 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Bremen, Germany |
| Products | Texlon® ETFE System |
Number of employees | 300 |
| Website |
www |
Vector Foiltec is a business using transparent plastic ( ETFE) cushions filled with air as an architectural cladding technology. This solution can be better than glass panels in applications such as roofs over aggressive environments where chemicals would attack a metal window frame, or where the transparent panels have to accommodate deformation due to changing thermal conditions.
History
The Company was founded by Stefan Lehnert in 1982 in Bremen, Germany. [1] Its first structure was the roof of a small pavilion at Burgers' Zoo in 1982. [1]
Operations
The Texlon ETFE cladding system developed by the company consists of a number of layers of the UV stable copolymer ethylene tetrafluoroethylene ( ETFE) welded into cushions or foils. The cushions are restrained around their perimeter by aluminium extrusions, which are in turn fastened to a supporting primary structure. The cushions are inflated with air at low pressure to provide insulation and to resist wear caused by wind. [2]
A Texlon ETFE cushion typically consists of two layers, although more layers can be added to enhance the cladding's insulation properties. Each layer can be modified with a variety of treatments to alter its aesthetic quality, its apparent transparency, and the level of solar gain. [2] The material's innate toughness, resistance to tearing, and ability to work harden over a 300-400% elongation range allow Texlon to endure significant deformation of its support structure. [3]
Major projects
Major projects include: [1]
- Eden Project, UK, completed 2001
- Art Center College of Design, California, completed 2004
- Southern Cross station, Australia, completed 2006
- Beijing National Aquatics Centre, China, completed 2007
- Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, completed 2010
- Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand, completed 2011
- San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain, completed 2014
- Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, Anaheim, California, completed 2014
- Singapore Sports Hub, SG, completed 2014
- U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, completed 2016
- allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, completed 2020
- The Avenues (Kuwait), Kuwait, ongoing since 2012 [4]
References
- ^ a b c "ETFE". Archived from the original on 2013-03-09. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ a b Vector Foiltec: Technology
- ^ Vector Foiltec: Structural
- ^ "The Avenues Kuwait | Texlon® ETFE | Vector Foiltec". www.vector-foiltec.com. Retrieved 2017-11-28.