TECHNAL’S Opale range of internal office partitions offers a complete solution for today’s constantly evolving commercial environments that demand high flexibility and aesthetics, according to Technal Middle East, the regional office of the France-based aluminium systems provider.

“The Technal Opale partition system is not just a partition wall,” says Hesham Kameshki, Technal Middle East’s marketing and business development manager. “It is a versatile, high-quality and hi-tech product that offers comfort, convenience, design options, high performance, reliability and safety with security – while meeting the highest specifications and conforming to international standards, unlike the locally made commercial ones.”

Technal Middle East, which has utilised the partition system for its own head office and showroom in Bahrain, says Opale offers an extensive range of internal architectural solutions with aluminium frame or glazed panels fixed side by side, which can integrate solid or glazed infills, as well as hinged or sliding aluminium or glass doors. Offered in a choice of three assembly systems – standard partition, with a narrow rail or with recessed junctions – Opale provides vast scope for creative flexibility, he says.

Elegant and versatile, Opale is designed for a range of different environments including hospitals, offices, commercial premises and museums.

Kameshki comments: “In our booming regional markets where business levels fluctuate a great deal, the tendency is to expand and diversify. As such, there is a high demand for office fixtures, such as furniture, workstations and partition walls, which allow flexibility in configuring the internal space.

“The market, therefore, demands products that can be demounted, moved and rearranged conveniently to cater to an organisation’s need to expand and increase the number of workstations in order to accommodate its growing manpower requirements. And only unique products like the Opale partition system can fulfil such needs and deliver advantages.”

Elaborating on Opale’s design features, he says the system offers the possibility of creating framed partitions or using glazed panels that are fixed side by side for a sleek design, and can use a vast variety of infills such as plasterboard or woodchip panels, composite materials, clear glazing, screen-printed designs or safety glass.

In terms of modularity, the Opale partition can be used as a single independent wall or multiple walls adjoining in a single point (two, three or four walls). It does not require modification or need to be cut for installation. Furthermore, the installation can be modified and modules interchanged easily.

Kameshki says the system, which has European Technical Approval (ETA 07/0308), is moveable and removable and is shock resistant to hard and soft body impacts as well as horizontal pressure as tested without permanent deformation or surface alteration.

“Opale solid standard partitions with plasterboard panels deliver an acoustic rating of up to 44 dB. The system has undergone the Schott flame guard test with glazed panels fixed side by side and has been classified as Class E 30 (PF30) in terms of fire resistance,” he adds.

Elaborating on the three different assembly systems that are available to suit all types of projects, he says the standard partition offers an infinite range of configurations and combinations that are easy to move and to disassemble. It can comprise solid or glazed modules, which can be full height, on a solid apron wall, or comprise multi-transom or glazed panels that are fixed side by side.

The second type of assembly – the flat partition with narrow and picture rails – offers a high level of finish and can be enhanced with a variety of decorative touches. Full-height solid or glazed modules are available (fixed or moveable), as are glazed partitions on a solid apron wall, and multi-transom or glazed panels fitted side by side. It features an actuation system to adjust the partition.

Finally, the flat partition with a wooden recess junction is designed primarily to enhance the internal architecture. It features solid full-height modules that are moveable and removable.

Opale incorporates latest technologies.

Opale further enhances the aesthetics of the interiors with vertical or horizontal frames, which can be customised with different beads, while the corners can be straight or rounded. It is also possible to integrate blinds or lighting between the skins of two glazed panels on a wall as well as separate the different electrical and computing wiring using cable channels comprising intelligent integrated trunk frames, which can be concealed or exposed.

Opale can accommodate three types of doors – a 40-mm-thick wooden door, a 6.8- or 8.8-mm-thick safety glass door, or doors with aluminium frames – which are available in hinged and full-access slider versions.

He continues: “As with all Technal systems, only the highest quality materials and components are used, to minimise maintenance, maximise durability and ensure long-term performance. The aluminium profiles are extruded from high-grade alloys such as 6060 T5-T6. The fittings are cast from EN 12844-compliant Zamak 5 alloy, gaskets from EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer); polyamide thermal barriers are extruded from pA6-6 (0.25 FV), while the fixing screws are made of high-grade stainless steel.”

A wide range of finishes and colours is available for the Opale system to meet individual project requirements and enhance existing buildings. Anodised, polyester powder coated and lacquered finishes with exclusive Technal colours are offered for a stylish and contemporary look.

Kameshki says Opale has already been installed on a variety of projects around the globe, right from Ivory Coast to Indonesia. In the region, the product has been used in a number of office buildings in Saudi Arabia and Oman.

“Technal’s designs incorporate the latest technologies to deliver the functional, technical, aesthetic, environmental and economic specifications for each project. The company remains committed to developing products that facilitate enhanced fabrication and installation processes to reduce programme times and further improve quality, and to meet occupiers’ requirements for performance over time,” Kameshki concludes.

Technal Middle East will be promoting its diverse range of new category products including its Opale partition system at The Big 5 2014 in Dubai that will be held from 17 to 20 November, providing its clients with the opportunity to meet the company’s representatives face to face and witness its latest innovations in windows, doors and unitised façade products in a smart display on one of the biggest stands in the show located at Zabeel Hall (Stand G130).