Te Aukati is an award-winning 6 Green Star rated commercial development in central Auckland which features one eight-storey building, and one seven-storey building, connected by a central atrium staircase and interconnecting air bridges. To bring the warmth of timber to this central space without compromising on long-term durability, Vulcan aluminium battens with a Metwood woodgrain coating have been used extensively, providing a lasting solution that looks just like natural timber.

Initially natural timber battens had been specified for the project, but there had been concerns about long-term performance, with timber having potential to absorb moisture and crack. To keep the battens looking pristine and minimise ongoing maintenance, the contractors approached Vulcan for an aluminium alternative.

“They were having issues with wood in terms of stability, so decided to look at UltraBatten as an alternative,” explains Trevor Gribble, Vulcan. “They wanted an option that was maintenance-free, that wasn't going to crack, and wouldn't need recoating — but could still provide that woodgrain look. Aluminium ticked all the boxes.”

Having worked with Metwood on a number of projects, the Vulcan team knew they’d be the ideal partner for creating the natural woodgrain finish the clients wanted. “We’ve used Metwood for years,” says Trevor. “They have a vast array of woodgrain options, so whatever you want, they can match it.”

Metwood’s woodgrain finishes go beyond standard powdercoating by using a sublimation process to transfer a real woodgrain image into the molecules of an initial powder coating layer, resulting in a natural appearance and extremely durable finish. Metwood-coated aluminium provides excellent stability — with no warping and twisting, and is virtually maintenance-free — with no recoating required. Offering a Group 1-S fire rating, it is a smart option for commercial buildings like Te Aukati, where the Pale Manuka finish was specified for aluminium battens throughout.

The coating process was straightforward — a testament to Metwood’s skill, experience and advanced technology. “Their equipment is automated, it far exceeds anything I've seen before, and they’ve got a very robust quality control system in place — they coated over 19 tonnes of aluminium extrusion, and not one link was rejected,” says Trevor. “It was a really smooth error-free project. That's why we work with them, we can rely on them and what we’re going to get.”

Installed on ceilings and air bridges and highlighted with strips of LED lighting, the battens create a stunning geometric feature in the atrium of Te Aukati, with the woodgrain coating offering the best of both worlds — the natural woodgrain appearance of timber, and the durability and low maintenance of aluminium. 

“The end result is fantastic,” says Trevor. “The Metwood coating is realistic, and the patterns aren’t repetitive. The customer was happy and it went really smoothly.”