FEATURED VIDEO: How EJOT UK’s Applitec Centre is extending skills and training support

Without the right fastener knowledge and installation techniques, building envelopes could fail to deliver on their promise. Hence why EJOT UK is dedicated to providing specialist training, testing and technical support to the industry in the most comprehensive way at its state-of-the-art Applitec Centre in Yorkshire.

Product innovation in the roofing and cladding sector is continually raising the bar in terms of the building envelope performance and longevity. For clients to optimise the benefits of these advanced systems, fixings and other components, however, it is important that everyone involved in the building envelope supply chain is aware of these latest developments – and understands their potential.

As products evolve and new ones are launched, it can be easy to assume that they are largely the same as what has come before, especially when they look remarkably similar. But where fasteners are concerned, slight differences in the design of systems or changes to the substrates used could mean the fixing approach needs to change too. That could mean using a different product completely or tweaking the technique for installation.

There can be fine margins between what makes a roofing or cladding installation sub-standard and first-rate, and it is the quality of the fixings that can often be the difference. This reflects the crucial role that fasteners play in providing a secure attachment that must resist the forces generated through wind loads, as well as ensuring the envelope achieves its air- and water-tightness goals to maximise thermal performance within the building and prevent leaks.

EJOT UK believes, therefore, that the fastener industry must dedicate resources to supporting building envelope designers, product manufacturers, installers and independent inspectors to incorporate the latest fastener technology into their projects with confidence. And that’s one of the key reasons why the company invested in creating an application technology (“appli-tec”) centre back in 2017, which it has now taken to a whole new level in its latest facility.

Creating a world-class R&D, testing and training facility

In 2022, EJOT completed a multi-million pound extension to its Yorkshire HQ and manufacturing centre. This new building was designed from the outset to include an expanded Applitec Centre, not only in terms of increasing the floor space within the laboratory but to enhance its environmental testing facilities. These are used to conduct salt spray and UV exposure tests, amongst many other aspects that impact environment and sustainability.

Today’s Applitec Centre facilitates testing in a number of areas, principally associated with the mechanical properties of fasteners, materials science and – of course – environmental performance. The facility supports EJOT customers in both the construction and industrial sectors, with the latter including premium car manufacturers who rely on its fastening technology to achieve their ongoing remit to design lighter and build stronger.

EJOT UK’s vision was always to serve these very different markets in a single progressive arena given the similarity of the challenges facing designers and OEMs in both sectors, and enable easy knowledge-sharing between engineers in the two. As a result, the Applitec Centre includes advanced technology and equipment of a standard that is normally only associated with academic research laboratories.

The purpose of the Applitec Centre, however, is much broader than R&D – it is also about training and helping everyone in the sector understand how to get the most from EJOT fasteners. This starts early in the building envelope supply chain by allowing EJOT to work closely with OEMs in their development of new products and systems, such as by simulating real world fastening applications and confirming their performance before their launch. But one of the biggest benefits to the industry is how it facilitates installer training.

Helping installers get it right first time on-site

The Applitec Centre features a large test rig which gives the technical team the opportunity to demonstrate how EJOT fasteners work in practice when fixing roofing and cladding panels to purlins, for example. It is a permanent fixture which is used continuously, not only for training but in testing, such as to check fasteners as part of its quality control processes, or for R&D.

The rig enables installers to hone their skills and learn new techniques when working with EJOT fasteners. For example, ahead of a project start, representatives from the installation team and system providers can use the Applitec Centre to collaborate and work with the exact fasteners and metal sheets specified for the project. This helps them to perfect their approach, fully supported by EJOT’s technical team.

EJOT’s training, however, is not limited to project-specific applications. The company can also accommodate the needs of installers, building envelope designers or specifiers seeking to develop their fastener knowledge and skills more generally through team training sessions, helping them do their job better and demonstrate their competence. This is going to become ever more important under the construction industry’s stricter building safety regime, led by initiatives such as the JCI (Joint Competence Initiative).

The rig is also used for internal staff training, which includes providing every member of the EJOT UK team with the opportunity to understand the principles of how to install a roof, as well as expert level training for members of the CFA (Construction Fixings Association).

Enabling the creation of best practice resources

Another benefit of the Applitec Centre is that it provides EJOT with a first-class facility to develop a suite of best practice resources. The company acknowledges that not everyone will be able to attend its site in person, but that should not prevent them from benefiting from its knowledge and advice to help them use EJOT fasteners correctly.

One of the ways EJOT does this is by creating videos showing how to install specific types of roofing and cladding products using EJOT fasteners, along with comprehensive printed guides for many key products. These resources are published online and freely available for anyone to access, including its best practice for using self-drilling fasteners.

These videos, which aim to prevent issues resulting from using the wrong tools or driver settings, have been developed over time in the Applitec Centre and have already been viewed thousands of times. Similar best practice videos have also been produced for some of EJOT’s flat roofing fastening systems, which have proved to be equally popular with installers on its YouTube channel.

Ultimately, what EJOT UK has created with the Applitec Centre is a high quality facility that enables the company to extend its industry support. This helps the complete supply chain deliver finished building envelopes that are more sustainable and offer the optimum long term performance. This reflects the important role that fasteners perform and why EJOT UK sees it as a priority to continue investing in the facility’s capabilities.

Find out more about the EJOT UK Applitec Centre at www.ejot.co.uk/EJOT-Applitec-Construction.

EJOT UK
Hurricane Close
Sherburn Enterprise Park
Sherburn-in-Elmet
Leeds
LS25 6PB
UK

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