A building is in many ways a work of art and an original and imaginative façade or wall cladding can give it real character and originality. Aluminium is the ideal choice for creative and functional architecture. Because of its distinct properties, it can be shaped to custom designs of long-lasting durability. Better still, aluminium can be recycled repeatedly without any loss of quality, making it a prime choice for sustainable and “green” construction. It conforms to the Euroclass A1 fire standard.

Projects

New construction or renovation projects today, both in the private and public sector, are increasingly designed using an aluminium envelope.

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Colours & Surfaces

The special surface and deformation qualities of aluminium allow it to be creatively shaped to your design. Its facility for bending, perforating, punching and expanding has naturally made it the modern material of choice for creative wall cladding. In combination with either natural or colour anodising, it creates a unique look-of-the-building envelope.

This can give you inspiration for more creative architecture!

Creative Architecture with Aluminium Duffel

We produce a.o. several alloys suitable for anodising, optimised for their architectural end-use. These anodising qualities are at best used for exterior façades, roofs, balconies, sun ventilation screens and interior ceilings, pillars, or wall cladding and escalator casing.

After natural or colour anodising the aluminium substrate is weather, corrosion and UV-resistant but keeps the authentic metallic gloss as well as the durability inherent to aluminium.

To fulfil contemporary demand for critical applications  developed a premium alloy: 55HX®. This alloy – which offers guaranteed colour and gloss uniformity and a unique look between production batches – is the state-of-the-art material for architectural applications. 55HX® conforms to the European Class A1 fire standard.

FAQ

The special qualities of aluminium allow it to be creatively shaped to your design. Its facility for bending, perforating, punching and expanding has naturally made it the modern material of choice for creative wall cladding.

Aluminium has a long useful life and afterwards can be recycled endlessly without any loss of quality. They also underpin the drive for sustainability and “green” construction.

And don’t forget its functional features. Aluminium is both light and strong. After anodising it is resistant to corrosion, scratch and UV radiation. 55HX®, designed for architectural applications, conforms to the Euroclass A1 fire standard.

The anodising process consists of creating a pure and protective layer of aluminium oxide on the surface of the metal substrate. After anodising, the aluminium coil/sheet has a superior UV, scratch and corrosion resistance while keeping its natural metallic look.

This is the reason why anodised aluminium is extensively used in exterior building applications.

The special qualities of aluminium allow it to be creatively shaped to your design. Its facility for bending, perforating, punching, deep-drawing, and expanding has naturally made it the modern material of choice for creative wall cladding. In combination with either natural or colour anodising it creates a unique look of the building façade.

Typical Applications:

  • Façades and wall cladding
  • Ceiling panels
  • Balcony balustrades
  • Interior design
  • Noise protection
  • Sun shades and screens

Anodising is probably the best existing treatment for aluminium used in architectural applications. An anodic film, realised in good conditions, if properly maintained, has a proven service life of in excess of 30 years.

It is recommended to have a cleaning frequency of minimum once a year; due to specific local conditions this frequency can be increased.

The regular cleaning consists of a simple washing with water added with a neutral soft detergent (*) followed by a rinsing with plain water and wiping dry with a soft and absorbing cloth.

To remove a higher degree of soiling, a stiff bristle or nylon brush may be used. The use of aggressive products such as washing powder, dishwasher detergent, strong acids or and strong alkaline products should be avoided. Any contact with strongly abrasive agents such as sand, steel wool or, glass paper will carry a strong risk of surface damage.

*If anodising is done properly, the aluminium oxide on the surface will be perfectly stable in a pH range between 5 and 8; so cleaning solutions should have a pH figure in this range.

Aluminium is Part of the Solution for Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Energy Consumption

Aluminium is a miracle material:

  • It is Infinitely recyclable
  • 75% remains in use
  • Aluminium produced from scrap uses only 5% of the energy compared with primary production (Source: Aluminium Association)

Aluminium is a building material for future generations:

  • It contributes to sustainable buildings
  • Conforms to European Fire Class A1 standard
  • It is neutral and has NO negative impact on air quality, soil, surface and ground water. It is not hazardous to neither the occupants or the surroundings.
  • It saves energy: through insulation in the heating season and shades in cooling season.
  • Aluminium building products are highly durable and contribute to LEED and BREEAM certification.
  • The cradle-to-cradle lifecycle is infinite
  • Aluminium scrap can be 100% recycled without any loss of value or properties.
  • >92% of aluminium products are collected after demolition.

In contrast to other cladding solutions in which aluminium panels may be placed on either side of a core material, solid aluminium has an A1 European classification for fire safety, the highest classification for a non-combustible material. 55HX®, a high performance aluminium for anodised cladding products has achieved this rating.