va-Q-tec helps you achieve energy efficiency without wasting space

With the space available in products and construction being so valuable there is a pressing need for much better thermal insulation than mineral and glass fibres, or cellular foams. The twenty-first century generations of thermal insulation must be thinner. To help you resolve difficult spatial design problems cost effectively va-Q-tec offers a range of Vacuum Insulation Panels. VIPs are high performance thermal insulation panels with up to 10 times better insulation values than conventionally available materials. VIPs therefore achieve the thermal performance you require using less space.

VIPs are built from open pore materials like pressed powder boards, glass fibres, or open cell organic foams. The core materials are wrapped in a highly impermeable barrier film in the factory, evacuated in a chamber, and sealed. Panel sizes and shapes are produced to order, and va-Q-tec will work to optimise the production of VIPs for any design problem. Since the thermal conductivity of VIPs produced by va-Q-tec is of the order of one tenth of the conductivity of conventional insulation materials there is greater opportunity to rationalise a space saving design.

Based in Würzburg, Germany, near Frankfurt, va-Q-tec AG has won several awards for its new technology, and owns more than 40 active patents and patent applications world wide. With the experience and insight of more than 20 years of research and product development, va-Q-tec offers the following unique VIP technologies:

1. The largest portfolio of Vacuum Insulation Panels

Selections of core materials and barrier films are combined by va-Q-tec to produce a range of high performance VIPs to suit different sectors. The different core materials, barrier films, and vacuum pressures result in panels with a specific Service Life and U Value. That ensures va-Q-tec can work with you to produce any kind of practical application with regard to thermal performance, product or construction design life, and price. Economies of scale in shape and panel repetition can be discussed early in the design process, and positions for fixings anticipated minimising thermal bridges.

2. A unique VIP quality control method with va-Q-check

It is important to check that VIPs are delivered, installed, and continue to insulate within a range of vacuum pressures. Once the VIP is sealed va-Q-tec were concerned to prove that vacuum pressures are maintained as specified. The va-Q-check is a unique control system for the internal gas pressure of VIPs, patented by va-Q-tec in many countries. The va-Q-check system enables quality control of VIPs during production, and provides a record through the supply chain to installation. The VIP pressure may be easily monitored in use using readily available va-Q-tec equipment.

3. Special edge folding technique va-Q-seam

The rectangular shape of va-Q-tec VIPs are achieved with va-Q-seam technology. This folding technique is worldwide patented, and unique to va-Q-tec vacuum insulation panels. Most VIPs are produced with bag-like envelopes resulting in significant flanges. These have to be bent and taped onto the VIPs before application. This process increases the risk of pinholes through the folded barrier film. Pinholes tend to shorten the Service Life of VIPs. The va-Q-seam also allows for VIPs to be tightly fitted together, making an almost gapless assembly of individual VIPs possible.

Vacuum Insulation Panels have become important components in many application sectors requiring higher standards of thermal energy efficiency management. The performance of VIPs depends greatly on the consistency and handling of the core materials and barrier films that comprise the modular and preformed panels. That is why va-Q-tec has established a comprehensive and reliable quality control system from our factory to the VIP installer, based on the easy to use va-Q-check system.

The va-Q-tec staff also offer support to customers installing va-Q-check equipment and methods in their factory for in-house quality control during the application of VIPs. With our customers we optimise VIP handling during installation processes. With va-Q-tec assistance customers are assured of the highest quality of VIPs on delivery, and may be confident of maintaining that quality through their installation into other products or components.

Customers can be confident that va-Q-tec is certified according to ISO 9001:2000 by TÜV SÜD, with their website www.tuev-sued.de. TÜV provide one of Europe's best-known quality assurance services. The TÜV symbol has become synonymous with safety and certainty, reliability and impartiality. TÜV organizations ensure quality assurance principles are applied not only in Germany, but around the world.

For va-Q-tec VIPs for construction applications full technical certification is available from the Deutsche Institut für Bautechnik, with their website www.dibt.de. DIBt is the only German approval body for construction products and types of construction.

Moreover, the strict internal quality regulations operated by va-Q-tec ensure a superior quality of daily VIP production. Only the combination of strict material and production quality control ensures a reliable Service Life for VIPs. The initial internal gas pressure is decisive for VIP quality, but that vacuum pressure must be maintained over the life of the application. The careful choice of core materials and barrier films, and their combination into manufactured VIP modules, are essential aspects to va-Q-tec quality. The va-Q-tec quality standard guarantees are available on request.

The talent, creativity, and dedication of va-Q-tec staff are key factors for success.

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With a commitment to bringing better insulation to market va-Q-tec has made VIP technology available, understandable, and applicable. The aim of va-Q-tec is to help you achieve energy efficiency without wasting space. The staff at va-Q-tec want to save energy in products and construction, and appreciate that cannot be done without the application of reliable Vacuum Insulation Panels.

We practice and prove what we preach!