FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN TECHNOWOOD BE USED IN EXTREME CLIMATES?
Technowood products can be found in nearly all kinds of territories in the world. Actually most of our projects are on extreme climates where the natural wood cannot sustain. To give an example, “Kazakhstan” has one of the biggest day/night temperature gaps in their cold climate. Sudan is one of the hottest countries in the world. We have finished and aged projects in these territories.
CAN TECHNOWOOD BE USED IN COASTAL AREAS?
Salt spray test has been done to our veneered material by IFT Rosenheim Germany and it succeeded.
THE IMPACT OF ACID RAIN?
Sulphuric Acid (SO2) test has been already made and succeed at IFT Rosenheim Germany.
AS THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION BETWEEN ALUMINUM AND WOOD, DOESN’T THIS CAUSE ISSUES? DO YOU ALSO GET THE “BIMETAL” EFFECT IF VENEER IS APPLIED TO ONE SIDE ONLY (SIMILAR TO OTHER VENEERED PANELS)?
Our specially developed veneer is so flexible and it acts like aluminum’s expansion behavior. You can even bend it after the veneer application. The bimetal effect doesn’t occur. That’s why we apply a very thin layer of veneer.
WOOD EXPOSED TO UV RADIATION AND HUMIDITY UNDERGOES CHEMICAL REACTION THAT CAUSES DISCOLORATION /DEGRADATION. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE VENEER, THE TECHNOWOOD 3D VARNISH IS APPLIED. ARE THE VENEERED PROFILES DELIVERED PRE-COATED?
Yes.
WHEN THESE PROFILES ARE CUT OR MILLED, UNTREATED VENEER IS EXPOSED. DOES THIS MEAN THAT THESE SURFACES MUST BE TREATED AS WELL PRIOR TO ASSEMBLING THE PROFILES? WHAT ARE THE RISKS IF THESE SURFACES STAY UNTREATED?
Cutting and Milling is just damaging the varnish at the edge of the profiles. We are supplying our varnish separately, and it can be applied by hand to the cut edges. The aim is to protect edges from water and humidity because they can cause graying at the edges.
ARE THE ALUMINUM PROFILES ALWAYS POWDER COATED PRIOR TO APPLYING THE VENEER? ISN’T THERE A POTENTIAL MISMATCH WHEN THERE IS DISCOLORATION OF THE WOOD OVER TIME?
Powder Coating is a vital part of our technology. Powder coating cannot be seen even after the discoloration over time. To avoid problems when a big scratch occurs by an accident, we choose brown tones to make the scratched part look like wood until repairing.
IT IS STATED IN YOUR PRODUCT CATALOG THAT A FRESH LAYER OF VARNISH SHALL BE APPLIED EVERY 5 YEARS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO REGAIN THE INITIAL LOOK AND FEEL OF THE WOOD BY DOING SO? IN SOLID WOOD APPLICATIONS, THE OUTER LAYER WILL TYPICALLY BE REMOVED BY SANDING TO REGAIN THE INITIAL LOOK AND FEEL. IS THIS ALSO POSSIBLE WHEN USING TECHNOWOOD, KNOWING THAT THE LAYER THICKNESS IS BELOW 1MM?
To make maintenance, you have to use hard sanding at solid wood applications because of cracks & bending after some time. At Technowood products because of no cracking and bending all you need to do is clean the surface with very smooth sand(no.>200) or using chemicals to do this task. And then after varnishing again you can obtain the same first day look easily.
WHAT KIND OF GLUE IS BEING USED TO APPLY THE VENEER? HOW ABOUT AGING OF THIS GLUE? WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IT CAN BE EXPOSED TO, KNOWING THAT DARK PROFILES CAN GET REALLY HOT WHEN EXPOSED TO THE SUN IN AREAS SUCH AS THE ARAB EMIRATES.
As you will see in our catalog there are too many projects has been done in hot territories Emirates and Qatar. The glue is not affected by higher temperatures. We provide a 20-year guarantee for lamination.
BASED ON THE PICTURES IN YOUR PRODUCT CATALOG, A LOT OF TESTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVIEW THE ACTUAL TEST REPORTS?
Yes, just fill out the contact form or send us an e-mail about it.
DO YOU COVER YOUR PRODUCT WITH ANY KIND OF WARRANTY?
We provide 20 years lamination warranty.
WHAT KIND OF POST PROCESSING CAN BE APPLIED ON VENEERED ALUMINUM PROFILES. CAN THE PROFILES BE BEND / ROLLED? WHAT IS THE MINIMUM RADIUS THAT SHALL BE UTILIZED?
Rolling and bending can be applied on veneered aluminum profiles but special care should be given at the machinery for not damaging and oiling the veneer. Min. radius value is changing upon the design of the profile.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL LEADTIME FOR PROTOTYPES (AND MASS PRODUCTION IN A LATER STAGE)?
Lead-times for prototypes change between 2 to 3 weeks, on mass production, it is changing 4 to 8 weeks related to the quantity.
IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE ABLE TO APPLY VENEER ON PROFILES WITH LENGTHS UP TO 7.5M. IS THIS ACHIEVED BY APPLYING ONE CONTINUOUS VENEER STRIP OR IS THIS ACHIEVED THROUGH STITCHING? IF STITCHING IS REQUIRED, ARE THE DIFFERENT STRIPS COVERING THE DIFFERENT SURFACES OF THE PROFILES STITCHED IN THE SAME AREA?
Stitching to veneer is a required process, but it’s not seen. Because of the stitching process, we choose similar color toned veneers to make it looks like just one part.