Neaco have been at the forefront of modular decking design for over five decades. They pioneered the concept of non-combustible aluminium decking long before it was widely adopted by the industry in response to Grenfell. Various competitors have followed us into the market, but none offer the expertise of their in-house technical team and the unique qualities of their decking systems.
There are many features that set their decking solutions apart, from the range of precision-engineered T-bar profiles to innovative built-in drainage systems, but one of the most important is their unique swage-locked construction.
What is swage locking?
Neaco have invested in advanced swage manufacturing technology which forms a vital part of their factory facilities. Their bespoke swage machine has been installed and configured to ensure their industrial flooring, architectural grilles and decking for balconies, walkways and terraces are lightweight yet exceptionally high in load-bearing capability.
This is made possible with outstanding structural efficiency achieved by passing a swage bar through the load bar without cutting into the top or bottom edge, thus providing a panel of great rigidity and strength.
The advantages of their swage-locked construction
Available in lengths of up to 7m long by nominal 992mm wide, their aluminium decking panels are approximately 1/3 of the weight of steel panels, yet non-corrosive and easy to install.
This is a major advantage for raised decks and balcony flooring. In the context of balcony installations, it’s especially valuable for cost reasons: due to fire safety requirements, steel joists are now widely used instead of timber joists, but steelwork is expensive. That means substantial savings can be made with their decking because its structurally efficient design needs fewer supporting joists.
With Neaco’s aluminium decking systems, joists are only required at centres of between 700mm and 2050mm (depending on the profile depth) compared to around 450mm for most many plank alternatives.
That’s a clear advantage over their competitors – and their unique swage lock is the key difference.
