RACA Journal February 2021 | Page 50

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Local Manufacturing
To minimise waste , all profile pieces are used until they are too small to work with . They are then recycled . manufactured in this factory are still in good condition 20 years after being installed . These are the same standards we adhere to today ,” commented Venter .
The production setup at the factory has been completed according to the Titus German classification system , where all of the dies are cut and spaced in line with this standard for grilles . This means that the products already meet international standards and are therefore suitable for use both locally and overseas .
DAT also uses materials that are between 27 % and 33 % thicker than those of any local competitor . For example , they use aluminium that is 1.6mm thick , rather than the industry norm of 1.2mm . The thicker material results in a much stronger , more rigid and betterquality product .
While DAT experienced some initial resistance to their pricing , the company has received praise from architects and consultants who prefer a lasting solution rather than using products that fail soon after installation .
In a further example of the quality of DAT products , the company ’ s return air grilles ( RA ) are the only grilles in the country that use a unique method to ensure that the grilles do not move over time and start rattling – a problem that is widely encountered with other models of RAs . Uniquely , DAT expands the copper supports in the RA grilles to deliver an enhanced product service-life of 20-plus years . DAT further offers custom solutions and sizing options to fit clients ’ exact specifications . Custom colour-coding is also offered as

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RACA Journal I February 2021 www . hvacronline . co . za