Skills & Expertise

 

Metalline are proud of their skilled and dedicated workforce, without whom we would not be able to provide our clients with the service and craftsmanship we believe they deserve.

Most products manufactured by Metalline involve a number of skills – from the initial interpretation of engineering and architectural drawings, to sheet metal handling, welding and the final finishing techniques. The following section demonstrates the expertise and skills that you will find in our workshop, and will also give you an insight into the life cycle of many of our products.

Engineering Drawings

Many of the products produced by Metalline start life as a vision in the mind of the designing architect. The architect will produce sketch drawings of the overall appearance of a building, and will then produce detailed engineering drawings. It is these engineering drawings that are passed to Metalline so that we can produce the required end product.

Metalline’s skilled workforce will then interpret the drawings, establishing the size and shape to which the sheet aluminium needs to be cut & folded, considering factors such as the thickness of metal and its behaviour when formed.

CNC Punchpress

A skilled CNC operator will program details from the interpreted drawings into a CNC punchpress – high-speed computer controlled machinery for accurately cutting shapes from the aluminium sheet.

The punchpress machines the raw materials accurately and cleanly, and ensures conformity across all panels of a similar type.

Details of the CNC programming is stored on computer for future reference, so if ever additional or replacement panels are required, the designs can be recalled.

Press Brakes

It is at this stage where the sheet is formed into a panel. After being cut or punched, expert press brake operators fold the sheet in accordance with the engineering drawings.

Our experienced operators program the press brakes to bend sheet to exact specification, and often are called upon to provide a more innovative approach in order to maintain premium product quality.

Metalline stand out in the market with our ability to fold aluminium sheet up to 6000mm in length, and pride ourselves on our capabilities in shaping accurate and complex profiles.

Routering

Our routering machine allows the skilled CNC operators to achieve geometric solutions that cannot be produced with standard press brakes.

Boasting a 6000x2000mm air suction bed, the router’s tooling scores the metal sheet to precise depths, to enable folds previously unachievable. Our innovative and ever-increasing capabilities allow Metalline to stand out amongst our competitors.

MIG & TIG Welding

Once cut & folded, many of the aluminium panels produced require welding – either to ensure that the panels are waterproof, or to provide structural stability.

Metalline has a team of highly skilled and certified MIG & TIG welders dedicated to this important task.

Anodised Products

A close working relationship with the UK’s leading anodisers, United Anodisers, coupled with the use of superior grade J57S UP aluminium sheet, allows Metalline to offer the prestigious finish to a building’s façade that is increasingly demanded by today’s discerning designers.

Available in a full range of Anolok anodising finishes, specifiers are now able to enhance the aesthetic look and feel of a building’s façade in a choice of colours including, Natural Silver, Pale Umber, Light, Mid and Dark Bronze, Black, Regency Gold 1 & 2 and specialist Blue Grey finishes.

Once anodised, fabrications are either packed for shipping, or passed to the insulation bonding process as appropriate.

Powder Coating

A tough, polyester powder coating is applied to many of the fabrications produced, providing the required colour for the item. We are able to powder coat all items to most RAL and BS colours.

Once powder coated, fabrications are either packed for shipping, or passed to the insulation bonding process as appropriate.

Insulation Bonding

Insulated panels require that the insulating material is bonded to the inner side of the formed aluminium – a process that is carried out under strict supervision. Our unique 6500x2500mm vacuum bonding presses ensure that the integrity of the bond is uniform throughout the entire panel.

The bonding process uses a solvent free, moisture curing, polyurethane adhesive, able to withstand temperatures of -40°C to +140°C.