Architects with a vision for flush surfaces and a minimalist contemporary look often source their components from Sugatsune. The Japanese manufacturer has a reputation for innovation, and many of its products are ideal for the creation of sheer surfaces. Examples come in the form of adjustable concealed hinges that give ideal gap control, and sophisticated motion-control mechanisms for doors that silently swing or slide open.
Alongside flush doors, many commercial interiors will have a requirement for panels that need periodic removal, giving access to services hidden beneath – both on walls and ceilings. A pocket door, for example, may require access to the mechanism for cleaning. Some hotels will have to break open the wall for routine maintenance, but a removable panel is a much more sensible choice.
An entire wall can be clad in removable panels, allowing easy replacement following wear and tear or a seasonal change in a space. The panels will require fixings, and where flush, the fixings used will have to be extremely accurate to avoid unparalleled gaps.
Sugatsune is primarily a manufacturer, assuring the quality and high standards of industrial design of all of its products. Every so often, the company may come across a product made by another manufacturer that meets its own stringent standards while fulfilling a niche it has yet to occupy.
One such product is the Fastmount panel mounting system. Fastmount is an Auckland-based company with a high-performance product that grew out of the marine interiors industry. The Fastmount panel mounting system is accurate and quick to install, and is designed for repeated removal and reapplication of the surface while maintaining seamless alignment. Interchangeable male and female clips allow for a range of materials and fixing styles, giving the designer the flexibility needed.
For flush surfaces it’s essential to accomplish flawless accuracy, no matter how often the panels are changed. The design of the clips and their fixings is as well thought through as a Sugatsune product, with a high quality of manufacture. Sugatsune will now offer it as its own panel fixing solution – which is a rare thing for the company to do. The Fastmount system will soon feature in the UK catalogue, and will also be offered by Sugatsune in Japan and America.
