5 Innovative Materials That Are Changing the Construction Industry
Blindbolt NZ | 2nd September 2020
NZ Construction Industry
The world of construction is one in which leading companies are constantly on the look-out for innovations which enable them to work more efficiently and produce higher quality. The aim is for the best possible results to be achieved in the shortest possible time-frame. The companies which succeed are those which can deliver the quality their customers are looking for whilst still working as quickly as possible.
This aspiration leads companies on a constant search for innovative building materials which have evolved or adapted in order to make better end results possible. When these ground-breaking products are utilised they enable companies to increase the quality of the projects they are delivering and the architecture of individual buildings. The following are a few of the innovative and sustainable building materials currently revolutionising the construction industry:
Mass Timber
Timber was once the default material for most building projects, but over time it was replaced by steel and concrete, both of which offer greater strength and resistance to fire. In recent years, however, the innovation of mass timber has led to an upsurge in the popularity of building with timber. Mass timber is solid wood which offers increased strength and durability due to having been panelised and laminated. By making use of mass timber, construction companies can reduce the overall cost of building materials at the same time as lowering their carbon footprint.
Programmable Cement
Concrete, which is made by mixing cement with water, sand and stone, offers great versatility as a building material. It has one major flaw, however, which is that it is porous in nature. This means that water and other chemicals can seep into the concrete itself, often attacking and rusting the steel supports encased within. A newly discovered technique, however, enables builders to ‘programme’ the molecular structure of concrete as it sets. In this way the cement can be controlled and made to set more tightly, which means that it is harder and less porous and less of it can be used for a project.
The Blind Bolt
The Blind Bolt was one of the first generation of blind fixings, and has since gone on to become a form of fastening which is widely utilised across the construction industry. The blind bolt is the perfect example of the way in which evolutionary change throughout the construction industry drives new ways of working, which are then utilised by both designers and architects. It solves the problem of fixing into a girder or box section in a way which reduces costs and provides rock solid results. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of blind bolts is that they’ve already transformed the way designers, builders and architects work, and their full potential hardly begun to be explored.
Alusion Panels
The search for new and better materials is never-ending across the construction industry, and Cymat Technologies in Canada are playing a part in that search. They’ve created a product called Alusion, which can take the place of the more traditional brick, sheet metal and concrete when putting ceilings, floors and cladding in place. This highly versatile alternative is produced by injecting air into molten aluminium, a process which disperses ceramic particles in the mix in order to create bubbles.
Strand Rods
People in Japan have had to learn to live with and work around the constant threat of earthquakes. Those working at the Komatsu Seiten Fabric Laboratory have adopted an innovative approach to this issue, and have covered their head office in something called the CABKOMA Strand Rod, a thermoplastic carbon fibre composite. This is the lightest seismic reinforcement system in the world, being five times lighter than typical metal wires yet offering the same strength and protective qualities.
Bolted Shut
Over recent years there has been a massive shift in the construction industry, with companies of all sizes seeking new and innovative materials which enable them to transform the way they deliver buildings. Blind bolts have helped to drive that change, and are set to play a huge role in future developments. If you have any questions or just want to find out more about blind bolts, get in touch and speak to a member of our team on 0800 42 52 56 or send us an email on enquiries@blindbolt.com.nz. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Blind Bolt