Techstyle acoustical ceilings, a blend of superior acoustic technology and sleek contemporary style from Hunter Douglas, will be launched at the Big 5 show, by the company's Middle East office.

Hunter Douglas, which claims to have revolutionised the window coverings industry and pioneered metal suspended ceilings worldwide, started designing its innovative panels by asking leading architects and designers what properties they would seek in an ideal ceiling. The answer was - panels with monolithic appearance of drywall, great acoustical performance, downward accessibility and simple installation with access to the plenum.

The revolutionary design of Techstyle ceilings offers just that, says Willem Biesheuvel of Hunter Douglas Middle East. Techstyle ceilings have large-format, aesthetically-pleasing panels with below-the-grid installation, outstanding acoustical performance and easy access. The ceilings can be used virtually anywhere  airports, open-plan offices, educational institutions, sports arenas, theatres, shopping malls and more.
The large, 4 ft by 4 ft (1,220 by 1,220 mm) and narrow 1/4-inch (6 mm) panels of Techstyle, create a monolithic drywall-like appearance.

The panels are made from a patent-pending lightweight compressible composite whose characteristics allow the tiles to span up to 16 sq ft (1.48 sq m) without sagging and to absorb the force of normal impact and bounce. These factors, combined with the panel's attractive and easy-to-clean, ultra white and smooth, non-woven polyester textile surface, make Techstyle an upscale ceiling at an affordable price.
The panels easily accommodate standard sprinklers, diffusers and light fixtures and may be field cut into any shape with a sharp utility knife.

The honeycomb structure of Techstyle offers it superior acoustical properties and it is very absorptive at both, high and low frequencies, unlike most other ceilings, says  Biesheuvel.
The overall Sound Absorption Average (SAA) for the panel is .89 and the Noise Reduction Co-efficient (NRC) is .85.

The honeycomb structure and the compressible composite used in the panels allows Techstyle ceilings to be lighter per square metre than conventional ceilings, making them easier to handle, ship and install, creating less weight per package (approximately 33 per cent less) and less jobsite waste, says Biesheuvel.

''An innovative clip/hinge system secures the panels below the grid, keeping the panels aligned, reveals even and the traditional grid concealed. Access to the plenum is easy since all panels swing down on the hinge. The panels easily attach to a standard 15/16-inch commercial T-grid. This installation system also makes retrofit applications possible. Minimal plenum depth is required since the panels swing downward.

Techstyle ceiling panels are US-Class A  (or 1) fire rated and have a light reflectance of LR-1.
Techstyle panels are manufactured from over 10 per cent recycled content and completely recyclable materials. The product's inorganic structure is inhospitable to mould, mildew and does not emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds), therefore preserving indoor air quality.

The ceiling panels are available in three sizes  2 ft by 2 ft, 2 ft by 4 ft and 4 ft by 4 ft. All panels are 1-1/8-inch (28.5 mm) thick. Techstyle panels are backed by a 10-year limited warranty and are currently available in white and black, with off-white colour options planned for release soon.

Techstyle ceilings reflect four decades of Hunter Douglas' commercial ceiling expertise, and the company's prowess in precision textile engineering. They provide exceptional acoustical performance and a more sophisticated look, at an affordable price, which was not previously available. There is a great potential for the product in the Middle East, says Biesheuvel.

The Netherlands-based Hunter Douglas opened its first office in the Middle East more than 25 years ago. Since 1974 its regional head office has been based in the UAE. As a group, with more than 15.000 employees, 150 companies, 62 manufacturing and 83 assembly plants and marketing organisations in more than 100 countries, the company achieved a turnover of $2 billion last year, of which $10 million was from the Middle East.
Hunter Douglas will be exhibiting its architectural and window covering products in hall 3, stand 3A145.