Brickworks, one of the world’s largest and most diverse building material manufacturers, has launched Thin Tech Plus in New Zealand, a fast-to-install brick facings panel system designed to speed up the construction process without the weight and space restrictions associated with traditional full brick veneers.
The new CodeMark-certified system, where hooks mechanically secure each thin brick facing, mimics traditional brickwork but with less weight, space and mortar use.
Measuring in at just 43mm thin (a traditional brick has a thickness of 120mm) and weighing only 49 kg/sq m (a full brick veneer weighs 140 to 200 kg/sq m), this medium-weight system has the added benefits of superior drainage and ventilation with its cavity-based design.
Brickworks chief executive Mark Ellenor says Thin Tech Plus is about offering businesses an innovative and cost-efficient way to construct brickwork without compromising on quality.
The company’s international business general manager Garry Bull is the brains behind the product.
“While travelling in Europe, I was struck by the variety of cladding systems in use — most of them either full brick or rail-based, both expensive and time-consuming to install,” Bull says.
“I saw a clear gap in the market for a lighter, cost-effective solution that could still deliver the aesthetic and performance of brick but in a faster and simpler way. I thought, what if we could create a panel system instead of using the conventional rail engagement, and sketched this idea onto a napkin.”
Brickworks’ product innovation and engineering manager Silvia Wong says it was a true balancing act to bring the concept to reality.
“We needed to find the perfect harmony between the precision of sheet metal fabrication and the natural properties of brick,” Wong says.
“Every fold, tab, and engagement point was carefully engineered and comprehensively tested to create an efficient system that can withstand the demanding climate zones across Australia and New Zealand.”
The Thin Tech Plus warranty covers the system for 50 years, with a 100-year warranty for the clay brick facings. It has a CodeMark accreditation under Certificate of Conformity CMNZ00173.
• For more information visit www.brickworks.co.nz/thintechplus.
