Project Details
In June 2009 a customer asked Planex for an acoustically effective material which could also be used for sun protection purposes. Further requirements were excellent folding properties and an optically attractive look for indoor usage.
Basic project information
The requirement was to build a membrane inside a glass dome of an event venue in a Kazakh hotel. The membrane had to be able to provide shade in summer, to darken the event venue whenever necessary, and to provide good room acoustics. A membrane with an area of 470 square metres (562 square yards) hat to be tailored absolutely accurately to fit the hemispherical shape of the glass dome. Connections for the moving mechanism had to be fitted. The material had to be able to endure the long-term stress caused by repetitive folding and unfolding.
High demands on the material
In order to find a suitable material, Planex ordered the German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research to perform a folding endurance test according to DIN 53359. The Blum Laboratory performed biaxial tension tests to analyze the strength of the material and of the seams. The results were very good. Further tests (stress-strain characteristics and relaxation characteristics) also were without complaints.
The Realization - a challenge for man and machine
Drawings, cutting layouts and detailed plans were prepared with the manufacturing department. The layout of the cuts, the seam allowance and other functional and technical aspects were defined. To guarantee a perfect fit, a CNC cutter was used to cut the membrane segments based on DWG drawings. The seams were made with a high frequency welder to achieve extremely resistant connections. Pockets were fitted to protect the radially running straps from UV radiation.
The course of the project - fast and on time
Only five months passed between signing of the contract and completion of the foldable membrane. Katrin Ref, project manager at Planex, was responsible for purchasing and testing materials, coordinating suppliers and planners and organising the in-house manufacturing process. The membrane was delivered on time in June 2010.
