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Technal

Industry	Aluminium
Founded	1960
Headquarters	Wakefield, UK
Products	Product range
Website	www.technal.co.uk

Technal designs, produces, and distributes aluminium glazing systems for all building, interiors and decoration markets in worldwide. The company was founded in France, in 1960.

History

Origin

In 1960, André Bos set up the company Alusud to design aluminium building systems. While starting his 225 square meters small business in Toulouse. André Bos began to design profiles and anodised sheet.

The company visited construction sites to meet carpenters, metal workers, locksmiths and glazing professionals. Through deliberate listening and observing, the company was able to understand the complexity of shop-front fabricating from the beginning of the 1960s. The company’s activity developed around this offer and the market progressively structured itself in the South West of France.

In 1970, Technal International was created. Technal Export was created in 1986 to manage licencees in Lebanon, South Africa and Ivory Coast. A joint-venture was created to meet the needs of the Middle East market. It exported Technal in the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Western Africa, North Africa, North America, Central and South America, as well as South East Asia. In 1995, Technal Building Product in Brunei became Hydro Building Systems South East Asia. In 2000, the joint-venture Technal Middle East in Bahrain was created.

In 2002, Technal was bought by Norsk Hydro as part of an investment plan.

A Hydro brand

Technal is one of Hydro’s brands. Hydro has been innovating in exploitation of natural resources. Hydro Building Systems owns plants in European and South American main markets, as well as in international joint-ventures. Within this group, Technal designs aluminium profiles and integrates its client’s expectations upstream.

The Logo’s history

The Technal logo’s history, symbolised by one of its products - 414, cannot be dissociated from that of the company’s.

In 1960, the first logo was made out of the company name at the time ; Alusud. In 1966, the letter ‘A’ became the emblem of Alusud.

In 1970, the company expanded abroad. The name and the graphic representation of the 4114 profile were combined. The logo was born. The 4114 profile became the emblem of Technal system, giving its name to the company : Alusud became Technal.

In 1983, the brand and the logo were linked. Two years later, a graphic identity was created.

In 1995, Technal’s graphic identity was adapted.

Aluminium joinery

Résidence, Place Lesseps (Barcelona)

Aluminium excellence

Technal uses aluminium as its main raw material. Aluminium has high potential for recycling as almost 100% can be re-used. In addition to its durability, aluminium is also renowned for its lightness, robustness and low maintenance. Aluminium is an abundant element on earth. It doesn’t release any vapour or particles, and contact with this material does not create any toxicity problem. Due to the durability and resistance awarded by surface treatments, aluminium structures only require a regular cleaning with a neutral detergent, followed by rinsing with water.

Product range

Technal creates building systems : profiles, accessories, gaskets and tooling are compatible applications with doors, windows, sliders which can be integrated in facades or sun rooms.

For office buildings : facades and partitioning; for public buildings: doors, windows and balcony or patio doors; for private housing: conservatories, doors, sliding windows and patio doors, casement windows, roller shutters and gates; for shops: shop fronts and window displays.

Innovation and creativity

Innovation and certification

Based in France, the Technal Brand Development Centre is supported by international teams in diferent countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, China, India and Brunei… This test centre is equipped with a workshop to make product samples, tested on test rigs to guarantee the functioning of products.

Place of residence, Vilafranca del Penedès (Barcelona)

Technal’s facilities are certified for quality ; such as the EWAA/EURAS certification delivered by Qualanod for anodising and Qualicoat for painting. Technal is equipped with a testing laboratory to check that products comply with the required standards.

Framing and light facades systems also meet European requirements. Technal receives ISO 9001 Certification in 1993 as well as ISO 14 001 in 2005, for the conception, fabrication, distribution of aluminium framing systems.

The way of design

At the start, design is not part of the technician’s culture : aluminium is used in the construction, layout or furniture, only the technical aspects are considered. Technal’s curiosity for design will lead professionals to progressively believe in it.

The design becomes the core of its identity within the aluminium and building industry.

Technal’s design adapts itself to the needs of end-users of many origins and cultures, and with different safety standards and regulations.

Sustainable development policy

Actions for the environment

The intrinsic qualities of aluminium, its unending ability to be recycled, its strength and lightness, durability and low maintenance qualities make it one of the most sustainable building materials.

Technal also works with industry to reduce carbon emissions during the life cycle of our products. Research and development work into insulation has achieved an impressive four-fold increase in the thermal performance of its systems.

Infinite recycling

93% of end-of-life aluminium building products are recycled. Thanks to its high added-value, aluminium naturally guarantees the profitability of the recycling branch : 100 % of production scrap is recycled.

The European Aluminium Association (E.A.A.) asserts that in Europe, 40 % of used metal comes from recycled aluminium, and half of it comes from end-of-life products.

Most aluminium glazing products are still in use today and are referred to as ‘urban mines’, genuine energy banks. End-of-life product recycling is carried out by specialised Hydro facilities in France, Spain and Germany.

Other assets stand out in when analysing the life cycle of aluminium. It is three times lighter than steel and emits three times less carbon gas during transportation. Non-corroding, the average life span of an aluminium window is estimated to 30 years.

Technal worldwide

Technal is present in Europe (Belgium, UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy…). The company exports to Mediterranean areas, adapting products to the local climate.

External links

www.technal-int.com