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Tackling the challenges of timber
Timber lends itself to all manner of construction, from interiors to exteriors, structural work to intricate design and finishes, decks and stairs, and a huge spectrum of environmental and climate variations. Using the right materials and tools for a quality fit and finish is imperative to ensure longevity, security and strength among other considerations. Torque looks at some of the screws and tools ready to take on any timber engineering challenge, including offerings from Klimas Wkręt-met & Eurotec
Klimas Wkręt-met > The Mountain Challenge
Klimas Wkręt-met faced one of its most challenging projects in recent months - the construction of a mountain shelter at the foot of Canada's Mont Assiniboine Mountain (3618m). This site at 2200m elevation proved to be a challenge for the entire team and involved the selection of the most durable materials – ultimately Klimas Wkręt-met construction screws coated with SQ Ceramic lamellar layer were selected.
The project in “Canada's Matterhorn” involved the construction of cooking shelter for the campground, founded essentially on a mountain trail 26 km away from the nearest road. Every morning, the construction crew travelled two kilometres to get from their encampment to the work site at the foot of the mountain located on the provincial border between British Columbia and Alberta, where deliveries can only be made by helicopter. The result of the Polish company's cooperation with the contractors is an impressive shelter building, made of wood and blending exceptionally well with the surrounding natural environment.
// Klimas Wkręt-met is a Polish company that has been involved in the market for construction fasteners for more than thirty years, growing to become an industry leader in Central and Eastern Europe. //
SQ Ceramic, synonymous with resistance
“We found the entire construction project exciting," said Slawomir Iwanicki, Export Manager at Klimas Wkręt-met. “However, we knew that the products supplied had to meet the highest standards of resistance, if only because of the harshness of the landscape and the long, sulphurous winters in the region. However, we did not doubt that our construction screws, coated with SQ Ceramic, would cope with such conditions.”
SQ Ceramic is a lamellar coating that Klimas Wkręt-met uses to coat its products. The coating is characterised by extremely effective corrosion protection, despite its relatively thin layer, which is why the technology is readily used in the automotive and aerospace industries. The SQ Ceramic coating consists of a mixture of zinc flakes, aluminium and bonding resins, and thanks to its unique composition, developed in the Klimas Wkręt-met laboratory, it provides 10 x higher protection against corrosion compared to galvanising and 2 x higher protection compared to hot-dip galvanising, achieving corrosion resistance class C4.
In cooperation with scientists
Klimas Wkręt-met is a Polish company that has been involved in the market for construction fasteners for more than thirty years, growing to become an industry leader in Central and Eastern Europe.
However, such a position could not have been achieved if it were not for the constant desire for development. And it always goes hand in hand with science and technology, which is why the company is eager to cooperate with scientists from global universities. This time, Klimas Wkręt-met experts had the pleasure of cooperating with the scientific community from The University of Northern British Columbia.
Response to the voice of the market
Such unusual, often difficult projects become the best practical experience, and sometimes the basis for certain improvements. However, they are always a reason for satisfaction, especially if the contractors too are satisfied with the quality of the products and working with them.
“We have received very positive feedback,” said Sławomir Iwanicki. “Despite the fact that some of the logs were more than 45cm in diameter, our screws coped flawlessly. We also now know that with such extreme challenges and repeated repacking, we need to strengthen the boxes a bit to make the work of the team easier, and this is very valuable knowledge.”
Over 800 Klimas Wkręt-met construction screws of various types were used during the construction of the shelter at the foot of Mont Assiniboine.
// The screw is particularly useful where there is an increased risk of cracking or splitting because the milled ribs facilitate countersinking in different types of wood. //
Eurotec > Hobotec screw now in black
The Hobotec screw from Eurotec can be used to create wood-to-wood connections easily and safely. The screw is particularly useful where there is an increased risk of cracking or splitting because the milled ribs facilitate countersinking in different types of wood. The new type of thread and innovative drilling tip not only ensure a tight fit but also high pull-out resistance. The screw can be used in service classes 1 and 2 according to DIN EN 1995-Eurocode 5 and impresses with its good resistance to mechanical stress. In addition to deck construction, staircase construction and model making, Hobotec is also used in façade construction for carpentry, joinery and roofing. The screw is especially suitable for brittle woods. The Hobotec screw is now also available in black for a distinct façade design.
Elegant façade with carbonised wood
Carbonised wood is wood that has been charred on the surface. This treatment originates from Japan where it is known as ‘Yakisugi’ (Shou Sugi Ban), which means ‘Charred Cedar’. It involves heat-treating wood under controlled conditions so that it carbonises (chars) in its upper layer, thus changing its properties.
Since this process seals the pores of the wood, it becomes weather-resistant, requires no additional protective coating and can be installed outdoors without any treatment at all. However, if the intention is to use carbonised wood indoors, the burnt surface must first be treated with a special coating to prevent it from rubbing off. The Hobotec screw in black is ideally suited for fastening black (carbonised) façade planks.