on a grand scale
The manufacture of the decorative metal screen around the Supreme Court building was overseen by A&G Price
The decorative bronze screen that encompasses the new Supreme Court building is one of the most distinctive features of the project. Bringing the concept design to life was a major challenge, however the screen is the largest artwork to be displayed in New Zealand.
Thames-based heavy engineering company A&G Price was awarded the manufacturing contract. Business development manager Don Blue says the company was selected because of its ability to work within budget and to source 99.9% of the material and labour within New Zealand.
Blue says the company had to provide an engineering solution that would ensure the 88 8m x 2m panels would not be too heavy or costly.
"After 12 months of design reviews, wind tunnel and material testing, the solution was a combination of custom-made, continuously cast sections, cast leaves and branch junctions, and glass flowers."
A&G Price contracted AW Fraser of Christchurch to source suitable scrap copper, and manufacture the 9.5km, 83,000kg custom aluminium bronze section. To cast the profiles and achieve the required texture, colour and engineering, AW Fraser developed a specific chemistry.
"Delivery was another challenge," says Blue. "We adopted a production method that utilised multiple manufacturing fixtures, and worked with two sister companies. RH Freeman in Wellington cut and bent 4500 individual lengths of the continuous cast aluminium bronze section. Laser Sheetmetals in Auckland then assembled and welded 440 of the smaller subassemblies. A&G Price co-ordinated the entire contract, cast the joining leaves, end tips, glass flower keepers and building mounts, fabricated the remaining subassemblies and assembled the 88 panels."
A&G Price
Beach Rd, Thames 3050Phone (07) 868 6060 Fax (07) 868 6060www.agprice.co.nz sales@agprice.co.nz
Story by: Trendsideas
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