REHAU or Fake? How to Verify Windows and Choose Between REHAU, VEKA and Kömmerling

A customer sends a photo of a window and asks: is this really the original? Fair question. You can verify a genuine REHAU in five minutes: check the laser marking on the sash edge, ask for a certificate with the REHAU Quality hologram, and confirm the company against the list of authorized partners on REHAU’s official site. If even one of these three checks fails and the price is below market, you’re most likely looking at a copy.

At Viknodom, we’re an official REHAU and VEKA partner in Odesa. Below we break down how to verify a genuine profile, how REHAU actually compares to VEKA and Kömmerling in practice, what its real pros and cons are, and why manufacturing sometimes takes longer than customers would like.

How to tell a genuine REHAU profile from a fake

REHAU specifically gets counterfeited, not some no-name profile, because the brand’s reputation is already built, and it’s easy to cash in on. In Germany, where production is under REHAU’s direct control, this is barely an issue. In markets where the profile passes through several intermediaries, it’s a real one. Here are seven markers to check, in order.

1. Laser marking on the sash edge. Since 2015, REHAU has unified its marking: only the word REHAU appears, without naming the specific system (earlier markings referenced, for example, Euro-Design). The engraving repeats roughly every 25 cm along the full length of the profile. A single marked spot, or no marking at all, is a red flag.
2. A certificate with a hologram and an expiry date. An authorized fabricator’s certificate carries a protective holographic REHAU Quality mark (grey or red), a batch number, a reference to applicable technical standards, and a validity period of no more than 12 months. An expired certificate, or one with no date at all, breaks REHAU’s own regulations.
3. Online verification on REHAU’s website. Go to REHAU’s official Authorized Partners page (the ARP section on rehau.com) and look up the company you’re dealing with. Some partners also affix a QR code to the sash that links directly to REHAU’s certification center and shows the document’s live status.
4. Matching the stated width. Sold as “REHAU Intelio 80” but the frame actually measures 75–78 mm? That’s not an original. Width is easy to check with a plain tape measure before installation.
5. The gasket. A genuine REHAU profile has a single continuous, closed-loop rubber gasket, not cut pieces glued together at the corners. It’s double-lipped, with no recesses where condensation can collect, which is why it lasts longer and doesn’t start “weeping” after a couple of years.
6. Surface quality. A genuine profile has a glossy, even surface, free of roughness or drips. Run a finger along the frame: a fake often feels uneven to the touch, and the white plastic may visibly differ in shade from the sill or an adjacent unit.
7. REHAU isn’t a budget segment. A noticeably lower price for the same chamber count and hardware almost always means savings on something you can’t see right away: reinforcement, the gasket, or the profile itself.

It’s also worth putting a persistent myth to rest, one customers bring up from time to time: “REHAU is actually made right here under this name, that’s why it’s cheaper.” That’s not true. Companies with similar-sounding names (the OpenTeck case is a well-known example) have no connection to the REHAU concern, and the German manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t extend to their products. Genuine REHAU profile is indeed imported: the budget Euro-Design 60 line more often ships from a plant in Poland, while premium lines like Brilliant-Design, Geneo, and Grazio come from Germany. But REHAU itself manufactures and certifies all of them.

Technologist’s comment. “On site, the difference between an original and a copy is obvious right after installation,” says Serhii Rudyi, technologist at Viknodom. “With a genuine REHAU, the sash doesn’t drift out of adjustment for months, the handle turns without sticking, and the gasket doesn’t lose its elasticity through the first winter. With copies, all of that shows up by spring: hardware loosens, hinges creak, and there’s a draft along the sash perimeter.”

Installer’s comment. “What we genuinely like about the REHAU profile is how good the glossy surface is,” says Roman Matiukha, installer at Viknodom. “It’s the only profile where dirt and leftover installation adhesive wipe off easily, no real effort needed. On other profile systems the surface is a lot harder to clean, you end up scrubbing.”

REHAU or VEKA: which to choose

Both profiles are German, both have been on the Ukrainian market for more than 20 years, and Viknodom installs both as an official partner. The difference comes down to specific engineering choices.

For a typical apartment in Odesa, the difference between REHAU’s and VEKA’s entry-level lines is barely noticeable, both deliver solid insulation for our climate. It shows up in the premium segment. If maximum quiet matters, say, an apartment near a busy road, look at REHAU Intelio or Geneo with their double-lip gasket. If you want a wider multi-chamber energy-saving glass unit, VEKA has a bit more room to work with.

REHAU or Kömmerling: what’s the difference

Kömmerling is also a German concern, and in the entry-level series (REHAU Basic-Design and Kömmerling Eurodur) the difference is minimal: profile thickness and frame width differ by fractions of a millimeter. The details are where it gets interesting.

• Chamber count. REHAU runs from 3 to 6 chambers, Kömmerling from 3 to 5.
• Outer wall thickness. REHAU holds a steady 3 mm under class A. Kömmerling’s wall is thinner, around 2.8 mm, giving REHAU a small edge on mechanical load.
• Material and color. Kömmerling bets on the eco-polymer used in its Greenline range, free of heavy metals, which is good environmentally, but that plastic can darken slightly over time. REHAU’s profile holds its original white longer and shows less dirt.
• Premium-line design. REHAU Brilliant-Design is recognizable by its rounded, streamlined sash shape. Kömmerling Eurofuture looks more classic.
• Both brands use quality German-standard rubber; gasket lifespan is roughly comparable between them, with REHAU holding only a small edge.

Both systems cover the needs of the mid-range and premium glazing segment. In practice, the choice usually comes down to whether a certified partner for that specific brand exists in your city, not some abstract superiority of one brand over the other.

Pros and cons of REHAU windows

Pros

• A wide profile lineup: 12 active systems, from the entry-level Blitz (60 mm, 3 chambers) to the premium Geneo (86 mm, 6 chambers, fiber reinforcement, 40% lighter thanks to skipping metal).
• A double-lip gasket with no “pockets” for condensation, meaning less blackening and frost buildup along the sash over time.
• The profile holds its white color and gloss longer, resisting yellowing even in strong sun, useful for south-facing façades in Odesa.
• A developed network of authorized partners under mandatory annual quality audits.
• Class A wall thickness (3 mm) handles higher operating loads.

Cons

• Precisely because it’s popular, the brand gets counterfeited more than others, so you have to vet the partner rather than trust the name on the contract alone.
• It costs more than budget Ukrainian and Chinese systems, and that markup adds up on a large project (a house, an apartment building).
• On budget lines like Blitz, the maximum glass unit width is more modest than VEKA’s top lines, so for a three-chamber energy package it’s worth looking straight at Intelio or Geneo.
• Even a genuine system, installed carelessly, will still draft and drift out of adjustment. The installation crew’s skill matters just as much as the profile itself.

How long REHAU windows last and what they cost in Odesa

According to the manufacturer’s testing, the profile’s service life exceeds 60 years. That’s the stated lifespan of the PVC itself, not a warranty on the finished window: fabricators typically warrant the construction for 5–10 years, covering hardware, the glass unit, and assembly. How long a window actually holds its seal depends on installation quality and whether the gaskets are maintained. Premium REHAU lines, shipped directly from the plant in Germany, go through the same factory controls as profile made for the German market.

Every finished window or door unit from Viknodom comes with a technical passport bearing wet stamps and a clearly stated warranty term. It’s not a generic company form, it’s a document tied to that specific unit, which makes it much easier to assert your rights if a question comes up about hardware, glazing, or assembly a couple of years down the line.

A standard two-sash REHAU window in Odesa, in a base configuration (Blitz or Euro-Design 60 profile, double-glazed unit, sill, drip cap, installation), starts at a few thousand hryvnias. From there, price climbs with chamber count, glass unit width, hardware (Roto, MACO), and color or lamination. You can get a rough estimate yourself using the REHAU window calculator, but only an on-site measurement gives you an exact figure, too many variables affect the quote to eyeball it.

If the glazing relates to war damage, homeowners in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions can order REHAU windows through the yeVidnovlennya (єВідновлення) state compensation program. Viknodom works with this program regularly and handles the paperwork.

Why REHAU windows take longer to manufacture than other profiles

Customers often ask why REHAU takes longer than budget systems. It’s not about production backlog, it’s about the brand’s own regulations.

Sales manager’s comment. “REHAU windows are built using only that brand’s original components,” explains Illia Kaprishanskyi, sales manager at Viknodom. “If the profile is in stock but the branded metal reinforcement for it isn’t, the window doesn’t ship. Same with the rubber: the profile system is available, but if there’s no original gasket or embedded fittings, it still doesn’t ship. That’s deliberate, so the manufacturer never has a temptation to cut a corner somewhere. Every REHAU window is fitted only with original brand components, and every unit is strictly tracked. That’s what adds to the timeline, and it’s also what gives you that uncompromising quality REHAU is known for.”

Approximate manufacturing times for REHAU windows at Viknodom:

• Standard white color — 2–3 weeks.
• Exclusive profile systems in special lamination — around a month under normal conditions.
• Peak season — 1.5–2 months.

If you need REHAU windows by a specific date, build in that lead time, especially if your order falls during peak season.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I tell a genuine REHAU from a fake?

Check the laser marking on the sash edge (repeats every 25 cm), a certificate with the REHAU Quality hologram, and the company’s status on REHAU’s official list of authorized partners. A suspiciously low price is also a warning sign.

Which windows are better — REHAU or VEKA?

Both systems are German and close in quality. Thanks to its double-lip gasket, REHAU is quieter, up to 47 dB with Intelio and Geneo versus 44 dB with VEKA AlphaLine. VEKA has more headroom on glass unit width: 60 mm with ArtLine versus 53 mm with REHAU Geneo.

Which windows are better — Kömmerling or REHAU?

In entry-level lines, the difference is minimal. REHAU has a thicker outer wall (3 mm versus 2.8 mm for Kömmerling) and holds its white color longer. Kömmerling wins on material eco-friendliness, its Greenline range is made without heavy metals.

What are the pros and cons of REHAU windows?

Pros: a wide profile lineup, a durable gasket, resistance to yellowing, and a network of vetted partners under annual audit. Cons: higher price than budget systems, the brand is frequently counterfeited, and results depend heavily on installation quality.

Is it true that REHAU is manufactured in Ukraine under the same name?

No. Companies with similar names, the OpenTeck case being a well-known example, have no connection to the REHAU concern, and the German manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t apply to their products. Genuine REHAU profile is imported into Ukraine: budget lines typically from Poland, premium lines from Germany.

How long do REHAU windows last?

According to manufacturer testing, the profile’s service life exceeds 60 years, but that’s a material property, not a warranty on the finished unit. Actual service life without loss of seal depends on installation quality and gasket maintenance.

How much does a REHAU window cost in Odesa?

A standard two-sash window in a base configuration starts at a few thousand hryvnias and rises depending on profile, glazing, hardware, and color. Only an on-site measurement gives you an exact price.

How do I check that a company is an official REHAU partner?

Look it up on REHAU’s official list of authorized partners (ARP), or scan the QR code on the certificate, which links to REHAU’s online certification center.

Why do REHAU windows take longer to make than other profiles?

Because production uses only original REHAU components. If the warehouse lacks the original reinforcement, gasket, or embedded fittings for a specific profile, it doesn’t ship. Standard lead time is 2–3 weeks, exclusive lamination around a month, and peak season 1.5–2 months.

Bottom line

The difference between a genuine REHAU and a fake shows up in concrete, checkable details, marking, certificate, partner status, not in marketing promises. Choosing between REHAU, VEKA, and Kömmerling comes down the same way: not to an abstract “which brand is better,” but to what actually matters for your opening, sound insulation, glass unit width, or budget.

Not sure which profile and configuration fit your project? Reach out to Viknodom. We’re an official REHAU and VEKA partner in Odesa, we do free on-site measurements, we show you certificates, and we help you pick windows you won’t have to redo in two years.