Belbien architectural film and vinyl wrap

Hume Internationale has been supplying and installing Belbien in Australia and New Zealand since 2012.  Belbien is made by C.I. Takiron Corporation in Japan and has been in production since 1980.

It is a self-adhesive film, 0.15mm thick at 370 grams per lineal metre, which is about the thickness of a coat of paint. It is printed to read as timber, stone, metal, leather or textile, and it goes onto a surface that already exists rather than replacing it.

It is applied to walls, ceilings, doors, joinery, cabinetry, lift cars, reception counters, partitions and glass. What makes it work in refurbishment is that it bonds to laminate and other hard glossy surfaces, which are the finishes a commercial building already has and the ones hardest to refinish any other way. The existing surface is not stripped out. It becomes the base the film goes onto.

Nothing is wet and nothing is demolished. No solvent odour, no masking of adjacent surfaces, and no wait before the space can be used. A lift car, a doorway or an emergency exit can be put back into service during the installation rather than after it, and a metal fire door can be refinished without affecting its movement or its rating.

The adhesive is pressure sensitive and reaches full bond eight to twelve hours after application, which is why it holds in stations, shopping centres and bathroom partitions. The film takes a 180 degree fold and stretches twenty to thirty per cent, so it wraps a three dimensional profile rather than stopping at the edge of one.

In Australia and New Zealand it has been tested by CSIRO to AS/NZS 1530.3 and AS/NZS 3837, and it carries a marine rating for vessel interiors. Certificates are available on request.

Damage is patched, or a strip is lifted and replaced, rather than the surface being refinished. And because the film is thin it can be applied over a previous Belbien installation, so a surface can be changed again later without anything being stripped back.

What is Belbien?

Belbien™ is best described as an architectural film made from PVC and other synthetic engineering plastics. The range maintains over 500 Belbien™ patterns with more being added each year. Patterns simulate wood grains, metallics, leathers, marble, two packs and a range of other patterns.

The patterns are classified into three basic categories including:

  • Belbien [interior]
  • Belbien EX [exterior]
  • Belbien HS [high select/metallics]

Where can it be applied?

The applications for Belbien™ are extremely diverse. The following lists only a few of the many possibilities for the range:

  • Casinos
  • Marine vessels
  • Lift compartments and entrances
  • Department stores
  • Furniture
  • Hotel Lobbies and Conference rooms
  • Escalator panels
  • Airports
  • Store fixtures
  • Reception counters
  • Bathroom partitions
  • Aircraft interiors
  • Restaurants
  • Passenger trains
  • Office buildings

Belbien Architectural Film - is an outstanding commercial grade material for refurbishments, fit-outs, and overhauls! It represents a new, innovative approach to surface design.

Why is it right for you?

Wide Range: With a large number of colours, patterns, and styles available you can be sure to get wall coverings to perfectly fit your spaces.

Interior and Exterior use: Suitable for a wide range of interior and exterior surfaces. Installed directly onto your existing walls and ceilings as well as being appropriate for steel, metal, and glass board surfaces.

Durable: An anti-corrosive film layer ensures resistance to direct UV sunlight, preventing colour fade over your wall coverings lifetime. During exterior applications it is protected from rain, snow, ice, smog, and other perils of nature.

Easy to maintain: Small damaged segments can be patched over. Larger areas of damage can be easily replaced with new strips. Reduces overall upkeep cost and time, keeping your wall coverings looking great every day.

Lightweight and thin. Belbien weighs in a 370gm per lineal m and is 0.15mm thick. The product used to renovate areas where weigiht or thickness is an issue and the low weight and thinness of the product ensures it can be repeatedly installed over the top of itself. One day a wood grain, the next day a metallic finish.

Quick to refresh / update. Once established and installed Belbien can be simply applied over the top of the last installation to refresh the surface. There are surfaces in the world today that have stacked over 10 Belbien film applications on top of each other.

Why is a Belbien installation so fast and clean?

Belbien wall covering is the surface finish of choice when critical areas demand fast and clean installations. Belbien™ applies directly to existing wall and ceiling surfaces, adhering to laminates and other hard glossy substrates. There are no caustic odours from glues or solvents, and unlike paint or stain, Belbien™ is never wet. Extensive taping or masking of adjacent surfaces is not required. Belbien™ wood patterns provide the look and feel of real wood without the dust and mess of repetitious sanding to achieve the desired effect. These advantages mean jobs are completed in a fraction of the time, minimising labour costs and site downtime. Metal doors can be given a new look without affecting their movement or fire rating. With no demolition work required, elevators, doorways and emergency exits can be put back into use at any time, if required, during the installation process.

Why are the Safety, Fire, and Smoke Ratings so high?

Belbien test to a AS/NZS 3837 Group 1 fire standard. This quality makes Belbien the perfect solution for renovating lifts and other areas where strict fire and smoke development ratings are required. Metal doors can be restyled without affecting their movement or fire rating. With no demolition work required, elevators, doorways, and emergency exits can be put back into use at any time during the installation process.

What are the key product characteristics?

  • Lightweight: 370gm per lineal m
  • Thin: 0.15mm thick. It is the same thickness as a coat of paint.
  • Strong Bonding: The pressure sensitive adhesive system cures to ensure a very strong bond to the surface after 8-12hrs.This allows BelbienTM to be installed in high risk areas such as train stations, shopping malls, bathroom partitions etc...
  • Flexible. Can be easily tailored up to 180 degree angles
  • Conformable. The range can also be stretched to conform to three dimensional surfaces [up to 20-30% stretch]
  • Durable. BelbienTM is highly durable and can be applied to surfaces where abrasion is a concern.
  • Suitable for Internal or External use. The range has designs suitable for internal and external use.
  • Fire Rated. In Australia and NZ BelbienTM has been tested by the CSIRO in accordance with standards AS/NZS 1530.3:1999 and AS/NZS 3837. Certificated are available on request.
  • Marine Rated for ship building interior use.
  • Stain and Solvent Resistant. BelbienTM  offers excellent stain resistance to many substances.
  • Easily to repair. BelbienTM is easily repaired on site in a very short period of time.

Download a Belbien spec sheet

Belbien architectural film is a product that will change the way you think about design