sponsoredA modular building kit system  Aluminium profile technology from item – where stability meets flexibility

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item Industrietechnik GmbH

Rapid assembly, maximum flexibility and a wide range of components – find out how your engineering work can benefit from the item Building Kit System.

Aluminium instead of steel, screws instead of welding – that is the basic principle behind aluminium profile technology from item. Back in 1980, item founders Gerrit Pies and Wolfgang Rixen developed the first aluminium profile with inclined groove flanks and screw-fastened connections. In doing so, they revolutionised machine building and factory equipment engineering. Today, all kinds of solutions are created with the item Building Kit System. The spectrum ranges from simple frames to fixtures and fittings for smart factories. Thanks to the versatile aluminium profile technology from item, all options are open when it comes to realising your ideas.

Watch this video to discover the whole world of possibilities that the item Building Kit System opens up:

What product lines do the item aluminium profiles come in?

At item, aluminium profiles are divided into five product lines:  5, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Each line has been designed for specific areas of application. The individual lines differ in terms of their modular dimension, groove size and the diameter of their core bores.

There are also three basic profile designs – standard, light and economy. “Standard” profiles are the normal design, “light” profiles have been designed to be lower in weight, and “economy” profiles have a material-optimised design. It’s important to note that not all profiles are available in every design.

You can find an overview of the entire aluminium profile technology range in the item Online Shop: 

What are the advantages of item aluminium profile technology?

item aluminium profile technology offers numerous advantages for industrial constructions, including excellent versatility, cost efficiency, durability and an extensive range of components.

Here is an overview of the most important advantages:

• Rapid assembly: Only three simple steps are required – sawing, screw fastening and assembly. Just one fitter can carry out all these steps without needing any special training or equipment. 
• Maximum flexibility: Constructions can be modified, expanded, dismantled and reused for new projects at any time.
•  Low weight without compromising stability: Aluminium is significantly lighter than steel, which simplifies transport and on-site work. It is also very strong and exhibits maximum stability.
• Cost efficiency: Fewer work steps and the option to reuse components reduce effort and costs compared to steel constructions.
• Comprehensive system: The item Building Kit System comprises over 4500 modular and mutually compatible products.

• High quality and compatibility: All components are thoroughly tested. Thanks to a continuous availability promise, you can rely on components retaining their compatibility for decades.
• Delivery reliability: In Germany, all standard products ordered through the item Online Shop are delivered within 48 hours.

Does item offer special profiles?

Yes, item offers various special profiles. For example, Profile Tube System D30 has been developed for building equipment that is particularly lightweight. The Profile Tubes and Tubes in this product line are significantly lighter than steel tubes and remain stable over time. Their basic diameter of 30 millimetres corresponds to the modular dimension of Line 6.

Another special profile is Profile KH, which is made of a sustainable composite material that weighs less than steel and exhibits electromagnetic compatibility. Profile WFC is even more sustainable, and is made up of 75 percent wood fibres from sawmill waste (PEFC certified) and 25 percent recycled PE. Further advantages of this special profile are that it is easy to machine, moisture resistant, electrically insulating and neutral to electromagnetic waves.

Line 5: Aluminium profile technology made compact

• Ideal for weight-optimised constructions 
• Compact dimensions enable flexible, stable and intricate solutions
• Particularly suitable for space-saving fixtures and fittings as well as covers and handling systems
• Low material consumption helps to conserve resources
• Available with open and closed grooves

• Closed grooves prevent dirt deposits

Line 6: Low material usage, high performance

• Weight-optimised for slim and robust constructions 
• High load-carrying capacity despite low dead weight
• Ideal for functional and visually appealing display cases, tables and cover hoods
• Perfect for lean, resource-efficient design
• Available with open and closed grooves

Line 8: The all-rounder among profiles

• Suitable for universal use, robust and durable 
• Perfect for machines and systems of all sizes in mechanical engineering applications
• The global bestselling aluminium profile from item
• Tensile loading up to 5000 Newtons

• With open and closed grooves
• Line X uses the Line 8 profile groove

Line 10: Aluminium profiles with increased load-carrying capacity

• Higher load-carrying capacity for particularly robust constructions 
• Even greater load-carrying capacity thanks to strong groove flanks
• Improved resistance to preload losses
• Tensile loading of up to 7000 Newtons per screw connection

• Weight-optimised Profiles 10 E are available for applications that involve less stress
• End faces and groove sides can be covered over with plastic Caps and Cover Profiles

Line 12: The strongest profile line from item

• Suitable for stable, heavy-duty frame constructions 
• Highest load-carrying capacity in the entire item Building Kit System
• Tensile loading of up to 10,000 Newtons per screw connection
• Particularly resistant to preload losses
• Profile 12 light for low-stress areas in base frames

Line X: Smooth transitions for use in cleanrooms

• Ideal for machines and plants with high hygiene requirements 
• Precise outer edges with minimal radii
• No surfaces where dirt and deposits can accumulate
• Available with open and closed grooves
• Profiles with closed grooves are ideal for cleanroom solutions

What are the advantages of aluminium profile fasteners? 

Aluminium profile fasteners ensure secure and stable connections in aluminium profile constructions. They connect profiles reliably and stabilise the entire structure.

Further features and advantages of aluminium profile fasteners from item:

• Safety and load-carrying capacity: To ensure the fasteners will provide a secure hold at all times, they are extensively tested for their load-carrying capacity under various conditions (including vibrations and temperature fluctuations). 
• Versatile solutions: A wide range of fastener types offers the ideal solution for every challenge.

Standard-Fastening Set – outstanding versatility

• Suitable for connecting aluminium profiles permanently and at a fixed fastening point 
• Extremely resistant to displacement and torsionLimited machining requirements and excellent cost-efficiency
• Available in a one-sided design so panels can be installed in a groove without needing to be machined first
• Available for Lines 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12

Universal-Fastening Set – assembly made easy

• Connects two profiles at a 90° angle and with protection against torsion 
• Outstanding resistance to displacement, torsion and deflection
• Suitable for retrofitting to existing constructions
• Profile can be moved along the groove after installation
• Only one drilled installation hole per fastener required

• Fundamentally used in pairs Sets comprising two fasteners and one T-Slot Nut (with two threaded holes) are available for rapid fitting
• Available for Lines 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12

Automatic-Fastening Set – universal suitability and friction-based fastening

• Perfect for movable and high-strength profile connections at a right angle 
• Particularly fast to fitProfiles do not need to be machined
• Suitable for retrofitting elements to existing aluminium constructions
• First, screw the fasteners directly into the profile grooves at the end face of profile A
• Next, insert the T-Slot Nuts into the groove of profile B and screw the aluminium fasteners in profile A into the T-Slot Nuts.

Automatic-Fastening Set 8 S – for strong profile connections

• Offers particularly high axial load-carrying capacity 
• Innovative thread shape ensures an even stronger hold in a Line 8 groove
• Rapid assembly: Screw Automatic-Fastener 8 S and its pre-fitted screw directly into the groove; the captive screw is attached directly to the sleeve and can be tightened immediately
• Automatic-Fastening Set 8 S 40: Two Automatic-Fasteners and one T-Slot Nut with two threads. This is an ideal fastener for building rooms and machine frames efficiently because it speeds up the recommended approach of fitting fasteners in pairs
• Automatic-Fastening Set F 8 S 40: A T-Slot Nut F with two threads holds its position thanks to a grub screw, which also ensures an ESD-safe connection is made between the T-Slot Nut and profile

Fastener D30 – the powerhouse for lean factory equipment

• Mechanically locked connection with the contour of Profile Tubes D30 or Profiles 6 D30 
• Permanent hold without creep
• Once tightened, the connection holds immediately
• One-person assembly
• Up to four fasteners can be installed at the same intersection point on a profile

• ESD-safe contact made automatically
• Pre-assembled delivery further simplifies installation