Long after the contractors have moved off-site and the building process is complete, the windows and doors of any building are the most used part. Like ‘eyes are the windows to the soul’, windows and doors are simply the eyes to a building as they connect both the inside and outside world. It’s important that […]

The Aluminium Federation of South Africa (AFSA), is pleased to announce the appointment of Muzi Manzi as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 August 2018 following the resignation of Mark Krieg in March 2018. Chairman David Mertens commented: “I’m delighted to announce Muzi Manzi’s appointment. After a thorough search process, the Board came to […]

Dowsil structural glazing sealants, supplied by a.b.e.® Construction Chemicals, were used for the glazing requirements of the converted old silo that now houses the new, acclaimed Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), and the ultra-luxurious The Silo Hotel in Cape Town.

ALUPLAN ARCHITECTURAL ALUMINIUM designs, manufactures and installs a comprehensive range of all aluminium and glass products for residential and commercial developments. Based in Retreat, Cape Town, the company operates mostly in the Western Cape Province. Specialising in aluminium window, doors, shopfronts, curtain walls, louvres and skylights, ALUPLAN is reputed for its custom designed manufacturing and […]

Turnstar is excited to announce its new design automatic special needs gate. The gate is a drastic improvement in terms of overall size of the post, method of glass clamping and a totally different drive solution. Fitted with a servo motor and gearbox, the gate has position and torque sensing as well as a heavy […]

Frameless Showers, suppliers and installers of unique and individual shower enclosures, will be at the Homemakers Expo from 22 to 25 February 2018. Taking place at the Ticketpro Dome in Northgate, you can follow this link to find out more about the expo.

Door and loading dock specialist, Maxiflex, secured the order to supply and install three stylish fully glazed overhead sectional glass door systems to complement the brand new elegant showroom of premium brand vehicle dealership, Jaguar Land Rover Waterford, in Johannesburg’s Northern suburb of Fourways.

The Jenna Clifford Boutique in Lynwood Pretoria recently underwent a security upgrade and was fitted with a Turnstar TRITON curved glass turnstile, supplied in a matching finish to the revamped shopfront.

a.b.e. Construction Chemicals has supplied Dow Corning 123 silicone sealing tape for the weatherproofing of glazed areas of several high profile structures in Johannesburg.

Glazing is the technical term for fixing sheet glass into a frame, whether it is a window, door or skylight.“If correctly installed, glass can be extremely durable and strong,” explains Dylan Miller from leading wooden window and door manufacturer, Swartland.

The U-value is a measure of a window's ability to transfer heat (energy). The lower the U-value rating for the window product, the better. Windows with a low U-value are efficient insulators against heat loss and heat gain.

An all-new range of energy efficient glass tempering furnaces from one of the world’s foremost suppliers has finally arrived in South African, which will provide glass processors with broader options when choosing machinery. 

HBS Aluminium Systems offers architects and fabricators so much more with branded aluminium systems, comprehensive technical support and best in class estimating software.  NuKlip is the only branded shop-front system in South Africa. Its versatility means that only 137 sections are needed to fabricate shop-fronts, doors, windows and flush glazing applications. 

glasstec, the international trade fair for the glass industry – including production, processing and products – will take place together with solarpeq – the international trade fair for solar-related production equipment, in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 23 to 26 October this year. Bookings for exhibition space are already open.  glasstec is the biggest international trade fair for the glass industry and its suppliers. It offers all industry role players one of the best platforms to present product innovations, forward-looking processing techniques and new glass applications. The trade fair attracts visitors from around the globe who come to find out what’s new in glass machinery, the glass industry, glazing techniques and glass craftsmanship. 

Established in 1955, Duro Pressings continues to uphold its reputation as one of the country’s leading suppliers to the building industry. With a Johannesburg-based head office and branches across South Africa as well as in Botswana and Namibia, Duro is known for quality products ranging from window and door frames, to roll-up doors, awnings, paint supplies and do-it-yourself products. Alternative asset management company Capitalworks recently acquired a majority share of the company and with a new perspective and fresh inspiration Duro is looking forward to generating continuing successes, building on the solid foundations that have helped make the company what it is today.

In the current economic crunch, architects and designers are considering plastics for certain applications in order to cut costs, but a recurring question is whether it is an environmentally friendly option.  Christo Pienaar, marketing director of the Ampaglas Plastics Group, says, “The perception is that glass is the more eco-friendly option because it is seen as a ‘natural’ product. But sustainability and eco-friendliness are dependent on a number of factors besides biodegrability.”  Pienaar points out that to make glass, a high-powered oven is used at a temperature of 1500°C or higher. All this heat means high levels of energy consumption and results in a substantial amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Some calculations – factoring in the transport of glass, which is a relatively heavy product – indicate that this could be as much as two tons of CO2 per ton of glass. 

A sleek aluminium frame around each unit is one of the attractions of Trellidor Clear Guard, a completely ‘new look’ physical security solution designed for those looking for something other than conventional burglar guards or security gates. The frame encases a high tensile stainless steel mesh insert that assists with security as well as allowing uninterrupted views of the external environment.

McCoy’s Glass has recently launched its McLam® Energy Saving Glass™ (ESG) in the South African market. Ordinary glass is an extremely poor insulator. Glass can, however, be formulated to provide extra protection against heat gain during summer and the loss of heat during winter, while retaining high levels of transparency.  McCoy’s is proud to bring a product to the market which does just that.

It's easy to see why the spectacular new building at 15 Alice Lane, Sandton, was nicknamed "Dancing Towers” by the team responsible for its design and construction. Its curved silhouette, combined with the striking black and white glass of its façade, make this new Sandton landmark look like it is dancing on the skyline. It's this unique façade – a design first – that makes the team at Aveng Grinaker-LTA Façades proud of their achievement. 15 Alice Lane Towers, designed by Paragon Architects, consists of two curved towers linked by an atrium. Each tower has glazed wings which cantilever 2.5m past their gable ends. "It is a building with a dynamic form," says Croydon Schmidt, managing director of Aveng Grinaker-LTA Façades. The company rose to the challenge of manufacturing and installing a curtain wall to meet the architects' requirement for a glazing effect, using black and white glass, to simulate falling paper.

Window film, as it has been applied in the past, often brings to mind dark reflective plastic film that not only looks terrible but also makes buildings uncomfortably dark. While these window films succeeded in reducing heat gain in buildings, they often meant that the lights had to be on permanently – counteracting any intended savings.in energy usage and electricity costs. Hillel Bloom, managing director of Lamin8 Window Film, says that much research and development has been invested in creating new technology window film that looks good and works effectively – and is virtually invisible.

Hillaldam’s new GL2 system is a frameless glass rail system that can be used in various applications, such as in straight sliding, sliding folding and sliding stacking doors. The system is designed for ease of use and incorporates unique features which provide for its adaptability. At the same time the bolt-through fixing system ensures maximum strength and durability, no matter the application.

Every year the South African Bureau of Standards  hosts a gathering of designers, architects and engineers to celebrate the most innovative products in the country. Last year, the SABS Design Institute celebrated its 40th year and the most innovative products of the past 40 years were remembered. On this platform, the Design Excellence Award winners for 2009 were announced.

The extension of the successful Cape Quarter in the trendy De Waterkant area of Green Point in Cape Town is a 50 000m² lifestyle development comprising 12 000m² of retail space, 8 700m² of offices, 14 luxury apartments, a gym, health spa and parking. This new development spans an entire block, with its frontage on Somerset Road, Green Point's main thoroughfare, and Dixon, Jarvis and Napier Streets forming its other borders. All the glass and aluminium finishes, external and internal, were completed by Aluplan Architectural Aluminium.