Today, Astec is a one-stop shop for architects and designers,
a rare being in the global building trade.
FINISH SCURA
FINISH CLASSIC
FINISH NUVOLE
FINISH CHIARA
FINISH MIELE
FINISH CANNA DI FUCILE
FINISH MEDIA
COR-TEN
The finishes
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.
Protective treatment
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: 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. Examples of some of our collaborations include:
- For architect Peter Marino, Astec faithfully recreated a particular “Canna di Fucile” finish, the reference model for this was a indeed a piece from Smith & Wesson.
- In order to win the prestigious contract for the Natuzzi Americas Headquarters, it was key to highlight to the customer the natural link between the beauty of leather sofas and the burnished brass of the façade in the shape of a ship’s bow, emblem of Natuzzi’s “landing” in the United States.
- -For the Stilwerk Design Centre Building in Berlin, Astec created with a cloud effect (“Nuvole” finish), capable of evoking the original idea of wooden cladding.
- The “Classic” finish and colours of 25 Bond Street were made under guidance from the customer and the designer with the successful proposal to weave the worked stone by hand with the metal elements of the façade.
- For the creation of the “Albero della Conoscenza” staircasedesigned by architect Portoghesi, initially conceived in Cor-ten steel, various proposals were considered for the choice of materials and finishing, finally leading to the most natural decision: polished and waxed iron, that maintains the roughness deriving from the laser-cut surfaces, but with bronze finishing.
- For London architect Silvestrin, Astec refined an exclusive finish with a burnt earth effect based on the Panificio Princi project
- For a project curated by architect Mario Bellini, the Baroque exhibition at Stupinigi, a frozen lake image was created on the ground with sheets of blue iron laminate.
- In the collaboration for the Cantina Ca’ Marcanda project in Castegneto Carducci, architect Giovanni Bo chose Astec ABX® for the profiling with a honey finish that integrated as much as possible with the surrounding landscape.
This post is also available in: Italian
