Rethink Building with Dincel & Spantec

Innovative Building Solutions with Dincel & Spantec

Bowens had the pleasure of interviewing Phil Peat, Bowens Product Development Manager, who brings over 12 years of invaluable experience to the table.

Phil’s journey within Bowens began as an account manager, swiftly ascending to sales management before securing his current role as Product Development Manager. In this position, Phil plays a crucial role in educating staff and builders about a wide array of innovative products, arranging quotes, and maintaining strong supplier relationships. Bowens caught up with Phil to discuss some of the latest innovative products that can save builders time and money on site.

“Phil plays a crucial role in educating staff and builders about a wide array of innovative products, arranging quotes, and maintaining strong supplier relationships.”

What sort of innovative products do you deal with?

In our innovation range, we have some fantastic products that really make a difference in saving time and money for builders on site. The two main products I specialise in are Dincel and Spantec. Although they may be expensive on paper, in the long run, they save builders time and money through their improved installation processes.

What is Dincel?

 

Dincel is a PVC permanent formwork system designed to create structural walls, offering exceptional strength and waterproofing capabilities. When it comes to installation, it’s a gamechanger. The on-site assembly creates durable, fire-resistant walls, significantly enhancing the building’s structural integrity. Plus, its unique design means we can skip the traditional framework, which saves a ton of time and labour. It’s an excellent alternative to the traditional blockwork.

“Dincel is a PVC permanent formwork system designed to create structural walls, offering exceptional strength and waterproofing capabilities.”

And what about Spantec?

 

Spantec is another gem in our range. It boasts pre-engineered galvanized steel beams that create robust flooring structures. The zinc coating ensures rust resistance, making it highly durable. What’s great about Spantec is that despite its strength, it’s surprisingly lightweight, which makes handling and installation a breeze. Builders can enjoy open floor layouts with long spans and absolutely no need for midspan supports. It’s pre-engineered for precision, making construction efficient and cost-effective for both residential and commercial projects.

“What’s great about Spantec is that despite its strength, it’s surprisingly lightweight, which makes handling and installation a breeze.”

So, both products sound impressive. But you mentioned they might seem a bit pricey. How do they save money in the long run?

That’s a great question. While they may have higher upfront costs, the time and labour savings they offer are substantial. With Dincel, we eliminate the need for additional trades and the labourious process of traditional blockwork, which can lead to significant cost reductions. Similarly, Spantec’s pre-engineered approach streamlines construction, reducing labour hours and making the whole process more cost-efficient. So, in the long run, the initial investment is well worth it for the time and money you save on the project.

“With Dincel, we eliminate the need for additional trades and the labourious process of traditional blockwork  Spantec’s pre-engineered approach streamlines construction, reducing labour hours and making the whole process more cost-efficient.”

What are some of the main questions you get asked about Dincel & Spantec?

For Dincel, the main questions are; is it waterproof? And, is it structural? And the answers a yes on both counts! Dincel is waterproof, and when engineered, it becomes a strong structural wall. This aspect generates a lot of interest among builders, particularly the fact that they can handle the installation themselves, saving time and hassle. It’s a real gamechanger, reducing the need for an additional wet trade early in the build, which is a huge advantage. Now, moving on to Spantec, the first question that often comes up is about its cost. As builders naturally associate steel with higher expenses, they want to know if it’s expensive. However, once they learn about the efficiency of installation, impressive load-bearing capabilities, and the fact that it’s BAL rated up to flame zone, their initial concerns fade away. In fact, it offers a minimum clearance of 190mm to the bottom of the bearer, which is much closer than you get with timber. Another crucial question they ask is about rust. Thanks to its top-class Z450 coating, it’s one of the strongest and most stable steel products available, ensuring long-lasting performance.

Is Spantec easy to install?

Absolutely! Installing Spantec is as simple as putting together an IKEA set. When you receive the materials on-site, everything is cut to the right length, marked, and labelled, ready to go. The instruction manual is incredibly userfriendly, providing clear and easy-tofollow guidelines, including explanations for all brackets. This efficient system makes the installation process lightningfast, and there’s no wastage on-site since everything is precisely cut for your design job. 

“(…) Installing Spantec is as simple as putting together an IKEA set.”

If I am interested in using Spantec or Dincel but have never used it before, can Bowens assist?

 

Certainly! We are here to support you every step of the way. At our training centre in Hastings, you can get handson experience, pulling apart and reassembling Spantec to see just how straightforward it is. I can even visit your site and spend a short amount of time showing you the ropes. The only tool you’ll need for the job is an impact driver – everything else screws together.

For Dincel, we offer training sessions for builders at our centre as well. If you prefer, I can come to your site and guide you through the process, including essential aspects like waterproofing for the cold joint. We’re more than happy to assist even before the job starts. Once the concrete is poured, we can go through all the necessary steps to ensure a smooth installation process.

“At our training centre in Hastings, you can get hands on experience, pulling apart and reassembling Spantec (and Dincel) to see just how straightforward it is.”

How do builders get in touch with you?

For inquiries about the products from our innovation range, feel free to call me on 0423 593 826 or send an email to [email protected]. Whether you have questions about a specific product, need on-site assistance, or wish to book a training session at our Innovation Centre, I am here to assist you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, I’ll be more than happy to help.