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Company History
The German company FDT (full name - FlachdachTechnologie GmbH & Co. KG) received its current name in 1999, when Joachim Gussner became the owner of the company.
The history of the company began in 1873, when Friedrich Julius Benzinger established the factory of solid rubber products (Rheinische Hartgummi-Waren-Fabrik AG).
Production was rapidly expanding and by the end of the 19th century had a capacity of 4500 tons per year of pulp alone, which corresponded to one third of the world production at that time. With the advent of this mill, the industrialization of one of Mannheim's districts, Neckar, began. From the very beginning, the company's logo featured the turtle as a symbol of protection and durability.
In the 1950s, the factory became a pioneer in the production of plastic materials and acquired the name Schildkröt Kunststoffwerke AG (German: Kunststoff - plastics). The turtle (Schildkröt - turtle) was still present in the name and logo. Those were the years of the "economic miracle". Synthetic materials were taking over the market. The founders of the company preferred polyisobutylene (PIB) as they believed that this material had excellent prospects. More than 75 years after the installation of the first roof in Germany (since 1938), which is still in operation today, we see the proof of the correct choice.
It is also worth noting that during the construction of the modern business park in 1989, certain areas of the factory were completely preserved and today are classified as monuments of German industrial culture. One of the most prominent monuments is the 43-meter high water tower, which served the factory for more than a century.
The FDT headquarters, where innovative ideas are developed, is currently located in Germany. Official representative offices are located in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic and Poland. There are official partners in almost all other European countries as well as in New Zealand.
The owner of FlachdachTechnologie GmbH & Co. KG Joachim Gussner ensures the company's success today and leads the way to new heights. The company's products have service life of over 50 years!
Accomplishments
Between 1972 and the beginning of 2013, FDT set a unique record. 250,000,000 square meters of roofing were produced and installed. This is roughly the size of Marseille, a city with a population of 1.5 million.
From this number, the world's oldest synthetic roofing membrane Rhepanol accounts for 40% of the output. Rhenofol PVC membranes account for 60%. On average, 6.1 million square meters of membranes were produced each year, which is equal to 854 soccer fields stacked together. It would take 25,000 trucks to move all 250 million square meters of production. If they were lined up in a convoy, it would stretch from Aachen on the Belgian-Dutch border to Freiburg on the Swiss border.
Products
FDT produces two types of roof coatings - Rhepanol and Rhenofol membranes.
Rhepanol is a roll material made of polyisobutylene (PIB). It fully complies with the requirements of DIN EN 13956. It is produced using a special technology in which the edges are industrially processed. It is reinforced with synthetic canvas at the bottom (fk) or glass fleece between the layers (hg). The sealing properties of the edges of the fabric simplify the process of joining seams and ensure high moisture protection of the roofing material.
Depending on the foundation and supporting structure, Rhepanol can be laid in a variety of ways:
- adhesion;
- free laying with ballast covering;
- mechanical Velcro fastening.
Repanol, even without special protection, shows a high degree of resistance to unfavorable weather conditions, including hail, UV radiation and thermal industrial emissions into the atmosphere. Even at temperatures as low as -60°C it remains flexible. Membrane components don't include any halogens or plasticizers. The material is non-porous and is well resistant to decomposition and natural aging. The fire resistance according to DIN V ENV 1187 corresponds to class E, EN 13501-1. Regarding root penetration, the membrane passed the tests according to DIN 4062.
Rhepanol fk is suitable for all laying options and is compatible with bitumen. Rhepanol hg has increased puncture resistance and is designed for ballast laying, even with a vegetation layer.
Rhepanol PIB membranes have a proven service life of over 75 years!
Rhenofol is made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC-P). It also complies with DIN 13956. It is available in the following variants:
- Rhenofol CV is reinforced with polyester mesh. Designed for mechanical laying without ballast. Often used with PVC profiles to create lightweight roof structures.
- Rhenofol CG is reinforced with glass fleece. It is used for free laying methods under ballast (including landscaping) or under paving slabs.
- Rhenofol C is unreinforced. It is well suited as a waterproofing material for building construction. Also for the production of individual parts in Rhenofol CV/CG roof coverings.
Rhenofol is suitable for all types of roofs. It offers high durability, strength, flexibility, resistance to deformation loads and unfavorable weather conditions.