Aluminium Balustrades North Coast (ABNC) has been awarded a place in the ECRi Hub Business Mentoring for Innovation Programme, plus a grant from the Made in Queensland (MIQ) initiative.

The grant, which ABNC acquired in October 2017, aims to help manufacturers improve business efficiency, grow international competitiveness and create high-value, knowledge-based jobs. The grant and the mentoring, combined with tax credits received from the Federal government’s R&D Tax Incentive program, provided ABNC with the capital and expertise it needed to develop and launch its product.

ABNC has now developed Australia’s “safest” structural glass balustrade system, StructGlass. StructGlass is made from modular frameless structural glass panels with pre-manufactured posts that can be adjusted to suit onsite. The glass panels are made from SGP Interlayer Structural Laminated Glass, which maintains its integrity and does not shatter and leave a dangerous opening.

The product is also the first balustrade system that does not require an interlinking handrail, allowing an unobstructed eye line view. The product was designed for applications requiring a barrier that must maintain its integrity and continue to protect, even if part of the barrier is compromised or damaged0. Applications include multi-storey buildings, healthcare facilities, aged care facilities, schools and shopping precincts, all of which have the highest safety requirements.

StructGlass has been designed, engineered, tested and approved to International Standards and beyond.

“The MIQ grant allowed us to carry out rigorous tests to verify StructGlass’s capabilities,” ABNC general manager Sam Bevis says.

The grant was also used to pursue innovative solutions and equipment, including a new 3D printer and 3D scanning facility which have both been installed.

“These facilities mean that the gap between design and manufacture is much shorter,” Sam says.

“Being able to see what the product looks and feels like before we spend time manufacturing the real thing is a huge advantage.”

ABNC was mentored by consulting company GHD which helped it to ensure StructGlass is properly commercialised. ABNC has already completed Stage 2 of the ECRi Hub Business Mentoring for Innovation Program which provided business-mentoring services to assist ABNC in the commercialisation of StructGlass.