At the heart of our finishes lies architectural bronze, a natural and precious material. Its ability to evolve over time without losing value allows us to enhance its qualities with unique treatments. The “dialogue” with bronze —a living and unique material— allows Astec to masterfully highlight its features, showcasing its finishes and original, inimitable surface treatments.
Our passion for art drives us to continuously push boundaries, searching for and creating new shades that meet the tastes and expectations of architects and clients, signing off on projects that are always one of a kind. All of this is achieved without compromising sustainability and environmental care.
Architectural bronze is a natural, 100% recyclable material that can be reused multiple times. Additionally, this alloy reduces bacteria by over 95% within two hours of contact—no other material comes close. Finally, the processes used for finishes and protective treatments employ green technologies with ever more advanced tools.
All of Astec’s products are the result of the care and attention from cutting to assembly, right down to the finishing processes, the subject of continuous innovation, that favor natural oxidization and controlled tones.
The burnishing treatment on copper alloys brings forward, accelerates and stops the natural self-protective process, forming a conversion layer on the surface of the metal (“passivating film”) that protects it from corrosive agents and gives a coloring in a range of browns (light, medium, dark).
In this, the final phase of the production process, the chromatic effects are often unexpected, a peculiarity of bronze’s nature, and make its evaluation very subjective.
It’s exactly the chromatic irregularity of the treated surfaces, both immediately and over time, especially once installed, that make Astec’s products simply unique.
Once the burnishing process has been completed, the products undergo a final protective treatment. Depending on the desired effect, a choice can be made between:
Wax is ideal for protecting copper alloy products without altering its natural ability to change tones over time depending on its exposure to atmospheric agents. This protection does not interfere with the natural self-protection process of copper and its alloys but gives it warm and soft tones that enhance its most appreciated qualities. The maintenance of the products requires only normal cleaning with water and the replacement of a thin layer of wax once a year.
Nanocoat represents Astec’s latest innovation in protective treatments, a valid alternative to wax treatment. Protective nano-technology based on special silicone-ceramic polymers, Nanocoat melts into the metal on which it is applied and doesn’t make it any thicker nor alters the surface. It has excellent resistance to atmospheric agents, high temperatures, UV rays, abrasion, oxidization and corrosion. It maintains an homogeneous appearance of tones allowing for a slow and undetectable ageing process. It is what we have come to expect of this noble material with Astec finishes that distinguish it from painting. Surfaces treated with Nanocoat only require regular cleaning.
Astec’s “Finishing Workshop” is the ideal place for research, experimentation, passion and talent to come alive, for every single project, special treatment and protection.
Every single project is carried out in collaborations with talented architects throughout the world. Astec has always engaged with architects and real estate visionaries to satisfy the expectations of a particularly exacting clientèle.
