AEROSPACE
Advantages
Dassault Rafale
Boeing 777
Boeing 737
Eclipse 500
Westland Sea King
Airbus A340

AUTOMOTIVE
Advantages
Rolls Royce
Aston Martin
Bentley Arnage
Morgan Aero 8
Ford GT
Mitsubishi Rally

BUILDING
Waterloo Station
Tyne Bridge
Decorative panels
Bull Nose panels

RAIL
Siemens Desiro UK
Heathrow Express
Stockholm Metro
Exterior
Interior

DESIGN
Ron Arad
Biomega

ELECTRONICS
Siemens Magnet

MEDIA & PR
Registration
 

Whilst cladding panels are the prime use for Superforming in building, the process can be easily applied to many other applications where complex three dimensional form is required.

The following two projects illustrate the use of Superformed components in combination with traditional cladding and glazing systems, providing “that little bit extra” in design terms and offering a solution to seemingly impossible briefs.

Dorset House, Hong Kong
Contractor Christian Pohl

This building in Hong Kong, like most other new office complexes, utilises a standard panelling and cladding system throughout the structure, designed to a high quality of finish, particularly for the entrance lobby area. In this application, the architects specified Superformed components to provide termination details to the standard flat panels, in areas around doorways, ceiling junctions, lift access and so on. This solution has provided the unified appearance the architect demanded, combined with high performance and an excellent anodised finish.

Victoria Island Shopping Mall, London
Contractor Astec Projects

This development in Victoria Station, London, by McColl Architects, makes use of a striking multi-barrel vault design that required bull nosed terminal detailing around the arches at the junction with glazed walls.

Due to the complexity and high specification Superforming was considered the only viable process for the production of the components.

The design of the arc demanded a process that could achieve double curvature with a high degree of dimensional accuracy and repeatability to ensure the correct assembly and visual appearance. In addition to accuracy a good surface finish was essential to enable a high gloss white powder coating to be applied giving an excellent and durable finish to the panel.

Two curved panel types were supplied (one shown on right), both formed from 3mm starting thickness 5083 SPF aluminium alloy, incorporating fixing flanges for interlocking with adjacent panels.