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In Focus: Autex Acoustics
A world-first technology has put Autex Acoustics at the forefront of sustainability in the building industry, but this is nothing new for the New Zealand acoustic panel company.
For five decades, Autex Acoustics hasn’t just been designing, making and supplying beautiful, high-quality acoustic panels, ceiling grids and other products. It’s also been at the vanguard of sustainable innovation, developing technologies and solutions to drive change in the global construction industry, putting nature and the wellbeing of people at the forefront of its efforts.
Through an array of programs and initiatives, Autex Acoustics has worked to address its carbon emissions, support local communities and enhance the sustainability of its products.
Through an array of programs and initiatives, Autex Acoustics has worked to address its carbon emissions, support local communities and enhance the sustainability of its products.
It has also been dedicated to solving the industry’s waste problem, developing RePET, a new way to repurpose PET offcuts from the manufacturing process and establish a circular product life cycle. RePET is used to create accessories like SpinFix, a mounting clip for acoustic panels, and is the outcome of multiple rounds of prototypes and testing, as well as conversations with experts and peers in the wider industry, reflecting Autex Acoustics’ dedication to innovation through collaboration. While the RePET technology has been rolled out to every country where Autex Acoustics operates, the ultimate aim is for other businesses to adopt it and create industry-wide change.
Considering the product’s life cycle is at the forefront of Autex Acoustics’ innovative approach, which factors in not just a product’s usefulness at foundation but its end of life, too.
Considering the product’s life cycle is at the forefront of Autex Acoustics’ innovative approach, which factors in not just a product’s usefulness at foundation but its end of life, too. Key to this are the materials chosen and how they can be reused or recycled. SpinFix’s sustainability value is manifold: while it cuts back on manufacturing waste, it has also been designed to remove the need for contaminating adhesives when installing. Autex Acoustics’ friction welding technology binds the PET clips to acoustic panels, meaning the entire installation – made from 100 per cent polyester – can be recycled at the end of its life.
Autex Acoustics has a take-back program to facilitate its efforts to close the loop and will continue to develop and evolve this technology. It’s one step further in the company’s efforts to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of its products and address the issue of contributing to the huge amount of construction waste that goes to landfill in New Zealand and around the world each year.
