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Feature - Aluminium Composite Panels
7/9/2010Build the Future
Aluminium composite panels are the hi-tech route to sustainable, contemporary buildings that marry style and utility, writes TEJASWINI PATWARDHAN.
The skyline of every Indian metro is undergoing a dramatic transformation with the building boom. Skyscrapers, shopping malls, theme parks and swank apartment buildings all speak to an aesthetic sensibility and technical execution that are completely world-class.
"Whether it is through the media or his own globetrotting experience, a middle-class Indian, at least in the metros, is being exposed to the best in the world," says Rishiraj Kulkarni, Partner, Rishiraj Builders. "Cities and buildings in India now have to reflect this modern attitude and lifestyle trend." That’s why, according to Kulkarni, advanced building materials such as aluminium composite panels (ACP) are in great demand as they endow structures with an international, contemporary feel.
The advantages
"ACP is mainly used to give the building façade a modern look and for aesthetically covering beams, columns and pillars," he says. "It is widely used in the construction for the industrial, commercial and entertainment sectors." Another advantage Kulkarni elaborates upon is the fact that ACP requires only occasional cleaning compared to conventional RCC structures that need to be repainted, which makes it cost-effective and easier to maintain.
Sonal Shah, PR Manager, Eurobond, one of the premier suppliers of ACP, agrees, adding, "ACP is also extra-resistant against corrosion, chalking, and colour fading. It protects from dampness and seepage and is environment-friendly. ACP is also lighter and stronger than conventional materials like marble or granite. Thanks to the fact that aluminium can be painted in any kind of colour, ACP is produced in a wide range of metallic and non-metallic colours as well as patterns that imitate other materials, such as wood or marble."
