Sugatsune’s Solution for Shelf Supports and Distorted Doors

They may look like little grey widgets, but the new range of shelf supports from Sugatsune are an intelligent step forward. Combining hi-tech materials and new thinking they contribute to the structural integrity of your shelving system. Not only do they reinforce, but they are also completely invisible once installed, yet still allow for repositioning. For premium bookcases it is preferred to have no structural hardware in sight, just clean surfaces. However, it's usually desirable to be able to reconfigure the shelves at some point and for this the compromise is that the shelves themselves become passive components in the structure of the shelf, resting on push-in supports. The new GN401 and GN402 invisible shelf supports from Sugatsune revolutionise this technique. The slide-on design is made from hi-tech plastics that actually lock the shelf in place, contributing to the structural integrity of the shelving system. GN406 and GN407 work in a similar way for vertical dividers, sliding down and locking into place. The supports are machined into the edges of the shelves (or dividers) and slide over protruding lugs screwed into the uprights. They can be removed at any time to give you the best of both worlds; structural strength and flexibility. Even if multiple shelf heights are not required, the ability to construct large bookcases off-site which can be partially disassembled allows for much easier transportation. They can then be re-assembled on-site for a perfect fit, which is a nice advantage over traditionally manufactured discrete shelving systems. Another area where design has caused problems for installers is with the evolving trend for ever larger cabinet and wardrobe doors. This has brought a clean look to interiors which we all appreciate, and a larger opening is often more practical. Larger doors however put a greater stress on the fittings and materials used to produce them. One possible result, particularly with composites, is that the door will warp. On the continent, where they have been making doors from thinner materials for some time, it is standard practice to reinforce with tensioner bars. These prevent the doors from warping but can look a little alarming to the average user, as the adjustment and access panels are visible on the inside of the door. Fortunately, Sugatsune has found a solution that not only prevents warping, but can also be completely concealed! The TN423 is a tensioner bar that is adjusted with an Allen key from the top edge of the door, a simple refinement that means the reinforcement can be completely concealed within the door construction itself, remaining invisible to the user. The rod has a threaded sleeve section, which, when turned by a hex key from the end applies tension or compression to bring the door back to straight and true. The TN423 is available in a range of cuttable lengths, all of which can be cut down by 400mm so that one size can often be stocked to cover a wide range of differently sized doors. For bespoke projects custom sizes can also be produced. A typical installation would mount a pair of tensioner bars in each door so that the door can be made from a lighter, more cost-effective material – which also has the benefit of making them easier for the user to manipulate. The ST741 works in a similar fashion but it comes as a complete unit built into a smart aluminium extrusion. The bars are to be surface mounted and are very often used with pocket doors. What is unique about the ST741 is not only do they keep the door straight and true, but they have the triple benefits of working as a handle and also obscuring the pocket door cavity when the door is open. The fitting screws are hidden by the extrusion and adjustment is made from the top edge of the pocket door by inserting and turning a hex key. As fitting simply requires the fixing of 6-8 special screws, installation is a doddle which makes this very popular for retrofitting, too! Sugatsune stocks a full range of straightener bars which can be surface mounted or recessed. With a multitude of options to fit all door types and sizes, they enable the use of thinner lighter doors in your projects. If you'd like to talk through the possibilities why not give our knowledgeable customer services team a ring, they'd be only too happy to talk to you.

For more information on Sugatsune’s Solution for Shelf Supports and Distorted Doors talk to Sugatsune UK