What is the EJOT UK Applitec Centre?

Fastener knowledge, including which products to use for a given application and the correct way to install them, is crucial in ensuring a building envelope delivers on its promise. But how can roofing and fa?ade designers and installers, as well as OEMs, stay ahead of the curve and make sure their fastener choices are most suitable?

One of the ways EJOT UK is helping the industry here is through its dedicated state-of-the-art facility which enables it to provide specialist training, testing and technical support in the most comprehensive way. This is called the Applitec Centre, a recently expanded resource within its HQ and production facility in Yorkshire.

At the forefront of building envelope innovation

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

As fasteners 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 can look remarkably similar. Slight differences in the design of systems or changes to the substrates used, however, could mean the fixing approach needs to change too, and that could mean EJOT will recommend using a different product completely or tweaking the technique for installation.

It is important to recognise this, as the quality of the fixings can often be the difference between a substandard roofing or cladding installation and a first-rate job. After all, fasteners have to provide the most secure attachment, capable of resisting the forces generated through wind loads. They also have to ensure the envelope achieves its air—and water-tightness goals to maximise thermal performance within the building and prevent leaks.

The EJOT UK team, therefore, is leading the fastener industry by dedicating resources to supporting building envelope designers, product manufacturers, installers, and independent inspectors in incorporating the latest fastener technology into their projects with confidence. It is a long-term strategy that drove investment to create its first application technology (“appli-tec”) centre back in 2017, and this has now been expanded with the creation of a whole new 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, complete with extra floor space within the laboratory and enhancements to its environmental testing facilities, which are used to conduct salt spray and UV exposure tests, amongst many other aspects that impact the environment and sustainability.

This investment has created an Applitec Centre that facilitates testing in a number of areas, principally associated with the mechanical properties of fasteners, materials science and environmental performance. This 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 can start early in the building envelope supply chain when EJOT works 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

One of the first things visitors notice when entering the Applitec Centre for the first time is a large test rig. This is a versatile fixture 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 permanent and 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.

How does the rig enable installers to hone their skills and learn new techniques when working with EJOT fasteners? One example is, 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 team 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.

And the rig is used for internal staff training too. For example, it enables the technical team to provide every member of the EJOT UK team with training on the principles of how to install a roof, and the rig can be used for expert level training, such as for members of the CFA (Construction Fixings Association).

Enabling the creation of best practice resources

One of the other ways EJOT utilises the Applitec Centre is to develop its suite of best practice resources. With time at a premium for installers, OEMs and specifiers, not everyone who wants to visit the Applitec Centre for in-person training will be able to do so, but that does not prevent them from benefiting from EJOT’s knowledge and advice.

This is because of the wide range of resources EJOT creates. For example, 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...