Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Search Our Website

neaco handrails, balustrade, balconies and structural glass now available in National BIM Library

neaco’s Spectrum range of modular handrails, balustrade, balconies and structural glass is now available in the National BIM (Building Information Modelling) Library, the construction industry’s free-to-use online resource of NBS standard BIM content.

 

Developed and managed by NBS, National BIM Library enables construction professionals to locate and download generic and proprietary BIM objects available in industry-neutral IFC format and formats compatible with Autodesk Revit, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, Tekla and Bentley. It is the latest NBS initiative designed to provide, share and maintain quality information for the built environment. The service aims to host a comprehensive range of systems and products for various building elements to become the primary source of standard and proprietary BIM objects.

 

neaco’s Managing Director, Alan Green, said: “With their class-leading Lifetime Guarantee and modular systems guaranteeing uniform quality and design accuracy, neaco’s precision-engineered products are ideally suited to National BIM Library, which is fast emerging as vital means of establishing a common approach to quality standards across the construction industry and encouraging consistency and best practice.”

 

“BIM is an information-rich resource and a highly effective process which will prove to be invaluable for our customers. It will increase access to the information they need to make the right decisions at the right stage of the building process.”

 

Available in powder coated aluminium or stainless steel – or a combination of both – Spectrum is characterized by smooth, clean lines offering a high architectural aesthetic which is extremely durable and maintenance-free. The range includes a wood-effect finish and a comprehensive choice of infills, from toughened glass and rails to mesh, grilles and perforated panels. Modular assembly is achieved with internal fixtures and provides low-energy, eco-friendly construction requiring no welding or hot works. For industrial environments the mill-finished Spectrum Genesis is extremely durable, fully recyclable and corrosion-free.

 

neaco’s products  are available on the National BIM Library at http://www.nationalbimlibrary.com/neaco

 

Tempobalconies 008

 

Wood you believe it! Timber-style handrails without the natural problems

When specifying handrails and balustrades, many architects and designers favour the traditional style of wood. Its natural beauty and rich texture is often the ideal choice, especially for the refurbishment of older buildings, and nowadays a timber handrail is often enhanced with a contemporary twist when combined with metallic rails and stanchions. That said, age-old natural problems persist when using real wood handrails and balustrade – they require ongoing treatment to maintain their aesthetic, prevent absorption of bacteria and control infection.

 

More easily damaged than other materials, timber is prone to surface damage and deterioration which can reduce its comfort and safety to the touch, compromising the primary attribute of any handrail. These environmental, hygienic and maintenance concerns are unavoidable, yet designers still see them as a price worth paying to enjoy timber’s undoubted aesthetic virtues.

 

The alternative is metal handrails and balustrade in a wood-effect balustrade finish, but in the past these types of products have suffered from a credibility issue – put simply, they didn’t look real enough. The untrained eye may struggle to tell between genuine and fake fur, but in the eyes of many architects and interior designers, the same doesn’t apply to wood handrails. What can be created on the flat surface of wood-effect floorcoverings is far more difficult to achieve on the bends and contours of handrails and balustrade.

 

Thankfully, with advances in coating technology, the distinction between real and fake has become considerably harder. The better manufacturers have developed more sophisticated powder coating techniques which are able to reproduce the intricate detailing of natural wood grain. In the case of the best products on the market we have reached the point that, to the naked eye, the wood-effect is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

 

Aluminium is an ideal metal for wood-effect – it readily bonds to powder coating to provide a smooth finish which, whilst similar in appearance, offers several contrasts to real timber: it is non-absorptive, warm and safe to the touch, extremely durable and non-chip. When you choose a wood-effect specification over real wood, you get peace of mind knowing that the installation is maintenance-free – no more repairs, no more site visits, no more expense.

 

At neaco, we identified oak as the most popular wood for handrails and developed a system called Timberline. We invested resources in a reproductive coating process for two forms: dark oak and light oak, available in a matt or gloss finish.

 

The response that we have received since Timberline’s launch has been a revelation – architects, designers and a number of building contractors have now abandoned their preconceptions about the credibility of wood-effect. Their loyalty to the real thing – and all of its attendant drawbacks – is now a real thing of the past.

neaco’s glass railing reaches new heights at iconic community project

neaco have supplied a bespoke glass railing specification at The Street, a £6.5million world-class youth and community facility in the heart of Scarborough.

 

Some of the balustrade on the upper floors of an atrium was likely to be near furniture which could be use climb to above a regular balustrade height. As a result neaco increased our glass railing design to twice the standard height to meet safety requirements. The powder coated aluminium stanchions were extended to ceiling height (fixed at the top) and an additional toughened glass panel was fixed to the stanchions, supplementing the lower panel which was a standard height about floor level. An offset handrail was fixed into the lower glass  panel.

 

Designed by Seven Architecture and built by Willmott Dixon, the 3,000-square-metre, four-storey building provides a wide range of education, leisure and community support services.

 

It features a sprung-floor dance studio, sports hall, climbing wall, café, managed workspace, meeting rooms, offices, a recording studio, multi-media suite, art studio, shop units, garden, allotment and roof terrace. neaco’s Spectrum balustrade in powder coated aluminium is featured throughout the building, including stairwells and the atrium.

 

neaco’s Managing Director, Alan Green, said: “NEACO are delighted to have contributed towards this outstanding community project with our Spectrum system forming part of its highly impressive design scheme. NEACO pride ourselves on our design flexibility and The Street is the latest of numerous projects in which our technical team has developed a bespoke solution outside of our standard specification.”

 

Requiring no welding for assembly, Spectrum’s versatile modular system has the capacity to meet virtually any design permutation or installation requirement. Its wide range of design options includes offset glass infill, offset top rails with multi-rails or glass, and a choice of tapered or straight flat-bar stanchions. Spectrum’s selection of infills includes vertical or horizontal rails, mesh, perforated panels, aluminium grille panels and toughened glass panels. The system is also available in satin polished stainless steel or an aluminium/stainless steel combination.

 

glass railing

Neaco’s metal grates specified as stylish decking at prestigious development

Neaco’s Techdek metal grates system is demonstrating the aesthetic advantages of using metal decking on a rooftop terrace which is one of the key features at a luxury development of 52 one and two bedroom apartments in Exmouth.

Situated in an enviable position overlooking sandy beaches, the terrace decking provides a place of relaxation for residents with stunning views across the picturesque coastal setting. Set in landscaped gardens, the development was recently completed to provide highly specified retirement apartments on a brownfield site once occupied by a derelict college.

Featuring Neaco’s patented swaged-locked construction, Techdek metals grates are ecologically friendly, virtually maintenance-free and suitable for a multitude of applications, including decking, flooring, staging, solar shading, cladding, screening, access walkways, balustrade infills, stair treads and ventilation. Precision engineered in lightweight aluminium, its modular connection system requires no welding for assembly on site, a feature which minimises mess, waste and energy consumption

metal grates

 

Bathroom Range Offers Exciting Chrome-effect Finish for Grab Rails and Shower Seats

The neaco bathing range now offers a wider-than-ever choice in contemporary inclusive design with grab rails, support rails, shower seats and accessories available in an exciting new Chrome-effect finish.

 

Manufactured from powder coated aluminium, the Chrome-effect products superbly complement the other contemporary aesthetics in the neaco bathing rang, including the Metallique satin aluminium finish available with their half-height shower enclosures and true level access shower grilles. Support fittings are also available in a choice of solid colours.

 

Neaco’s Managing Director, Alan Green, said: “Our Chrome-effect products represent another high-end design concept which demonstrates that inclusive bathrooms can meet contemporary aesthetic needs without compromising functionality, performance and usability. They bring visual impact to a bathroom whilst offering the strength, durability and user independence which are characteristic throughout the neaco bathing range.”

 

“To complete the aesthetic, we offer a wide range of accessories in the same finish, including towel rails, coat hooks, toilet roll holders, back rests, bath seats, shelves and tilt-adjustable mirrors. Like all neaco products, our Chrome-effect fittings are available with our class-leading Lifetime Guarantee.”

Developed through decades of experience in the market, the neaco bathing rang includes a choice of support systems serving a variety of budgets alongside the Neatdek 3 true level access shower grille, Flowdek easy access shower tray, Neatform wet-floor former and Aluseal half-height shower enclosures.

 

 

Congratulations Tommy – 25 years and counting!

neaco are congratulating another loyal and valuable employee on reaching 25 years with the company as Tommy Andrews celebrates the milestone this month.

 

Back in March 1988, Aswad were number one in the singles chart with Don’t Turn Around and Scottish golfer Sandy Lyle was preparing a successful bid to win the US Masters. At the same time a young Tommy (then in his early twenties) joined neaco as a factory operative. Since then he has become an extremely valuable member of our team, having also worked at numerous developments as a site installer before returning to the factory in his current role as a rail assembler. In recognition of his contribution to the company neaco gave Tommy a five-night stay in a hotel followed by a five-day stay in luxury cottage in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

 

Managing Director Alan Green said: “Tommy’s 25 years at neaco is a milestone to be proud of and everyone at the company would like to thank Tommy for his consistently excellent standards of work throughout that time. In the past six months Tommy is the third neaco employee to reach 25 years, following on from Neil Petrie in October and Simon Young in December. We are a company that believes in supporting and investing in good people and I’m pleased that this approach has played a part in nurturing so many long-standing employees.”