Almost everyone who is not alien to the issues of the construction industry knows about such roofing material as ondulin, about its strengths and weaknesses, and even about the methods of laying the material. However, not everyone knows how ondulin is produced and where it is carried out.
Many say that the only high-quality and real ondulin is produced only in France. Whether this is so or not, as well as other interesting facts about the history and production of the material, we will talk in our article.
History and area of production of ondulin roofing sheets
The material was invented back in 1944, and at the same time, the owner of the trademark and at the same time the manufacturer of ondulin, the French company OFIS SA, opened its first small factory for the production of bituminous profiled sheets.
Interestingly, it was this direction that the company supported for the whole 20 years, without deviating from the initial course in the direction of expanding the range of construction roofing materials. And this is not surprising, since the roofing material, which became the key to the success of the company, turned out to be surprisingly more than successful.
Ondulin has become a combination of the best qualities of many other alternative roofing materials:
- he was durable;
- resistant to most adverse factors affecting the roof;
- easy to install, while having a very low weight (again, in comparison with other roofing materials);
- while being relatively inexpensive.
Such advantages have become decisive for the rapid gain of popularity and demand among consumers around the world.
As for the new history of this roofing material, there are far more than a dozen factories and enterprises where ondulin is produced today.
Moreover, such enterprises have long existed in the CIS.
The French company creates branches on a franchise basis, supplying partner companies with equipment for the production of ondulin and performing strict checks on their compliance with the production technology of the material.
Plants for the production of ondulin are available today not only in Europe, but also in the USA, as well as in the countries of Central Asia.
At the same time, the management of OFIS SA continues to invest in both improving the technology for manufacturing bitumen roofing sheets and developing other innovative materials under the Ondulin trademark.
This material is currently the leader in the roofing materials market, having the highest prevalence among all types of the so-called euroslate in the world. .
Ondulin manufacturing technology
The dimensions of a standard modern ondulin sheet are 2 * 0.94 m. The weight of the material in this case is only 6 kg (for comparison, the weight of asbestos cement slate with an area of 1.98 sq.m.
averages 26 kg). Each sheet is supplied with 20 special nails for fixing euroslate.
What is the exact technology for the production of ondulin? The main raw materials in the manufacture of roofing material are:
- cellulose and fiberglass fibers;
- refined bitumen;
- mineral substances used as a filler;
- special resins, the impregnation of which gives the sheet high mechanical strength.
When comparing the decorative qualities of roofing materials, ondulin is also in the lead: the manufacturer has included the addition of special mineral pigments in the manufacturing technology.
They are able to give the material almost any desired shade and at the same time increase the resistance of the coating to UV radiation, which helps protect the material from damage and maintain the brightness and color saturation of the roof for a long time.
The composition of ondulin does not contain any substances harmful to health, the material is absolutely environmentally friendly.
The composition of ondulin slate has long been known to everyone, but, nevertheless, the uniqueness of its manufacturing technology is such that so far none of the newly produced materials has been able to surpass ondulin in terms of price / quality ratio.
The manufacturing process is based on the creation of a multilayer base made of fiberglass, cellulose and mineral filler, which is then impregnated with refined bitumen, as well as special resins and pigments under the influence of a certain temperature and pressure.
The result of the manufacturing process is unique in strength, highly flexible, lightweight and inexpensive. roof material.
A similar composition and manufacturing technology of ondulin sheets allows them to withstand loads per square meter of roof area up to 650 kg, hurricane winds and hail.
In addition, ondulin is resistant to chemical influences, has excellent heat and sound insulation, is easy to process and install, and practically does not need post-installation care.
All local producers of ondulin must have not only the relevant certificates of product originality, but also certificates and sanitary and hygienic conclusions.
Therefore, when buying material, in order to protect yourself from fakes, ask the seller for copies of these documents, and also check the completeness of the delivered goods.
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