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Platform frame technology
The problem
The gradual reduction in the quality of semi-finished metalwork, which made it necessary to accept tolerances that were incompatible with the kind of performance required, and the rationalization of manufacturing processes to cut production time and costs have led to the use of the modular elements found in fields other than the museum industry.
The standard solution
Using parts already on the market that have been developed for a different purpose often failed to fulfill important requirements of museum display cases, especially as regards the thickness and functional characteristics of the components. This obliged designers and curators to accept a standard product at the expense of the individual identity of each specific installation.
Goppion’s innovation
Goppion developed a system of frames that form the structure of our display decks and tops based on specially engineered diecast lugs that screw-clamp rectangular sections of aluminum tubes together. The clamped joint technique can utilize tubes of different heights to make display decks of varying thicknesses.
The corner lugs act as attachment points for display decks made of composite material and the accessories that position the glass panes, conservation apparatus, and opening apparatus. Mechanical fixing supports greater precision and avoids the heat stresses of welding. Additionally, using aluminum makes cases lighter and easier to move and therefore more suitable for installations in older buildings, where the load-bearing capacity of the floors might be an issue.