RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 6, 2015 – VMZINC®-US, the international brand name of rolled zinc products manufactured and sold by the Building Products Unit of the Umicore group, has announced that the new zinc-clad aeronautic museum, Aeroscopia, located at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport in southwest France is now open to the public. The curved building, an architectural feat designed by Cardete Huet Architects, will house more than 80 civil and military aircrafts. The exterior is covered with 12,000 square meters of made-to-order dark grey ANTHRA-ZINC® standing seam panels fixed onto steel trusses.

The playful dimension of the museum is heightened by its oblong shape and curved, continuous lines. The ANTHRA-ZINC® surface aspect contrasts with the sleek lines and reflections of the stainless steel of the neighboring Airbus A380 plant, as the matte color avoids the inherent reflections of metal roofs.

The upper part of the building is made up of a VMZINC structural roofing system consisting of ZINC PLUS and rigid mineral wool insulation. It is mounted on a steel panel substructure with a vapor barrier. The zinc is protected on the underside by a composite lacquer, enabling installation without an air gap. This roofing system features numerous advantages, including external insulation minimizing thermal bridges; a lightweight, compact warm roof, contributing to the reduction of the overall weight of the supporting structure; and malleability for the creation of complex, elegant shapes.

Double seam installation is the technique used, with panels that are 0.7 millimeters thick and have a center distance of 19 7/8” (430 millimeters). For steep slopes, intermediary locks minimize the length of the prefabricated zinc elements, making them easier to handle. The zinc was delivered in coils and formed in the workshop by the installation company. Flexible and malleable, this material made work on the curved roof of the Aeroscopia Museum quick and easy.

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“The Aeroscopia Museum is a beautiful example of how VMZINC®’s solutions can have a striking aesthetic impact on a wide range of architectural projects,” said Daniel Nicely, managing director at VMZINC® -US and Umicore Building Products, USA Inc. “We are proud that VMZINC® was selected for use on this innovative museum, which demonstrates the growth of industrial tourism in southwest France, and we are incredibly impressed with the result.”

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ABOUT VMZINC®:

VMZINC® is the international brand name of rolled zinc products manufactured and sold by the Building Products Unit of Umicore. VMZINC®, a leader in the French and Belgian markets and established in 15 countries worldwide, offers an unparalleled range of roofing products and systems, façade cladding, rainwater systems and ornaments. With a large focus on customer satisfaction, VMZINC®’s products and services have become synonymous with high quality, innovation and environmentally sustainable design. As the first company to diversify its range of surface aspects, VMZINC® offers six unique shades of preweathered zinc, in addition to natural zinc. The company strongly identifies with the Umicore Group values of responsibility, performance and progress, and for more than 10 years, VMZINC® has been closely involved with Umicore initiatives to give its operations a sustainable development framework. For additional information, visit http://vmzinc-us.com/.

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