“The last few years have taught many of us to be lean, pin-sharp and focused on delivering real value for our business and to achieve that, you knew you had to work backwards” (Pauley Creative)
I read this in an industry blog and it really made me think: ‘How can we provide and deliver more value for our business?’ In today’s economic environment more than ever, it’s easy to lose sight of what is really important when trying to keep afloat. It is essential that we take a step back, look at our core values and what is and has always been central to the company ethos. We need to provide much more than just a service. Keystone’s core principles are focused on customer service and loyalty – something that can often be lost in digital translation for some businesses. Don’t get me wrong, we’re highly enthusiastic about digital innovation and developments, but sometimes that personal touch becomes diluted.
The purpose of this blog is to introduce you to the people behind Keystone Lintels, to provide helpful industry information and updates and anything else we find interesting along the way.
Jonathan Fee is our Technical Manager and has been with the company since 1997. With 17 years of Keystone under his belt, who better to take you through the company history and the evolution of steel lintels?
What can you tell us about Keystone Lintels?
Jonathan Fee: Keystone was established back in 1989 in Cookstown. We had a product range back then of eight steel lintels. Since then, we established the Keystone Group in Birmingham in 1997 and, in 2002, we relocated to a 12-acre site in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire. In 2006, Keystone acquired IG Lintels and Acier building components. In 2014, Keystone is Europe’s largest steel lintel manufacturer.
What is a steel Lintel?
JF: Why use a steel lintel? Steel Lintels are used within the construction industry to carry the external façade masonry brickwork or stone, along with the internal floor loading and roof loading. They span over various different sizes from 600 up to 4.8 in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings.
The advantages of steel lintels is that they can span any length, to suit any depth of wall and can suit also any shape or design. They are not visible over openings and this allows for uninterrupted brickwork. There are a vast range of lintels – especially custom made design lintels. There is endless possibility when using steel.
How has the product range evolved?
JF: We started out with a range of just 8 steel lintels. The Keystone standard range of lintels now spans from the standard SK to the HDK, CFSK, XK, SK wide inner leafs, SK 215 wide inner leafs, SK wide outer leaf, SK 215 wide outer leaf. We also have a range of lintels to suit timber frame construction, thin joint construction, solid wall construction and internal walling and T/K box K100s alike.
Keystone now also manufacture a wide range of special lintels. Arch lintels would range from the full arch, segmental, parabolic, gothic, Venetian arch types, corner Lintels, square bay lintels, splayed bay lintels, dog leg corner lintels. Sun lounges would be the square sun lounge, the five-sided sun lounge and bow sun lounge lintels. Again, these are required to suit customer requirements, to suit the loading applications and within particular wall constructions on site.
Also, in 2013, Keystone redefined lintel performance with the introduction of its new, innovative Hi-Therm Lintel, offering a thermal performance up to five times more efficient than a standard cavity wall steel lintel.
The design uses a unique patented combination of glass-reinforced polymer and galvanised steel, creating a lintel with thermal characteristics that outperform all other lintels, offers greater corrosion resistance than stainless steel lintels and the ability to support loads equal to that of a standard or heavy duty steel lintel.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Understanding New Part L Building Regulations