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Insight into the 2020 EQUITONE Antwerp factory tour
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions and the need to keep our staff and customers safe, EQUITONE has been unable to extend our annual factory invite this year. Instead, we asked one of our previous guests to blog about his experience from January 2020.
Starters orders
What an opportunity for me. A colleague was unable to accept the invitation to attend the factory tour and I gladly accepted the offer. Who would not want to visit Belgium for its bikes and beers?
Having previously been to Brussels, Brugge, Gent and other places following the Ronde van Vlannderen (a well-known professional bicycle race if you do not know) this would be a good chance to visit Antwerp and experience its architecture and ambience.
Dinner and guest speakers / Stage One
Travelling from London to Brussels and onto the hotel in Antwerp was very easy to navigate with all the information provided by the EQUITONE team which made the travel experience very relaxing. The first evening was time to enjoy a private tour and dinner at the Queen Elisabeth Hall and getting a chance to meet the other 46 global architects invited to get to know EQUITONE. The highlight of the evening being guest speakers from Simpson Haugh Architects presenting their remodelling work to the hall, with a very personal touch.
EQUITONE Factory tour and workshops / Stage Two
The following day was the main event with workshops and the factory tour scheduled. We were divided into four groups with three doing workshops with the remaining group doing the production facility tour. It was amazing to see the effort the EQUITONE / Etex team had done with the workshops and hospitality.
The workshops:
‘A Circular future for EQUITONE’. The high level of commitment EQUITONE is going through to make the product better and better for the environment and their targets for a circular economy. We know this is still work in progress but seeing the progress first-hand made the issues more tangible.
‘2nd life for samples – EQUITONE hack’. This was a very enjoyable and hands-on workshop and gave us the opportunity to work with the material. It made me very aware of the wastage when, as Architects or designers we readily request samples, review them briefly and then quickly dispose of them when the colour or texture is not correct or suitable.
‘EQUITONE support through the design and construction process’. Another very interesting workshop learning how EQUITONE can assist in the technical development of the project. EQUITONE is a great material because of its through- colour. The benefits of the through-colour on the edge leads designers into using EQUITONE in more imaginative ways as there are less issues on the edge detail as the material is not just a surface finish. The Hong Kong Museum of Art Bobby and Rob (from the Technical Team) presented as a case study was a great example of the EQUITONE strength and versatility.
‘EQUITONE production site visit’. It is always interesting to see a production facility where the raw materials are received and moulded into a product. Unfortunately, we visited during winter so maybe not as enjoyable if it was done during spring but still a rewarding experience! The location must have been well considered when it was first built to use the canal to transport raw materials to the facility and provide water for the manufacturing.
Closing remarks / The Final Sprint
The high level of commitment EQUITONE is going through to manufacture the products efficiently, minimise the impact on the environment and target a circular economy is extremely encouraging to witness.
As a group, we knew this is still work in progress, but observing the progress first-hand made the issues more tangible. EQUITONE has actively engaged with Architects to find out issues or concerns they may have and how these could be overcome. This is the first company I have known to actively engage with the Architects in this way.
EQUITONE has many so many advantages as a rainscreen material making it very applicable in the current market. Features such as fire resistance, fixing options to suit budgets, maintenance, lifespan and eco-friendly make it an ideal rainscreen façade material.
By Grant Milne, Senior Technician, Design International based in London.
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