Commercial space ventilation can become an interior design statement through technological developments at Gilberts (Blackpool) Ltd.
The company, Britain’s leading air movement specialist, now has the ability to supply any of its aluminium grilles and diffusers in a chrome powder coat finish. The process gives a deep lustre and shine to the units, yet enables the grille or diffuser to be simply wiped clean with a damp cloth. Unlike conventional chroming, there is no risk of tarnishing, corrosion marks or pits, nor having to polish back to a shine if dirty or greasy.
“Like most companies with powder coating facilities, we can already offer a full range of RAL solid colours,” elaborates Gilberts’ sales director Ian Rogers. “Few can offer a true, quality metal finish: historically, even if offered, this has been achieved by foiling, which can be difficult to apply through all planes, and get scratched or damaged.
“Because we provide the whole process in-house, from initial grille or diffuser manufacture through to coating, we have complete control over the quality, every step of the way.”
Gilberts is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of grilles and louvres, and a growing force in the design and supply of ventilation solutions for the public and commercial sectors. Founded over 50 years ago, it is still family-owned and run.
Its Blackpool head office includes an 85000ft2 manufacturing facility, and a state-of-the-art air distribution test laboratory. Gilberts is unique in manufacturing every component in house- even as far as designing and engineering its own tools and dies in its own tool making facility. Its 400m3 test centre is also unique among in-house facilities at UK air movement manufacturers; the centre enables thorough, accurate testing of air distribution grilles, diffusers and natural ventilation terminals to establish their full aerodynamic performance including throw, temperature, pressure and acoustic data.