A German manufacturer supplied custom-made aluminum perforated panels for balcony railings as part of a project to fit out an apartment building in Oslo. The panels are designed to complement the railing structure and meet requirements for safety, privacy, and weather resistance.
© Ripo fabrika
The perforated aluminum sheets for balcony railings were supplied by Schäfer Lochbleche. The client was the Latvian company Ripo fabrika SIA, which integrated the panels into an aluminum railing structure. The 2-mm-thick aluminum perforated sheets were powder-coated on both sides and used as infill elements for the balustrades.
Balconies are a defining feature of modern residential architecture and also serve safety functions. Railings and balustrades must be weather-resistant and blend seamlessly into the overall architectural design. Perforated metal sheets offer a combination of stability, privacy, and design flexibility. Depending on the perforation pattern, material, and surface finish, different levels of transparency and design concepts can be achieved.
170 panels for 22 balconies
The scope of delivery included 170 panels with a total area of 163 m² for a total of 22 balconies. Aluminum perforated sheets of the EN AW 1050 R10T15 grade were used. After manufacturing, the sheets were powder-coated on both sides and delivered in the colors RAL 6013 and RAL 1011.
In addition to their functional properties, the uniform perforations also enhance the architectural design of the facade. At the same time, the elements meet requirements for safety, privacy, and weather resistance.
A key focus of the project was the precision manufacturing of the panels. The perforated sheets were tailored to the aluminum railing structure and prepared for installation. Schäfer Lochbleche supported the project from technical coordination through the creation of panel drawings to manufacturing, powder coating, and delivery.
“For this project, the requirements for dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and integration with the existing railing structure were particularly high. Schäfer Lochbleche successfully met these challenges and supported us throughout the entire process,” says Roberts Jēkabsons, Project Manager at Ripo fabrika SIA. “The collaboration and the swift execution contributed significantly to the project’s success.”
Thomas Schmidt, Division Manager at Schäfer Lochbleche, adds: “The project in Oslo demonstrates the importance of close collaboration between the client and the manufacturing partner. Especially when it comes to custom-made components, it is crucial to precisely meet technical requirements. Our collaboration with Ripo fabrika SIA has once again proven its worth.”
© Ripo fabrika
Experience from Joint Projects
The two companies have been collaborating on several projects. In the past, they have jointly developed perforated panels for railing structures, including for residential construction projects in Scandinavia. The experience gained from these projects supports coordinated project management and the implementation of customer-specific requirements.
Schäfer Lochbleche manufactures perforated sheets for applications in architecture, the construction industry, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. A variety of materials, perforation patterns, and finishing options are available for balcony, parapet, and stair structures. The product range includes more than 400 standard perforation patterns as well as project-specific custom designs, including round, square, hexagonal, and slotted perforations, as well as custom design perforations.
The scope of services also includes various processing steps such as punching, bending, laser cutting, straightening, notching, stamping, deburring, anodizing, degreasing, and coating. This allows the components to be prepared for assembly and adapted to the specific project requirements.