SEPALUMIC Middle East, the regional office of the French aluminium systems supplier, met crucial architectural requirements at the King Hamad University Hospital when it provided a staggering 15,000-sq-m curtain-wall with a unique louvre effect for the project.

“Our role was to design a curtain-wall system that met the requirements of the project, manufacture the material and ensure on-time delivery of each component as needed on site,” says Dennis Sherman, sales and marketing manager, Middle East region. “We provided technical support to the installer of our system and maintained strict quality control through every step of the manufacture and installation process.”

According to him, one of the striking features of its work on the project is the unique louvre effect on the curtain-walls, which was specified by architect AHDG/Nigel Dustan and project director Tony Broughton.

Sherman ... technically challenging project.

“Sepalumic achieved this effect by designing a new system based upon our Series 1100 curtain-wall. We designed a mullion measuring 100 mm by 90 mm, a 100 mm by 90 mm pressure plate, and the stunning louvre effect was created by fixing a redesigned transom with dimensions of 100 mm by 150 mm,” says Sherman.

The order, which entailed supply of aluminium profiles valued at approximately BD400,000 ($1.06 million), was completed in February 2010, meeting a tight delivery schedule.

According to Sherman, the company extended crucial technical support to the fabricator and successfully met the major challenge it faced in creating the curtain-wall of this futuristically-designed complex.

“The challenge lay in the design and manufacture of new dies for the mullions, the pressure plate and the transom,” he points out.

Sepalumic is a French aluminium system supplier with over 40 years of experience in designing innovative curtain-walls, sliding windows and doors for the construction industry. Its designing expertise is apparent in another striking project in Bahrain – the Millennium Tower situated in Seef with its 90-m-high egg-shaped profile, which is covered over its entire 30-storey facade with triangle-shaped glazing.

“The project posed a technical challenge as the triangle-shaped glazing had to fit the egg-shaped profile of the tower. Sepalumic supported East Architects/Aravind Nacre during the creation of the 10,000-sq-m curtain-wall of this landmark,” Sherman explains. “The architect chose the Series 1100 Series based on SSGS (structural silicone glazing system) frames. In order to fix the curtain-wall, Sepalumic’s project design office created a complete system of moulded star-connectors which could link six mullions at different angles. Aluminium joinery is articulated on axis with star-shaped connectors and profiles that support triangle-shaped frames on which glazing is sealed. We provided a custom-built solution that perfectly fitted the architects’ vision!”

Sepalumic was established in 1967 in France and launched operations in Dubai, UAE, in 2005, followed by Bahrain in 2007. It now intends to continue its expansion throughout the region, including Iraq where it is now actively marketing its systems.

“Our goal is to be awarded the most prestigious projects in order to create brand awareness within the region’s aluminium systems industry,” says Sherman. “We provide technical support to construction companies, aluminium fabricators, architects, design offices and the public sector in order to provide solutions in terms of aluminium joinery and facades. We have a dedicated technical team based in Bahrain that can support construction projects throughout the Middle East region.”

The company has completed its first major projects in Syria, where its Series 4200 frames, Series 450 doors and Series 2600 sliding windows were chosen for the prestigious Palmera Palace.

In Dubai, its Series 1100 curtain-walls were selected for the Emirates airline office.

Its Series 1100 curtain-walls and Series 2600 sliding windows (with profiles in a wood-effect finish) were used for a palace in Sharm Al Sheik in Egypt, while in Morocco its Series 1100 curtain-walls, Series 450 doors and Series 2600 sliding windows were the choice for the prestigious Casa-Near-Shore-Park.

Commenting on some of the new products launched by the company, Sherman says: “We have recently introduced the Series W44, which is the world’s finest curtain-wall where the profiles are virtually invisible and thus enhance the elegance of the structure. W44 responds to sustainable development challenges with its outstanding thermal performances (Ucw=1.6 W/sq m K).”

The company has also launched the Series 4300 sliding window, which boasts large dimensions – 5 m in length with a height of 3 m – and a thermal performance (Uw) of 1.4 W/sq mK; and the Series 3200 sliding window with a glazing thickness of up to 32 mm and a top-of-the-range thermal performance (Uw) of 1.3 W/sq mK.