi-chambered cladding and interior panels. Cellular profiles, which were originally developed in the 1970s, did not begin to find wider use until the late 1980s. they were initially used as trim around PVC windows to reduce or eliminate the requirement for redecoration when the windows were replaced. Subsequently larger profiles were produced which extended the range of applications. They began to be used extensively to replace wooden exterior cladding of buildings and, to a lesser extent, as interior cladding. However, the largest use is now as replacement fascias and soffits around the roof. It is now common in the UK for cellular profiles to be used as maintenance-free replacements for timber roofline products and they are often installed when timber windows are replaced. Construction industry in Europe boomed in 2006 but the economic woes of 2008 took a severe toll. A German Government stipulated that all residential homes to be energy efficient and should meet the regulation and obtain certificate by 2008 led to tremendous growth of PVC window systems in Germany.