Environmentally-friendly finishes available on all of Wausau’s window and curtainwall framing

* displayed at Greenbuild 2010 *

With a palette exceeding 30,000 color choices, Wausau Window and Wall Systems’ assortment of durable finishes may be requested as liquid or powder coatings with ultra-low volatile organic compounds (VOC) and VOC-free content, or as eco-friendly, VOC-free anodize.

Environmentally-responsible finishes and secondary (recycled) aluminum billet are standard for all of Wausau’s products. These include high-performance windows, doors, sun shades, light shelves, curtainwall, window wall and other systems and components. Specified on recycled aluminum, these finishes contribute to a low-maintenance, long lifecycle and support the U.S. Green Building Council LEED® Rating System.

Linetec provides eco-friendly finishing services for Wausau, ensuring color consistency and quality for all finished, aluminum components on the building. Among Wausau’s eco-friendly anodize options is a proprietary, copper color that maintains its desired color over time and under harsh environmental conditions. According to Linetec, the copper anodize has been tested to meet all AAMA 611 Class 1 specifications and weathering tests. “Now, we can offer Wausau and its customers the look of rich, real copper without such shortcomings as salt run-off stains, galvanic corrosion and patina,” says Linetec’s senior marketing specialist, Tammy Schroeder, LEED Green Associate.

Choosing the eco-friendly anodize creates an aesthetically-appealing, matte finish that helps hide small imperfections that may occur on the aluminum surface of both primary and secondary billet. Compared with traditional etch processes, Linetec’s anodize process for Wausau consumes less energy and reduces waste sent to landfills by 90%. Furthermore, the eco-friendly anodize etch process has the viscosity of water and will not collect in the small recesses of aluminum extrusions or narrow aluminum tubes during processing.

In addition to eco-friendly anodize, Wausau’s recycled, aluminum framing may be finished with liquid or powder coatings. Because powder coatings lack solvents, they emit zero VOCs. Liquid coatings are made with solvents that contain VOCs, but their VOC content is off-gassed and cured at the factory before arrival on the building site. The liquid coating applied in Linetec’s factory uses a 100% air capture system and destroys the VOCs with a regenerative thermal oxidizer, so there is no adverse environmental impact.

For green building projects with flexible schedules using Wausau’s products, liquid paints may be composed of up to 100% post-industrial waste. Dual colors may be specified to match the building’s interior and exterior design palettes.

Further demonstrating its commitment to energy-efficiency and environmental leadership, Wausau’s LEED-Silver manufacturing center is constructed with the same high-performance systems and eco-friendly finishes that it provides to customers. Wausau’s products continue to be backed by the company’s long-standing warranty of up to 10 years.
###

Filed under: Buildings + Infrastructure, CLIENT NEWS, Green Goals, Linetec, Products, USGBC, Wausau Window and Wall Systems