‘Clamping technology has been consistently refined’

The combination of various characteristics is the key to success

Tonny Maes is a specialist consultant at Dr. Hahn. For this issue of the trade magazine *Profiel*, we spoke with him about the launch of the Hahn VL-Band G, a new concealed door hinge. The first question: Why did the company decide to focus on this segment?

Tonny: “Dr. Hahn has many years of experience with door hinges that are clamped into the Euro groove. Drawing on that expertise, the idea arose to apply this clamping technique to a concealed hinge as well. Our goal was to develop a solution that is easy to install and, at the same time, meets the requirements placed on high-quality aluminum doors today.”

Profile: “What were the biggest technical challenges involved?”

Tonny: “A concealed hinge must combine several features. It must be able to support heavy doors, offer extensive adjustment options, and at the same time require as little profile machining as possible. That’s why we’ve further refined our clamping technology. In the standard version, the door leaf is secured exclusively with clamping plates. This eliminates the need for mechanical machining of the door leaf.”

Profile: “What’s in it for the processor?”

Tonny: “Above all, a simpler production process. Only the frame profile needs to be milled to accommodate the pre-assembled hinge assembly. We provide appropriate assembly and machining drawings for the various profile systems, so that CNC machining centers can be easily programmed. The door leaf remains completely free of any additional machining operations.”

Profile: “With concealed hinges, adjustability is often a key consideration.”

Tonny: “Absolutely. That’s why the Hahn VL-Band G is adjustable in six directions. The height can be adjusted by ±3.5 millimeters, and horizontally, adjustments of +4.5 and -2.7 millimeters are possible. In addition, the pressure of the seal can also be adjusted. All adjustments can be made while the door is installed.”

Profile: “So, without help from a second mechanic?”

Tonny: “Exactly. The hinge is designed so that one person can make all the adjustments. In addition, the adjustment points are clearly marked. This makes it immediately obvious which adjustment has been made, which makes on-site adjustment considerably easier.”

Profile: “What door weights can the hinge handle?”

Tonny: “With two hinges, the standard version can support door leaves weighing up to 120 kilograms. This allows us to cover a wide range of applications in high-end residential and commercial construction.”

Profile: “What materials were used?”

Tonny: “The load-bearing components are made of extruded aluminum, supplemented with high-quality zinc die-cast parts. It is secured with six corrosion-resistant screws. It was important to us to have a robust design that delivers long-lasting performance and can be assembled without special tools.”

Profile: “The hinge is available only in black. Why was that decision made?”

Tonny: “A concealed hinge should be as unobtrusive as possible. That’s why we chose a matte finish in RAL 9005. Once the door is closed, the hinge is virtually invisible and blends well with modern aluminum profile systems.”

Profile: “Are there different versions available?”

Tonny: “Yes. In addition to the version for the standard Euro groove, we also offer a version for profiles with 10/14 and 16 mm grooves. The features remain the same. The difference is that the clamping plates in the door leaf are additionally secured with the included self-tapping screws.”

Profile: “Where do you see the most important areas of application?”

Tonny: “We expect the greatest demand to come from the high-end residential construction sector, where aesthetics and concealed hardware solutions are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, the Hahn VL-Band G is also suitable for fire-rated doors, smoke-rated doors, and emergency exit doors. The CE test in accordance with EN 1935 has been successfully completed, meaning the hinge can also be used for these applications.”