In the last few decades, sandwich panels have proved to be a revolutionary solution in the construction industry.
By definition, this material is a self-supporting component that serves two concurrent purposes ' partitioning (roof or wall) and thermal insulation.

KUKU PANEL are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

6 reasons to choose sandwich panels

The sandwich panels vary by:

• length (2 to 18 m)
• thickness (40 to 230 mm)
• core type (EPS, mineral wool, polyurethane)
• profile (smooth, micro-profile, clearline, grooved etc.)
• protective coatings (polyester SP, SP polyester Mat Pearl, Cesar PUR 55, aluzinc), with panels also used with stainless steel cladding
• cladding colours (both external and internal)

Every panel consists of several layers: core with thermal insulation, steel claddings (external and internal) and coatings protecting from mechanical damage and corrosion.

REASON NO. 1.

"TIME IS MONEY"

For example, let's compare two popular technologies used in warehouse building construction.
In the first case the external partitions consist of double brick walls, while in the second case they consist of sandwich panels.

By selecting the first case we have to order the following works: wall construction, thermal insulation installation and, finally, external layer installation.

By selecting sandwich panels, the construction process is far less complicated and thus quicker and, most importantly, cheaper. Panels are finished components, suitable for easy installation, e.g. to a steel structure.

Considering the present situation on the construction services market, working time plays a key role in the cost optimisation process. The quicker the structure is completed, the less we spend on construction service costs, which have increased significantly in recent years. The rapid structure completion process also translates to earlier commencement of occupancy, which improves the return on investment for business projects.

REASON NO. 2.

"THREE CORES OR SOLUTIONS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC NEEDS"

Sandwich panels are available in three basic variants. Each uses a specific panel core. Thus there are materials with cores made of polyurethane, mineral wool and EPS. Each of these solutions is intended to meet specific needs.

Polyurethane-core sandwich panels

Polyurethane is the best and most commonly used thermal insulation material on the market. After many years of market domination by older materials, such as mineral wool or EPS, today they are being replaced by better equivalents in the residential construction market, in the form of panels made of hard polyurethane foam ' Thermano.

Sandwich panels with this core are primarily distinguished by better thermal insulation properties. The lambda of 0.022 W/mK has no equal, meaning that this type of material is selected by project owners seeking to reduce the total heating costs.

Another benefit of using this type of panel is the potential to save space inside the building. Better thermal insulation of the partitions translates to lower wall thicknesses, compared to other types of panels or masonry, while maintaining the same thermal insulation parameters.

Another equally important benefit is the lower density of the material from which the core is made (40 kg/m3). This simplifies installation significantly, because no special tools or equipment are required on the project site.

Sandwich panels with a mineral wool core

The second type of panel has two advantages ' fire resistance and soundproofing efficiency. One feature of mineral wools is their behaviour in fires. Selected panels manufactured by Balex Metal are EI 240-rated, meaning that both the sealing and the fire rating of the partition is maintained for 240 minutes. This is enough time for people to leave the building safely as well as minimising the potential losses resulting from the fire.

Another important feature is to have a partition designed to prevent the transmission of excessive noise. The best panel versions feature good soundproofing capabilities, which in practice translates to a soundproofing effectiveness of up to 33 db.

Panels with an EPS core

The history of sandwich panels began with EPS (polystyrene). However, this type of core has been gradually replaced by mineral wool and, primarily, by polyurethane.

If we compare all three types of panel, EPS lies between the mineral wool and the polyurethane in terms of thermal insulation properties; however it is inferior to mineral wool in its reaction to fire.

Sandwich panels with an EPS core are, in turn, a budget solution that can be used successfully whenever there are no stringent requirements for fire resistance or thermal insulation.

Panel joints

It is also possible to join the panels. This applies to the panel types featuring polyurethane or mineral wool cores. This is possible both for panels with exposed fasteners (standard type) and concealed fasteners (type plus).

Contact us to discuss your requirements of pu sandwich panel. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

REASON NO. 3.

"HOW ABOUT... CONNECTING MULTIPLE COLOURS?"

Apart from the basic functions of industrial structures, attention is increasingly being paid to aesthetics. The look of our place of business, whether it be a warehouse, manufacturing plant, store or car showroom, often determines the level of trust in the brand. This is why adding unique character by the project owner to the project has become so important.

Balex Metal provides many interesting solutions, with a range of profiles, coating types (e.g. mat) and cladding colours (more than 30 different colours).

A range of selected designs can be connected freely, which can give spectacular results that attracts attention and highlights the type of business, whether the style is more classical or modern.

Due to the non-porous surface, sandwich panels are quick and easy to clean. Standard pressure washers are perfect for this purpose. The panel coating materials are completely resistant to water jet impact, thus regular cleaning will keep the structure looking new for many years.

REASON NO. 4.

"ALL MATERIALS FROM ONE MANUFACTURER"

Balex Metal panels are available with a full range of accessories. These include flashings (in any colour, including the panel colour) and all kinds of fasteners to allow panels to be fitted to any substrate (steel, reinforced concrete or wood). The project owner can also choose from a wide range of seals and gaskets to ensure the highest sealing of the partitions.

When choosing sandwich panels, the best possible access by light should also be considered. This can be provided by small windows made of polyester, which are also available with dedicated flashings. Thanks to this, the result is an appealing and well-protected structure that protects against external conditions.

REASON NO. 5.

"IMAGINATION IS THE LIMIT"

Sandwich panel structures can be freely arranged. The material is easy to process, so buildings can be designed with windows and gates wherever required.

REASON NO. 6.

"VERSATILE APPLICATION"

In travelling the length and breadth of Europe, you cannot miss the hundreds of structures made using sandwich panels. Interestingly, today these are not only industrial structures. Residential projects are becoming increasingly popular, with many design offices even creating ready concepts based on such applications.

Sandwich panels are available in wall and roof versions, which are typical for the following types of structures:

Sandwich panels manufactured by TSSC for cold storage purposes. The lightweight metal sheets are either profiled or non-profiled and are filled with insulation material between them. The durable and low maintenance insulated sandwich panels provide effective ways to construct cold rooms and warehouse storage facilities. These maintain a spectrum of temperature between 15 degrees C to -40 degrees C and provide short and long term storage and transportation of food and related raw materials, of required organs and cadavers at hospitals and morgues and other materials that require preservation. 

Also, East African countries have developed sustainably beneficent and efficient methods of farming which has led to higher food production. Without proper preservation and storage, through warehousing, cold room and mobile cold stores, it is not possible to successfully benefit from this higher agricultural produce. Besides the naturally extreme and harsh climate of Saharan and sub-Saharan East Africa, these countries have also felt the effects of global warming and acute food shortages in many areas. This requires food and other perishable commodities to be preserved by the construction of cold store sandwich panels in East Africa, which goes into the making of warehouses, cold rooms and mobile preservation facilities.

 Some of the distinct reasons to invest in sandwich panels in East Africa are:

Strong Insulation:

One of the major reasons to invest in sandwich panels is the superior insulation material that is used to fill the space between the metal sheets. Usually this is mineral wool or mostly polyurethane that is injected under high pressure into the space between the panels. Also, further insulation is provided by UV-resistant special paint that coats the metal panels and reflects both thermal and light energies. This combined heavy insulation keeps and regulates the temperature in the warehouses, cold rooms, chillers, freezers and mobile refrigerating facilities between the required range of 15 degrees and -40 degrees C and preserves food and related supplies for short and long terms.

Ease of Installation and Construction:

It is very easy to install and assemble the sandwich panels with minimum labor and low costs. The innovative and unique slip joint and cam lock technologies make it very easy to assemble and join multiple sandwich panels in East Africa. Whether being used for the construction of large warehouses or mobile refrigerators, the TSSC sandwich panels are flexible to assemble, join and also dismantle in installation or transportation processes.

Low Cost Maintenance:

TSSC sandwich panels have zero maintenance costs as the insulating polyurethane is both low cost and does not need to be regularly replaced. Apart from the long term durability of the insulation, the metal panels are also smooth, streamlined and structurally minimalist, thus requiring very limited maintenance.

Non-Toxic, Waterproof and Resistant to Combust:

The cold store sandwich panels in East Africa manufactured by TSSC are structurally strong and streamlined in their fittings making them both leak and waterproof. The insulation material is non-toxic and so are the paints that coat the profiled or non-profiled metal sheets. The insulation core meets both FDA and FM requirements and the sandwich panels are fire-resistant for over an hour and also helps limit the spread of fire. However, it is best to consider factors such as the duration of fire-resistance, the height of the buildings in which  the warehouses and cold room facilities are housed, and the type of core. It is best to have polyurethane or PIR Core for resistance to fire.

Durability

All the reasons mentioned above point towards a strong and durable character of the sandwich panels. The durability of TSSC panels, their flexibility and low costs of buying, labor and maintenance make them the quality choice for your warehouse and refrigeration facilities.

The strength, durability, low cost, flexibility and structural aesthetics of cold store sandwich panels by TSSC make them the highest quality choice you can find in the market. TSSC uses innovative preservation, lock, and insulation technologies to give you a unique experience in food storage in East Africa.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit clean room systems.

Final words