Overseas market proves lucrative for steel cladding

The market acceptance and demand for vitreous enamel steel cladding Vitraclad is proving more popular overseas than locally, says Boksburg-based manufacturer Vitrex.

Vitrex sales and marketing director Cristian Cottino says, even though the company has been involved locally in a number of projects with interesting product applications, the volume of exported cladding to date has definitively outdone domestic sales.

Vitraclad can be used in various applications, but mostly in high-traffic areas and various public facilities, with an average life span of up to 50 years. Existing installations in underground railway stations in London, Liverpool, Ireland, Hong Kong and Singapore include the product.

“We have further unusual applications in the pipeline,” Cottino says, adding, however, that increasing local sales of Vitraclad will involve increasing awareness through more focused marketing among local specifiers and further training for the Vitrex sales team.

Vitrex is aiming to market its Vitraclad product generally in the domestic building and construction market, specifically on greenfield projects and refurbishments of buildings, as well as public facilities and transport systems. Vitraclad also has unique applications in feature elements within projects.

He notes that an increasing number of architects are finding new applications for the vitreous enamel panels, with Vitraclad recently used to cover three towering totems at the King Abdullah football stadium, in Saudi Arabia, and as cladding for the air traffic control tower in Muscat, Oman.

Properties
Cottino says vitreous enamel steel combines the properties of glass with the strength and fabrication flexibility of steel. It originates from the application of enamel as an inorganic, decorative and protective coating for steel, which is then fired in a furnace at about 820 °C.

He explains that an indeterminate boundary layer is formed between the enamel and steel. “The steel thickness varies, depending on the applications, but usually ranges from 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and the overall thickness of the coating varies from 300 µm to 400 µm,” says Cottino.

Further, Vitraclad panels are classified as A1 noncombustible, in accordance with European Normative Standard EN 135011. Vitraclad is also resistant to high temperatures and thermal shock and is generally unaffected by heat and flames. The product also does not release toxic gases and does not produce smoke when in contact with a source of combustion.

The chemical properties of Vitraclad make it resistant to corrosion from water, salt spray or soil. It is also resistant to atmospheric agents, such as ultraviolet radiation and pollutants, as well as chemicals, and is impermeable to liquids.

Its mechanical properties make it difficult to permanently mark the surface, as it is resistant to scratches, marking (by spray paint) and impact, thereby mitigating the consequences of vandalism.

Moreover, Vitraclad does not absorb odours and flavours, with the cladding’s surface inhibiting the proliferation of bacteria and mould.

The environmental properties of Vitraclad make for simple maintenance without having to use cleaning chemicals; the panels are also easily recyclable.

The colour range comprises an assortment of hues and shades, which can be customised according to client specifications.

The enamel surfaces can also be decorated using a variety of techniques, including screening and decals, and can even incorporate the work of artists. The ability to include graphics has a functional aspect when used, for example, in signage at railway stations, Cottino says. Special effects, such as metallic finishes and wood grain, can also be incorporated.

“Vitrex can provide high-quality, custom-made vitreous enamel cladding panels”, he notes, adding that enamelling is one of the “oldest techniques known to man, and its origins date back over 4 000 years”.

“Vitreous enamel steel is a versatile cladding that provides a practical solution for many design requirements,” concludes Cottino.