Powder coating an image of evolution
May 2016

Architectural metal finisher, Powdertech Corby, has applied powder coating in a recent project to reveal the precision of a fascinating design through the use of perforated aluminium panels.

The project is part of the Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre near Cambridge. Referred to as the 'Kitchen Garden Enclosure Scheme', a spectacular glass dome has been built over the heritage kitchen garden to provide additional conference and exhibition space. 
The focal point within the newly designed centre is a perforated metal 'skin' created around the Francis Crick Auditorium. This structure, at almost 100m circumference, is clad in curved perforated aluminium panels up to 6m high. The circular perforations have infinitesimal differences in size and pitch, barely visible to the naked eye. They are distributed across the panel, and when coated, create a design, like a pixelated image, depicting the evolution of life.

Powder coating the individual 2.0m by 0.9m panels needed care and attention to ensure that powder penetrated even the smallest perforation in order that the image would be fully revealed. The panels were only 3mm thick, with a border frame to retain the curved shape and enable them to be accurately bolted together. Different finishes were trialled using sample panels with RAL 1035 matt pearlescent beige being chosen as the final colour. Powdertech pre-treated and coated the panels on both sides. Powder coating the perforations revealed the underlying image by creating darker and lighter areas on the panels.

"This was an exacting and fascinating project to work on. We were even filmed in the process!" said Powdertech Sales and Marketing Director Richard Besant, " An introductory video showing how the centre was developed is shown in the auditorium where our powder coating finish is at eye level - close up and touchable."

www.powdertechcorby.co.uk