Cover Story | HARDWARE & SEALANTS

Of Nuts & Bolts

There’s much more than that meets the eye in a glass-based solution, and that’s where the new business opportunity lies 

Hardware and sealants are two ingredients without which the dish of glass simply cannot be cooked. This is because, though glass is most visible in an application and also forms the chunk of the investment, selection of hardware and sealant requires greater technical skill. In fact, their wrong selection is often the reason why a glass application may fail.

Gaurav Sethi	Amit Sehgal	Deepak Bakshi

While glass continues to find application in more and more arenas of the built environment, the performance requirements of the ‘solution’ keeps changing. So, load on the glass of similar thickness and size may be different in an envelope, a lift wall and an atrium. Human impact on glass in a display window, a staircase and a sliding door too may vary. What holds up the glass and keeps it performing for years to come is the hardware and the sealant/adhesive combine - the components that are barely visible.

Providing glass solutions is, therefore, more important than simply peddling glass. But it is easier said than done. Because this approach of doing business requires in-depth knowledge of not only how glass performs, but also which hardware is suited for a specific solution and what sealant-adhesive combinations can ensure that the solution continues to function with the same efficiency for many years.

It is hardly surprising when Gaurav Sethi (gaurav@dormadelhi.com), director at hardware specialist Dorma India Pvt Ltd, asserts, “We don’t offer products, only solutions.” According to Sethi, it is the fittings that provide strength to any glass structure. “The complete stability of the whole system including glass depends on the fittings, their design, load-bearing capacity and, of course, quality. For any new project or even at the retail level, we ask for the architect’s design, and accordingly our technical team advises the most suitable products. For instance, the criteria for selecting glass fittings for exteriors are elements like wind pressure and rain, while for the interiors the governing factors are safety, security and aesthetics.”

Sethi emphasises that it is very important to educate hardware installers so that they are able to impart the right fit. “At our Chennai centre, we keep on training people of the trade, not only about installation practices, but also about the latest technology. By doing this, we make sure that these people are qualified enough to handle glass hardware. Through our training initiative we are building a pool of technicians whose careful work can prevent mishaps and preserve the safety of building occupants. Glass as we all know is a fragile material, hence consistent performance and low maintenance features of fittings is a must.”

Dorma, the Germany-based global leader in architectural hardware, set up its Indian operations nearly 11 years ago and remained focussed on institutional marketing till recently. Sethi informs that now the retail rollout has started in the form of Dorma Pro and Connect. He points out that all these sale points have one thing in common, that at least one of their team members have received formal training at Dorma.

The role of hardware is further highlighted by Amit Sehgal (amit.sehgal@ozone-india.com), operations director of Delhi-based Ozone Overseas Ltd. Any glass solution, he says, is a joint effort of the processor and hardware supplier. “The glass size and thickness will depend upon the structural load, and it is the responsibility of the hardware supplier to provide suitable hardware to meet the structural and aesthetic needs,so that the application is safe andsecure, and meets the requirements of the building.”

“The use of frameless glass in facades and shop fronts has been made possible due to availability of innovative hardware. With point fittings like spiders, today we can create frameless facades which have the ability to withstand seismic pressures, the weather, and wind loads, and yet keep buildings safe and secure. At the same time the hardware allows the use of special glasses like insulated glass and bullet proof glass,” he adds.

Sehgal suggests that stainless steel is the most suitable hardware material for frameless glass applications due to its high tensile strength, aesthetic value and zero maintenance. “It is always safe to use AISI 316 grade stainless steel hardware for glass facades, as these are load bearing structures and need to continue performing for decades. At the same time, only application-specific fittings withthe prescribed load bearing capability should be used.”

Ozone offers a formidable range of hardware fittings for architectural, residential and commercial applications, and has been a trail blazer of sorts in making SS hardware popular in India. In just over a decade, the company has emerged as the fastest growing hardware company in terms of geographical presence and product range. Recently it raised Rs 60 crore from private equity firm Everstone Capital, whichit will utilise for ramping up its manufacturing and brand building activities and distribution network.

Sealants and adhesives make up the other component that holds up a glass solution and keeps its functional. The sealant seals joints between glass and aluminium panels and makes sure rain water, air and dust do not creep inside, while also offering panels margin for expansion and contraction. In fact there are special sealants that help the glass structure resist the impact ofbomb explosions.

The importance of sealants is brought out by Deepak Bakshi (deepak.bakshi@alstoneindia.com), national head of Alstone India Pvt Ltd. He explains that glass makers and designers work closely with sealant specialists like Alstone to make sure that the facade performs to expectations. “Our expertise and services are required at various levels such as testing of the sealant, installation of glass panels, and of course at the time of post-installation checks,” he says (See Sealing a Knowledge Gap).

Infrastructure is mushrooming at a rapid pace across the country, and its appetite for glass, hardware and sealants is never ending. Clearly, mastering the nuts and bolts of the glass business, or glass solutions to be politically correct, is the new imperative.