The design intention for the Westfield extension, now a premier shopping and social venue, was for Jura Limestone to surround a significant part of the exterior of the building and small sections of the interior. Rather than use the stone itself, Powdertech expertise, combined with the flexibility and design freedom of aluminium and powder coating, enabled the vision to be quickly realised.

A sample of Jura limestone was sent to Powdertech where tests of different powders and effects were compared against the limestone which has natural veins of quartz and fossils appearing against a beige background. Test samples were sent back to the client and within four weeks ‘Ballycastle Stone’ was ready to be applied to the panels. It was essential to achieve colour consistency between batches and powder coatings excel in this aspect. The overall effect on the finished building is an homogenous appearance of stone, across the whole, but with variations in flecks of colour against the background, just as in the stone itself. The powder coating will provide excellent corrosion protection and has an external life expectancy of up to 40-years.

“We were delighted to demonstrate our expertise for colour and texture matching and the final result vindicates our passion for this aspect of our work,” concluded Richard Besant.