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Rain Screens Street Furniture
Technical/Support What Is GRC?
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About us

The team at Liquidstone™ understands the importance of partnering with suppliers who can reliably deliver quality products and services. That’s why we’ve focused our business on doing GRC the right way with an uncompromising focus on quality, cost and delivery. We are committed to delivering world class GRC, in full, on time, to your specification, every time.

Our Team

Iain Hobson
Founder/Director

Iain is a qualified industrial designer and has worked in manufacturing and construction across a wide range of disciplines including contract negotiation, quantity surveying and business development.

e: iain@liquidstone.nz

m. 021 574 315

Jon Williams
Managing Director

A master stonemason with 20+ years experience in design for manufacture, project management and installation of some of New Zealand' s most prestigious installations including the Auckland Art Gallery, Stamford Plaza and City Rail Link.

e: jon@liquidstone.nz

m. 021 765 835

Design & Engineering

We work with a network of Engineering partners renowned for their expertise in façade design particularly GRC and curtain wall construction.

GRCA

Liquidstone Ltd are affiliates of the International GRCA Association. You will benefit from our close personal contacts within the international GRC community and their specific expertise in delivering projects of this scale. The GRCA also provides a wealth of information for architects, engineers and developers specifically related to design, specification and quality control of GRC.

w: grca.online

 

Factory

500m2 purpose built factory, 750m2 hard stand.

 

CAPACITY

  • ~10,000m2 per annum:
    (6 ton / 200m2 p/week) @12mm thick

  • Engineering design / BIM ready 3D CAD models

  • Design and production of CNC moulds in Silicone, fibreglass, steel and timber

  • QA / QC - modulus of rupture, Limit of proportionality, fibre content, pull out testing in- house (*in accordance with GRCA 'methods for testing')

  • Panels up to 7.5 tall x 1750mm wide

  • 5 sided panels

MATERIAL

  • Grade 18 polymer modified Glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC)

  • Grade 10 premix spray and wet cast GRC (~24 - 27kg p/m2 @12mm thick)

  • Stainless steel, HDG mild steel and Alloy sub- frames

  • see Technical Specifications below

PLANT & EQUIPMENT

  • Powersprays’ GRC numerically controlled batch plant for dosing, mixing, pump and spray equipment

  • Testometric GRC testing machine

  • 10 Ton gantry

  • Water recycling plant

Adapa 3D Adaptive Mould Machine

 

CURVEWORKS NZ | Intelligent Formwork

Design and manufacture of customised formwork solutions.

Curveworks NZ specializes in precision curved formwork for use in a wide range of industries including architecture and marine. Our capabilities extend beyond traditional design, allowing architects, designers and builders to explore innovative and complex forms that challenge the norms of construction.

Utilizing advanced technology and a team of skilled craftsmen, we forms that enable you to build your building, yacht or furniture. Our collaborative approach ensures that we understand your vision and provide solutions that align with your design intent, making us a trusted partner in manufacturing journey.

We specialise in manufacture of formwork in a wide range of materials including glass fibre, various composites, silicone, polyurethane rubber, and a range of thermoplastics. Computer-aided manufacture of custom formwork for construction, interior design, aerospace, and boat building.

 
 

KAIPARA ENGINEERING | Structural steel & Metalwork

Innovative structural steel and metalwork solutions.

Kaipara Engineering specializes in providing a comprehensive fabrication service tailored to both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Our expertise encompasses a diverse selection of materials, including stainless steel, aluminium, and mild steel. We are committed to ensuring quality assurance throughout every step of the fabrication process.

Our rigorous approach involves meticulous material procurement, detailed mill certification, thorough producer statements, and precise inspection test certificates. This dedication to excellence not only streamlines the fabrication journey but also guarantees that every project adheres to the highest industry standards. Choose Kaipara Engineering for reliability and quality in metal fabrication that meets your specific needs.

Make your dream a concrete reality

Liquidstone gives architects and designers the freedom to break free from the confines of traditional concrete and offers a whole new world of shape, colour and texture.

Quality Assurance

We have a documented Quality assurance program which has been developed in accordance with Precast Concrete Institute of America and the International GRCA guidelines. Our QA program covers all aspects of design and production of GRC including quality control, production practices, raw materials and product tolerances. We are one of the only GRC companies in New Zealand with our own in-house testing laboratory equipped with testing facilities that enable us to do real time testing and validation.

As a standard we carry out in house testing in accordance with GRCA guidelines. These tests include daily Modulus of rupture, Limit of proportionality tests and form a part of our completion documentation along with warranties, care and maintenance information ADAPA 3D MOULD SYSTEM.

 

Dynamometro X350 Testometric

 

Liquidstone currently has the only Adapa 3D mould machine in the southern hemisphere. This machine has been imported especially from Denmark to create complex 3D moulds for the City Rail Link project. The machine allows us to rapidly create complex curves with little to no waste compared to traditional construction methods. Using the Adapa machine to create the curved J panels is an ideal application for this machine.

 

Design For Manufacture

Further to the issue of approved design information ‘for construction’ Liquidstone will translate the architectural design and specifications into; shop drawings, samples, prototypes, tooling, manufacturing and installation methodologies in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the contract documents.

 

Shop Drawings

A complete digital twin is modelled in 3D CAD and we can advise on how the design can be adapted for the most efficient method for manufacture, safe installation and ongoing maintenance. All drawings are produced in either .STP or .DXF and are compatible with industry standard AutoCAD and BIM modelling software.

PROJECT SAMPLES

After award of the contract, and prior to production, Liquidstone Ltd will prepare and submit for approval a representative GRC sample or samples in the required colour and texture.

Mould Design & Fabrication

The design and fabrication of moulds is key to the successful manufacture of GRC products. Much of our senior in- house talent and expertise is occupied with the design, engineering and manufacture of moulds in the most cost effective and timely manner. Moulds can typically be made from a variety of materials such as MDF, Plywood, Steel, Fibreglass and Polyurethane rubber etc or a combination of one or all of these materials.

 
 

Why choose Liquidstone GRC for your next rain screen or facade panel project?

At Liquidstone we understand the importance of suppliers who can reliably deliver quality products and services. That’s why we’ve focused our business on doing GRC the right way. We are committed to delivering world class GRC, in full, on time, to your specification, every time. Choose Liquidstone™️ to deliver your next GRC rain screen or GRC facade project.

 
 

01. Knowledge

A complete resource of specialist GRC design and engineering information. Supported by local expertise coupled with world renowned GRC engineering experience.

 

02. Capability

Take advantage of our range of services from cost management, 3D CAD modelling, engineering design through to manufacture, delivery and installation.

 

03. QUALITY

High quality GRC products and services manufactured in a custom designed and built facility, underpinned by sound LEAN manufacturing principles.

 
 

Social Responsibility & Environment

LOW EMBEDDED CARBON / LOW ENERGY

  • Liquidstone products are manufactured locally here at our purpose built factory in Swanson, Auckland using raw materials and aggregates largely sourced from within New Zealand. Not all raw materials are available ex NZ and so where necessary we look to minimise or replace where possible

  • Our products can be specified with up to 30% Fly Ash as a cement replacement and can even use recycled ex-demolition concrete waste in lieu of quarried aggregate. By using high strength formula’s where possible we eliminate any requirement for steel reinforcement

  • GRC neither uses nor emits volatiles (VOC's)

  • Our factory is fitted out with bespoke water recycling and treatment plant. This enables us to reuse up to 80% of the water from our manufacturing process over and over again and minimises the amount of fresh water required for manufacture. It also ensures that any slurry from the finishing process does not enter into local streams and waterways.

  • Our manufacturing facility has been designed in accordance with LEAN principles (the highly successful Toyota production philosophy) which promotes the elimination of waste in all its forms

GRC & The Environment - GRC as An environmentally friendly product

The main constituents of GRC are based on naturally occurring earth oxides which are not generally considered pollutants. Wash water used in the manufacturing process contains activated cement slurry which is alkaline and our factory is fitted out with settlement tanks so that the solids are not put into the drainage system.

The reduced weight of GRC compared to standard reinforced concrete products does provide environmental benefits. Independant testing showed that GRC has lower environmental impact over standard precast concrete construction when the overall reduced cement usage per product and reduced transport costs were taken into account.

PRODUCT DURABILITY - Future generations

  • All of our products are made to last at least the life of the building structure and even after many years and even decades they can be re-finished to once again look like new.

  • Our products tend to have excellent thermal mass eg in the summer they provide a cool surface and in the winter they can retain the heat from the sun and help to warm during the day. 

  • Our products have comparatively low maintenance costs requiring no chemical cleaners or waxes e.g. routine maintenance includes dry and damp mopping using a PH Neutral cleaner, with an occasional mechanical buff.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • We aim to be a good neighbour and treat our community and all of our employees with respect.

  • We employ local and have high staff retention

  • We pay a Living wage as a minimum

  • We offer planned training and development opportunities as part of our commitment to continuous improvement. 

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LIVING WAGE

  • We strive to pay our staff a minimum living wage which is over and above the minimum wage and better reflects the true costs associated with living.

  • We pay our staff for the skills they have and reflect this with increases the more skilled they become.

  • We offer on the job up-skilling and training.

  • We believe in up-skilling our current work force and ensuring they work on the areas in the business which best suit their ability.

Liquidstone Accreditation & Partnerships

LEAN MANUFACTURING

  • At Liquidstone our subscribe to the LEAN manufacturing philosophy i.e. to eliminate waste in all its forms and to create quality product, delivered in full, on time and to specification.

SITEWISE

  • Our installation team are all SiteSafe accredited and we are prequalified with Sitewise for our health and safety procedures.

GRCA

  • We are currently working towards accreditation with the International Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Association