FLOREN.be QUALITY BRICKS SINCE FLOREN.be

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1 FLOREN.be QUALITY BRICKS SINCE 1896 FLOREN.be

2 History Floren was founded in The family-owned company is the last brick factory in Brecht, where at the time, 9 brick manufacturers were located alongside the Campine Channel. The first modern kiln Floren used to fire the bricks was the Hoffmann kiln. The impressive brick chimney is still standing as a reminder of that era. Fifty years ago, Floren started modernizing its production process by building a tunnel kiln and chamber driers. In the early nineties, the investment process continued by installing a stacking and packing device. Over the years, Floren has been modernized using the latest technologies. As a result, the company complies with the most stringent production requirements In 2009, the fourth generation entered the company. Together with the whole team, Wauthier and Michel de Corswarem guarantee to comply with the company mission. Investments continued with ecological measures such as improvement of insulation of both kiln and dryers, and installing a state-of-the art steering program for the dryers, avoiding energy losses and optimizing the drying curves. The latest innovation was completed in A new production entity was built to create bricks with aged looks. Company mission We offer sustainable building solutions, tailored to the customer s needs, created with the smallest ecological footprint possible. This implies producing high quality products with an extended lifecycle, and choosing the production methodology that guarantees both high product quality standards and low environmental impact. Our service includes tailor made solutions and continuous innovation, in order to adapt the products to the customer s wishes.

3 Production process Floren has its own clay pits. They contain a combination of Campine old-quaternary clays, the ideal basis for the production of bricks with a high compressive strength and a low water absorption rate. After transport and careful storage, the clays are mixed and kneaded to obtain the desired plasticity. Minerals are added as required. The unfired and still humid bricks are dried in the dryers during two or more days, depending on the brick size. Special care is taken at this stage of production, in order to avoid fissures. The dried bricks are subsequently placed on wagons that are resistant to extreme temperatures and fired in a fully automated tunnel kiln. The temperature can reach up to 1250 C. The homogenized mass is brought into the factory by conveyor belt. The extruder compresses the clay under pressure and under vacuum, after which the extruded form is cut into the desired size. After firing, the bricks are ready to be collected. Additionally, and if required, the bricks can receive extra treatment in order to create an aged look. This process takes place in a separate production hall.

4 Brick Quality Consistency in quality All of our bricks bear the BENOR and CE quality label. In order to comply with these quality and stability standards, Floren is subject to various production audits and environmental controls during the year. Esthetics Bricks used as the outside shell of a building or house, are subject to numerous sources of pollution. Taking weather conditions into consideration, walls can be influenced by humidity, frost and sunlight. As a result, the builder requires a solid solution which is resistant to all of these external influences. Natural protection Our bricks have the characteristics that offer natural protection against pollution. No additional treatment of the walls is required. The main characteristics that provide such resistance to pollution are : low water absorption of less than 10% for the vast majority of our bricks high compressive strength higher than 50N/mm². resistance to frost : our bricks are very frost resistant (F2 following code NBN EN 771-1)

5 Product range Floren has developed a product range of over 70 different types of bricks, which can be fabricated in more than 8 different sizes. They vary in color and surface. Besides the standard range, we offer tailor made solutions as from a quantity of 500m². Eventually, we want to create the perfect match with the client s needs, both technically and esthetically. Feel free to visit our website to discover all of our current bricks on : Slips For some projects, it is not always possible to use a brick in its normal shape. Slips can be used to obtain the visual aspects of cladding. We saw stretchers of a brick. Thickness varies between 14 mm and 22 mm. Corner slips are made by sawing the stretcher and the header of one side in a 90 angle. As a result, the corners of the wall are hidden in the same way as if it had been constructed with original bricks. Treatment : Depending on the underground, which should be dry and leveled, the slips are fixed by using a special glue or mortar. Pointing the joints is done in the same way as pointing the joints of normal bricks. What to choose? Our complete product range can be sawn in slips, in any color or size. As a result, the client is free to chose the brick he prefers.

6 Construction culture Custom fit Although our production process is largely automated, we have deliberately maintained the capacity for human intervention in our process. Thus, we have the flexibility to work on tailor-made projects. Upon request, we can manipulate every facing brick of our product line, until it matches with the idea of the client or his architect. In a renovation project, the builder often encounters constraints submitted by the urban planning regulations, forcing him to find a facing brick that perhaps is not manufactured anymore. We can perform tests to find an alternative, and are committed to provide the client with samples of our tests at the earliest convenience. Dutch or English bond? We can offer bricks with a false joint in the middle of the stretcher. This solution provides the desired effect at an attractive price and without extra cutting work of brick headers. The esthetics of buildings is completely different from one region to another, and is determined by the local culture. The evolution of internet makes information more accessible and influences creativity. Building styles are inspired by references from other parts of the world. This pushes us to continue product innovation and integrate different ideas into our product range. Our bricks are suitable for both indoor and outdoor masonry or cladding.

7 Belgium Mechelen: Tailor made brick Holland Alphen a/d Rijn: Agaath Our clients international references Floren has produced bricks for several countries. Besides our home market Belgium, we export to the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, Cyprus, France and Spain. We continuously prospect in other regions and countries to respond to client s needs. We are honored to serve our clients. Many prestigious references are the result of a good collaboration between Floren and its customers. We offer our expertise directly to the builder and his architect, the construction company and the trader or reseller of building materials.

8 Elderly Care homes: Meteor rustic Office: Inca red Housing: Avorio Housing: Savanna Housing: Inca black

9 2014/09 concept FLOREN.be Vaartkant rechts St.-Lenaarts Belgium tel.:+32 (0) fax:+32 (0) info@floren.be