News 2010

Australia’s leading provider of thermal building solutions and lightweight architectural panels, Bondor, and leading supplier of architectural facades, HH Robertson, have joined forces to open a state-of-the-art office and manufacturing plant in Wetherill Park, Sydney. The unique $11m plant showcases a combination of Bondor and HH Robertson products, setting a new direction for exterior and interior corporate building design. Bondor NSW State Manager Adam Wade said the new plant aimed to consolidate three previous factories into one while providing clients with a visual representation of Bondor and HH Robertson’s adaptable and aesthetically stylish products.

“The idea was to build an office out of everything we manufacture and distribute to showcase all of our products in the one central location,” Mr Wade said.

“Our new premises demonstrate how exciting steel cladding and internal steel finishing can be, when combined with our range of high pressure laminates, aluminium composites and custom made louvres to create a contemporary design with added functionality.”

Bondor Equitilt® insulated sandwich panels, made from COLORBOND® steel in colours of shale grey and iron stone are used for the exterior walling, resulting in improved office thermal efficiencies due to the thermal capabilities of the panelling. SolarSpan® roofing is used over the reception and MetecnoSpan® roofing is used for the awning over the recreation lunch area. Reynobond® Composite Panels are used as sun shades to comply with part J of the BCA.

Employees and visitors are greeted in the office reception by striking jigsaw puzzle pattern walls made from stock sheets of Trespa® high pressure laminate panels.

Bondor panels are used for partitions around the office work stations in outback red and ironstone colours to create a bright, modern and fresh environment for employees to work.  Boardroom walls are lined with HH Robertson Hurricane Rib and Bold Rib Single Skin sheeting, providing excellent soundproofing due to the deep ribbed steel cladding profiles in the walling.

The air conditioning units were chosen due to their sensor driven energy saving capabilities, creating a more environmentally friendly office. The adjacent factory showcases HH Robertson louvres in the walls and surrounding air conditioning units. The factory walls are made from single skin rollformed steel trimclad profile from Metroll in Colorbond manor red.

Mr Wade commented that the new office and manufacturing facilities have been developed to allow for the strong growth expected in both businesses.

“We have invested over half a million dollars upgrading our main production line, resulting in improved quality and manufacturing efficiencies, allowing us to provide improved customer service,” he said.

The Wetherill Park plant comprises a custom built 8900m2 manufacturing warehouse alongside a 650m2 office, featuring three multi-functional offices, a large boardroom, a formal kitchen, two sets of bathrooms complete with locker rooms, accommodating  around 30 staff. Crawford Architects were engaged to design the sustainable office and factory, with construction carried out by FDC Construction.

Bondor and HH Robertson, part of Metecno Australia, are Australia's leaders in complete thermal building solutions, lightweight architectural panels and architectural facades.

Founded in the 1950s, Bondor offers the most comprehensive range of insulated panel products and systems available. As the developer of the original patented Slip Joint which makes the system work, Bondor is constantly working on solutions for industrial and commercial building customers across Australia.

HH Robertson has supplied premium quality building products and services for 90 years. Today, HH Robertson offers a wide choice of architectural façade panels, cladding and ventilation systems, along with specialised cladding systems such as Trespa high pressure laminate and aluminium composite panels.