A solar shading system is used to optimize the levels of visible light and solar heat gain that will be allowed into a structure. When it’s cloudy outside, movable shading retracts to allow natural light, and the solar gain that it brings, to enter a building so that there is less internal dependence on heating and electric light. Because human being spend an estimated 90 percent of their daily lives inside, have a need for heat and light, even when they’re inside the workplace. Research and technology have devised a way for architectural design and technology to refine the process by which heat and shade enter a building. Danpal’s Controlite® System has created intelligent daylighting, a solar shading system that delivers complete control of the desired level of light intensity inside a building, no matter what season of the year.
Danpal’s Controlite® System Brings A Season Of Solar Control
Daylight advances and retreats according to the schedule that the sun has imposed upon it, but with technology, buildings are no longer required to submit to nature’s rules. By controlling the transmission of daylight and solar heat gain, Controlite® optimizes light and heat to deliver comfort to buildings. As the day proceeds, the levels of heat and sunshine outside are changing. Inside, the building is geared up to counteract that schedule by adapting to the changing light conditions and altering the amounts of indoor light, solar heat gain, and shade. The system also helps minimize some of the extremes in temperature that come as a result of hot and cold weather.
How Controlite® Brings A Solar Shading System and Energy Efficiency Together
The Controlite® panels that are integrated into the design of the building follow through on the original planning, reducing the energy usd by heating, artificial lighting, and air conditioning. The Controlite® system significantly reduces energy use from air-conditioning, heating, and artificial lighting. Credit points are earned with the rating systems used by green buildings.
How Controlite® Saves Money By Saving Energy
If the heat and light of the daylight hours can be controlled through technology, the result is a positive one for everyone. Occupants of a building benefit from the increased shade and reduced glare that would otherwise be coming into the building. A building’s heating and cooling systems get a break because the use of natural light or shade and the warmth of the sun reduces the need for artificial light eases utility costs in season. No one is going to argue when the results add money to our budgets!
How Controlite® Intelligent Daylighting Works
The translucent glazing panel has rotating louvres that adjust their position during the day in order to take full advantage of the levels of daylight that are coming into the building from the outside. Natural light makes it easier for people inside to see and, as studies have shown, bringing daylight into a structure gives the occupants inside a more positive feeling about themselves and their productivity.
Today we hear from Shaul Givoni, a Danpal employee of 50 years, who was instrumental in the company’s initial creation and growth.
Shaul recalls his story for us, as well as several highlights in his career, which remind us that his story is also the story of Danpal.
“This October, I am summarizing my 50 consecutive years of work at Danpal! I think that few people in Israel today, work for so many years, especially in one place!
After being discharged from the army in 1965, I returned to the agricultural industry where I worked as a teenager, during my high school years at Kibbutz Dan. The Director in charge of the Agriculture of the Kibbutz, asked me to join Milk Meiri in establishing a new agricultural sector within the industry, specifically avocados. After about a year, I was asked to go out and help a young Kibbutz, which was then called C.S. (Community Service). We left Kibbutz Dan and we moved to Kibbutz Nachshon, where I had also met my future partner Bilha, and upon finishing my “service” in Nachshon, I returned to the avocado industry. After getting married in 1969, we moved for 10 months to Bilha’s Kibbutz, Gan Shmuel, where I was assigned to work in the Kibbutz’s canning factory where the industrial passion also stuck.
When we returned to Dan in October 1970, I informed Milk that I was moving to work at Danpal, (referring to the historic Danpal that began producing various products for the construction industry from P.V.C.).
I started learning the extrusion profession and after about three months, I was trained as a shift manager, and within three years, I was appointed as a Production Manager, which I held for seven years. Once finished with my role as a production manager, we had just purchased a print line of profiles for folding doors, where I spent the following two years with Ita Dan.
It was then that a “historic” event took place, the late Dov Hanis, a representative of “Sukkit” in Israel, the importer of General Electric’s polycarbonate, brought us two PC bags for testing. Together with Nir Ben Zvi (Development Director from our PVC line), we produced several samples, which I took with me to the plastic exhibition in Düsseldorf (I think in 1978). Dov then arranged a meeting with General Electric, where our product was examined and exclaimed as “VERY GOOD!” but it was not the right product for them.
On the forklift in the historic PVC pile
Following this, Dov introduced us to an Israeli architect, Barry Bezner, who at the time was plying his trade in Italy. Barry, who at the time was well acquainted with the European market, also agreed with the assessment given by General Electric. As a result, Barry decided to help us, by leveraging his considerable experience and design something more “appropriate”.
From there I traveled by train to Varese, Italy to visit the Omipa Factory, which Dov had also recommended. Omipa was considered as a pioneer in the production of certain polycarbonate lines, and I recall being very impressed and left with a positive attitude.
We managed to convince Beny Rosen, Director of Danpal, and Amiram Efrati, Director of Dan Industries, with the idea, and from there, we set off.
After due consideration, we bought two production lines from Omipa, built Hall No. 1, and went on to run the line in Italy. Within a short time, we brought production to Israel, and with the help of Shalom Peled (who had by then joined our team), we installed and ran the line in Dan! At the time, the only product we produced, was a standard panel with “feet” 10m long with a width of 400mm. This was the product designed by Barry Bezner, and for which we received our first international patent, which we then held for twenty years!
Initially, we called the factory U-REX but because of a potential conflict, with another factory that had a similar name, we changed it to “Danpalon”. It soon became clear to us, that the world was not yet ready for our new panel, and from there Nir’s hard work began. Nir’s main efforts were spent convincing potential customers in various countries, that there was indeed a place for our product in the architectural market. Our first customer abroad was Henrik Sokuler, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, who owned a factory called “Everlite” in Denmark. In 1982, the first container packed with our new Danpalon panel left Danpal bound for Everlite. Not long after, Sokoler also managed to convince us, to adjust our panels to a width of 600 mm, and from there we never looked back!
Our first significant project in Israel was the Central Train Station in Arlozorov Tel Aviv designed by Rozov, a well-known architect based in Haifa. Rozov dared to use our new unconventional product on a large project, which until then, would have been completely unheard of and deemed too risky.
Installation of a pedestrian crossing in Danpal – The first experimental installation in the world.
Initially, we persevered through several difficult years, which may be considered inevitable for a young start-up, such as ours. In due course as the market responded to our revolutionary product, sales improved, and our turnover increased by many times over. In those early years, shifts were operated by Dan Kibbutz members, and my responsibility was to run production both days and nights! Nir and I both felt a huge commitment to the factory’s success, and in 1983, this responsibility was compounded by the crisis with the banks/Kibbutz. As a result, the initial loan by the Kibbutz for the establishment of the plant weighed heavily on the community.
Our efforts eventually paid off, as sales-driven turnover increased by leaps and bounds until we reached the full utilization of our first production line. We then decided to purchase a second, then third production line, and so on… until the eighth line was installed at our subsidiary in Spain. Looking back, I regard myself as privileged, to have been involved in the design of a large portion of our Danpal products. Beyond this, I am proud to have had positive input on the development of various technologies, such as our various UV protection technology, and improvements in production.
I will spare you the entire history, our Danpal veterans know most of it, but we have added products, customers, and established subsidiaries around the world, up until the global crises of 2008. The crises severely affected our customers, and as a company, we also suffered additional blows that impacted our growth. These include new competitors entering our markets around the world, patents that we had held, which started expiring, and our products being unscrupulously copied!
Currently, we are finding new and innovative ways to enhance our manufacturing practices, develop exciting new products, and improve customer experience.
So, to summarize my 50 consecutive years with Danpal, and 55 years of work in general and if I include work during high school, I have been at it for at least 61 years! I have not yet retired, I am still here, and I continue to provide the factory with valuable input, learned from my long years of service.
It is with great pride that from the early initiative started by both Nir and me, we have reached hundreds of families from around the world, who now make a living from Danpal. We also have supplied thousands of projects from all over the world, and here in Israel, some of them being recognized as prestigious. Our considerable debts to the Kibbutz were all settled and repaid to the very last penny, and today the Kibbutz is in a solid financial condition.
In finishing, I would like to wish all the workers in our Danpal factories, a good future, good health, and most importantly a quick exit from the Corona crisis.”
Shaul Givoni
1. What comes to mind when I say “Danpal”?
For me, it’s the main creation force in my life, a place where I had spent a large part of the day, generated my livelihood, built friendships, through who I saw the world, and our clients’ projects.
2. What do you think of Danpal’s strengths as a company?
The family atmosphere, the dedication of most of the employees, the tremendous experience and knowledge accumulated here and in our subsidiaries.
3. What was the reason for the transition from PVC in the beginning to today’s PC?
As I wrote in my letters, it was a fortunate change that came about, due to our interactions with several key role-players at the time.
This enabled us to move into a new industry, the architectural industry, and away from an already well-established and successful agricultural irrigation industry.
4. Looking back, what was our most significant developments and innovations?
On the roof of the stadium in Macau, China. One of the biggest projects in Asia.
Of course, the most significant development was our first Danpalon panel, using our new connection method (what is called feet or in English standing seam) creating an integrated system.
This meant that the practice of customers needing to cut boards of say 2.1 meters wide (at the time supplied by our competitors), to the desired width, and then connecting them using their own methods, could become a thing of the past.
Using a connector from the same material, which is a hidden connection system that does not require drilling through the board, is a patent we registered for the connection method.
We were the first in the world to produce UV-protected panels using the extrusion line method, in contrast to the method developed by General Electric and used by several manufacturers.
The next significant development was a 16mm panel, with five air spaces on which we also received a patent, and which improved insulation properties significantly.
It is followed by all our industrial Danpalon panels, developed for the Spanish market, which were also unique in the manner in which the panels connected to each other edge to edge.
The next development was the 604 transparent panel, on which Gal was granted a patent using the Danpalon connection method.
Another development was the Controlite concept, which we also patented, but for various reasons, we did not market enough, but which provides a unique solution of variable light control throughout the day.
We have also pioneered the development of panels with colored partitions for decoration and shading purposes.
Finally, I think that our current development of integrated systems using advanced aluminum profiles, and our double-walled solutions (Danpatherm K7 & Danpatherm K12). Systems acting as carriers for fiberglass insulation and LED lighting systems, all supplied with various permits for fire, water and air penetration.
5. What do you wish for the company in the future?
Of course, the continued development of our existing product lines, but also entry into new markets that will remain viable for many years to come.
6. What developments and innovations do you think we need to step up successfully?
We have two options, to delve deeper into developing better solutions in our field of architectural glazing, and to open ourselves to new innovative industries as well. The field of extrusion is fairly limited by the very method of production, but if we apply some creativity and investment, I have full confidence in success!
7. What would you like to say to the new and young employees in the group who are just starting out in Danpal?
I think that the future is not entirely predictable and so depends on us, so new employees should deepen their knowledge, whether by way of formal education or self-study (as I did).
Often young people today, are not exposed to manual labor and shift work, as we might have been in the past. So today, the road to an incentivized career path for future Danpal employees, needs some thinking.
8. What do you think the future for the global polycarbonate industry?
This industry can be said to be in a certain type of crisis, as large amounts of material had been diverted to the disc industry, which has since fallen drastically. In our specific field, the main obstacle to growth, for which we need to find solutions is for fire regulations.
With the ongoing tightening of standards and requirements, finding solutions in this area as well as in others, such as extending the service life of the panels, is critical.
We would like to take this moment to thank Shaul, for his immense input to Danpal, one which should never be undervalued. Shaul has become an icon at Danpal, and has shown us all what is possible when consistency is partnered with belief and effort.
In Paris, the land is rare and expensive. It is on the site previously occupied by the Jules Ladoumègue Sports Stadium that the walls of a new Maintenance and Storage Site (SMR) for the T3 tramway line have just been built.
It was unthinkable that the Jules Ladoumègue would no longer offer its sports facilities to the district – so the stadium was simply rebuilt on the roof of the new building and now faces the ring road. Today, it includes a soccer field, a rugby field, and as a buffer between them and the noise of the traffic, a long building housing tennis courts.
The west wall is Controlite®, with integrated brise soleil to protect from strong light and manage solar gain.
On the Facades east side, the Jules Ladoumègue Sports Complex, which faces the sports fields, the Danpalon® wall is covered by a horizontal wooden lattice filter. Dietmar Feichtinger, the project architect, designed it as “a kind of artificial landscape, evocative of the synthetic grass”.
The covered tennis courts are a nod to the new Paris Philharmonic concert hall, located in the neighboring park of La Villette, with alternating red and transparent Danpalon® panels evocative of piano keys. “Red is a color that also features inside, in various materials, such as the cloth on the ceiling. It’s a theme that runs through the building”, concludes Dietmar Feichtinger making the Jules Ladoumègue Sports Complex an outstanding area for multi-sports.
What do you think of when you hear the phrase “optimizing daylight”? You might not think, at first, that it’s possible to optimize daylight inside a physical structure, but that’s where the wonder of Danpal’s daylighting architecture and translucent skylights come into play. Controlite®, the Intelligent Daylighting System by Danpal, is an advanced system that hands over complete control of the level of indoor light that you desire to you, no matter the time of day or season of the year. With translucent skylights, you can welcome in natural light without weather.
Translucent Skylights Are Strong Enough To Withstand Weather
If you choose to include translucent skylights in your architectural design, don’t worry that you’re sacrificing performance for esthetics. Danpal’s translucent skylights demonstrate the same level of quality and durability as all the other Danpal products. Panels are sized so that larger skylights, like the kind that are used in public and commercial buildings, are strong and sturdy and able to withstand the ferocity of weather, even if it’s a driving rain or a heavy snow, damaging hail or high winds. Controlite® is a roofing system that is designed to withstand the harsh weather and also extremes in temperature.
Translucent Skylight Panels Optimize Levels of Daylight Transmission
Controlite® can adapt to the changing conditions of the light throughout the day. By doing that, you can control shade, solar heat gain, and indoor light so that you determine the level of light that’s comfortable for you.
We live in a time of unprecedented awareness about the environment and climate change. One of the simplest ways to promote energy conservation in our own lives is to be careful stewards of the amount of energy that we consume. With translucent skylights, we can share some of that responsibility with the buildings where we work and live. The optimization of daylight lets you reduce the amount of energy that’s consumed because daylight itself can positively affect the amount of air conditioning and heating that you need. Because the Controlite® system panels integrate into the energy-efficient building design, you and your building become allies in the battle for sustainability and responsible energy usage.
Maybe you feel that nature is something entirely beyond your control, something that happens to you and you are helpless. Danpal doesn’t have a solution for the rain that ruins your golf game or the hail that damages your car, but there is one way in which you can exercise control over one aspect of nature. With Controlite® system you have an advanced skylight that allows you to decide how much natural light you wish to have inside your building. Controlite® provides optimal comfort during changing daylight conditions, offers skylighting surfaces in larger areas, stands up to weather and the extremes of temperature, and is a sustainable energy saver that lowers your heating and cooling costs.
Advanced Skylights with Controlite®
Controlite® leaves the decision of how much daylight should be admitted into your living and working spaces up to you. Do you want maximum daylight during the cold, dark winter? Do you want to have solar heat blocked in the hot summer? With Controlite®, you decide. The larger panels that are available in commercial and public buildings optimize light and heat for you according to your preference and the season.
Reducing Energy Consumption with Advanced Skylights
For all the people who feel as if they have no control over the amount of money that they pay in utility bills, Controlite® brings welcome news. With this system, energy use from heating, air conditioning, and artificial lighting is significantly reduced. Because the panels can be integrated into energy-efficient building designs, credits can even be earned with the green building rating systems.
Advanced Skylights: Part Of The Danpal Commitment To Excellence
Half a century of experience in the building industry, combined with a reputation for staying on top of the latest developments in research and technology, have made Danpal a leader in the field. That leadership has put the company in the lead when it comes to manufacturing new products.
External facade cladding is a feature of the CONTROLITE® daylighting system that employs the strength of polycarbonate and the appeal of natural light to create an optimum architectural design. Take a look at the Tonsley Mab structure in Australia to judge for yourself what a difference the splendid array of light makes in its appearance. Thanks to Danpal, natural light, once the exclusive property of Mother Nature, is now readily available, and with it come the benefits of an energy-efficient, esthetically pleasing daylighting system that keeps weather and moisture from causing problems inside.
External Facade Cladding Keeps Moisture From Penetrating
Weather is a tough opponent for a building. No matter where you live, you’re at the mercy of the elements. Heavy rains batter a building’s defenses; high winds and hail can damage the exterior of a structure, and winter, with its ice and snow, brings with it the threat of moisture that can easily invade the interior. But with Danpal’s external facade cladding, a building has built-in protection from the harsh punishment of weather.
Bring in the Daylight and Energy Efficiency Follows
Daylighting architecture doesn’t just make a living and working space that’s better for the occupants of the building. It’s also an environmental asset in terms of energy usage. CONTROLITE® allows you to have control over the amount of daylight that comes inside and this feature lets you adjust according to the seasons. In the winter, when the mood-lifting light from daytime is so welcome, you can bring in the brightness. In the summer, you can control the levels of sunlight that enter. In all instances, you’re also affecting the amount of heating and cooling that you need, which can optimize your energy usage and cut your expenses. Saving money while using your energy responsibly is another bonus of Danpal’s superior quality external facade cladding.
Look up! It doesn’t matter whether it’s day or night; there’s still something to see. Can’t see anything but the ceiling? That’s because you don’t have skylight roofing. Danpal skylight roofing systems deliver dynamic possibilities for architectural innovation with buildings that are filled with light in the amounts that are comfortable for the occupants. There are health benefits associated with daylight that are enhanced by skylight roofing, one of which is increased exposure to Vitamin D, that vital nutrient that so many of us are lacking because of insufficient exposure to the sun. Skylight roofing protects a building’s occupants from the harsh elements of weather that need to be kept outside while allowing the beneficial aspects, like daylight, to come in. If you’re looking for a way to make your building healthier for its occupants, why not contact Danpal for more information on skylight roofing? Danpal’s Controlite® skylight roofing optimizes the benefits of daylight while still protecting a building’s interior from the harmful effects of weather.
CONTROLITE® SKYLIGHT ROOFING OPTIMIZES DAYLIGHT
Danpal’s half-century of innovation has led to the development of architectural solutions that deliver high-quality performance and exciting possibilities. This intelligent daylighting system features skylight roofing with integrated, rotating louvers that adjust positions throughout the day in order to adapt to the changing amount of daylight. Whether it’s the depth of winter or the height of summer, the system enables control of the intensity of the light to suit your personal preference. Skylight roofing by Danpal makes natural light a partner in the building design. In addition to the optimization of light, this skylight roofing system provides a larger surface area; it’s an energy-efficient, sustainable design, and can withstand harsh weather and extremes of temperature.
DAYLIGHT IN, WEATHER OUT: THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF SKYLIGHT ROOFING
Our interior living and working spaces are meant to be comfortable. Walls and ceilings are part of the barrier that keeps the weather from intruding on us; we’re indoor beings and we couldn’t function properly if we had to work and live out in the open, with no escape from cold weather, high temperatures, rain, snow, wind, and hail. Danpal understands that while we appreciate having more daylight inside, we don’t want all of nature’s seasons to intrude upon us. That’s why Danpal’s skylight roofing is built for durability. We use microcell technology so that our panels can deliver complete, 100% watertight protection from the bitter cold, oppressive heat, and rain and snow that weather brings. With skylight roofing, the weather performance is on display outside, but you’re comfortable inside.
CONTROLITE® AND ENERGY CONSERVATION
In a world that has gone from being agricultural to industrial, buildings play a vital role in the way that energy is consumed. With Controlite® skylight roofing, energy used from heating, air conditioning and artificial lighting is significantly reduced so that a building’s environmental impact is less negative. Danpal Controlite® panels can be integrated into the energy-efficient design of a building, making designers eligible for credit points through the green building rating systems.
CONTROLITE® SKYLIGHT ROOFING OPTIMIZES DAYLIGHT