Welsh Slate has partnered with SFS UK, a market-leading fastening systems manufacturer, to create a new natural slate facade system it is previewing at the Natural Stone Show in London at ExCeL 30 April to 2 May. It will be launched officially later this year.

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On Welsh Slate’s side, the system will comprise a choice of Penrhyn Heather Blue and Cwt-y-Bugail Blue Grey 20mm-thick slate panels supplied with fixing brackets already fixed on the reverse. The stone will be available in honed, flamed and riven finishes and a range of sizes from 400mmm to 800mm as standard. The panels can be fixed in either landscape or portrait orientation.

The brackets on the panels have mechanically secret fixings using self-tapping stainless steel rivets to attach them to the SFS NV3 Nvelope lightweight aluminium framing system providing a horizontal support for most façade types. The brackets are anchored to the building using a primary fixing while allowing for final alignment and adjustment.

Welsh Slate MD Mark Hodgkinson says: “We are very excited with this initiative in that we will soon have a proprietary system that will showcase the many benefits of Welsh Slate as a façade material.”

Cameron MacBride, OEM manager at SFS UK, adds: “The SFS UK partnership with Welsh Slate really shows the versatility of the Nvelope NV3 sub-frame system, allowing us to work with a respected natural slate manufacturer. We have really enjoyed working with Welsh Slate on this project. With this collaboration, architects and specifiers now have an even wider choice of façade options with our popular NV3 support frame.”

Welsh Slate was most recently used as a façade material, as well as roofing slates and an internal hearth, on the £21million Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. The bespoke system was specified by Ryder Architecture.