Highly durable and infinitely recyclable, stainless steel is an ideal medium for architectural expression

From nuts and bolts to undulating mirrored façades, Steel & Tube has been supplying the New Zealand construction industry for 70 years. While many of their products are designed to fly under the radar, the Rimex Architectural Metal Finishes range gives architects and designers the opportunity to create eye-catching finishes and stunning works of art in interior and exterior applications. 

Rimex Metals Group has been producing surface finishes on stainless steel and other metals for the global market since 1959. Through Steel & Tube, specifiers have access to an extensive range of Rimex metal products — all of which can be customised to fit a project’s unique requirements.

The possibilities are endless with Rimex

“We have standard designs with preset artwork, as well as the capacity to do custom designs. Custom designs are easily produced by transferring artwork onto the stainless steel, or other metal, and can be simple or complex — using several finishing techniques, such as the ColourTex or bead blasting processes, colour stripping, or any of the other Rimex processes,” says Steel & Tube Product Manager, Colin Hampson. 

Stainless steel is widely used in construction due to its durability and corrosion resistance. Plus, as it is infinitely recyclable, it’s a great solution for projects with a sustainability focus. 

“The mechanical properties of stainless steel, when considered alongside the corrosion resistance, make it a highly durable product. Consequently, stainless steel has a very long life cycle when compared to alternative architectural materials such as aluminium or other steels,” Hampson explains.

Highly versatile, Hampson says Rimex is ideal for a wide range of architectural applications including, but not limited to, interior and exterior design, shop fitouts, signage, elevators, machinery, refrigeration and catering. The product does, of course, need to be fit for purpose. 

“You’re not going to put mirrored stainless steel on the wall in a kindergarten,” Hampson says, “But it can be used extensively in domestic, commercial, and certain industrial applications. We’re only a phone call away for specifiers to discuss the suitability for their project.”

The Len Lye Centre

One of the most recognisable projects featuring Rimex can be found in New Plymouth. The Len Lye Centre, designed by Patterson Associates and completed in 2015, is wrapped in an undulating, asymmetrical, mirrored façade designed to imitate a colonnade. The façade, clad with Rimex, references Lye’s innovations in kinetics and light — and is, arguably, an artwork in its own right, reflecting the colours and expressions of sunlight as it moves through the day. 

This project is an excellent example of the way Rimex can be used to transform something fairly ordinary — stainless steel — into an opportunity for pause, awe, and connection with something bigger than oneself. And, because Rimex is highly durable and resistant to corrosion, the façade will remain an eye-catching feature for years to come. 

Learn more about Steel & Tube and Rimex.