31 August - 6 September 2000

10 years in the art of spatial structures

Pillow Space Frame Ltd is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary since being set up in 1990. The man behind the company, MARTIN PILLOW, has been in the steel and aluminium industry for quite a number of years. Franco Aloisio interviews Mr Pillow and reports on the successes of Pillow Space Frame Ltd.

Way back in the early 1970s, when the use of aluminium in construction was gradually being introduced in Malta, there were few companies that were specialised in the fabrication of this metal. One of these companies - Pillow Ltd was managed by Martin Pillow. The success of aluminium manufacturing was such that Mr Pillow's company started exporting its products and services abroad.

However, after a few years, aluminium and steel construction became widespread and its manufacturing moved from the larger workshops to the smaller "garage" industries. Mr Pillow decided to specialise and in 1984 he set up Pillow Colour Ltd. The company's main activities were mainly concerned with glazed aluminium structures and a wide range of specialised products.

In the meantime, Mr Pillow had started toying with the idea of introducing a new, innovative design in metal structuring - space frame.

Today, space framing is very popular, and although it is generally associated with temporary aesthetic structures such as concert stages and exhibition stands, space frames are used for many construction purposes, including factories, warehouses, dome structures and airport hangars.

Mr Pillow, 51, can be considered a self-made man. He managed to come up with a number of ideas which would simply be the envy of other renowned engineers.

Proudly the owner of various patents for space-frame designs, Mr Pillow has over the years expanded his line of business and developed new construction methods using space framing.

Still today, Mr Pillow is very enthusiastic about his day-to-day occupation.

"I must stress that the company is not just myself, but enjoys the contribution of my fellow proffessional and technical colleagues who all give their due input in order to maintain the successes of these last years," Mr Pillow said.

"For instance, my brother John, is in Libya supervising the work on one of our major contracts at present. My wife and children offer their support in my endeavour." Pillow Space Frame Ltd was set up in 1990 by Martin Pillow and Messrs. Pillow Colour Ltd. The company is engaged in the design, fabrication, finishing and erection of purpose engineering space frame structures for industrial, commercial and amenity functions.

Throughout its life, the company has gained a proven track record of providing high quality, quick-construction space frame structures, all engineered to comply with the local structural and climatic conditions.

Pillow Space Frame is responsible for the design, manufacturing and erection of roof structures - including adequate structural support, roof decking, rainwater goods and cranage. The company generally provides the services of a site advisor to ensure the correct erection of the steelwork and cladding.

Mr Pillow explained that the company has invested extensively in modern, computer aided design and detailing techniques to achieve maximum economy and highest quality.

It has also devoted substantial investments into a research and development programme which is also aimed towards a better understanding of the manner these complex structures behave and therefore towards a cost effective approach to its designs.

"Each Pillow Space Frame structure is individually designed to suit every client's needs, but by utilising Pillow tried and tested standard details, the company ensures everything fits together correctly on site," he said.

Within the factory at Corradino, Pillow Space Frame Ltd encompasses all aspects of preparation, fabrication and finishing, and is equipped with all the machinery required to ensure fast and precision manufacturing, finishing and erection.

"We can proudly state that we construct our own, custom-made manufacturing machinery. These include automatic cutting machines, degreasing equipment, a double robotic welding unit for automatic inert-gas continuous wire welding, a complete continuous line for automatic painting by two linear robotic sprayers with an infra-red gas fired oven for baking.

"In addition, the company is also equipped with special hydraulic operated hoisting equipment for on-site single lifting of space frame structures," he said.

The list of projects entrusted over the past years to Pillow Space Frame Ltd is considerable. The first ever project was the 1984 Trade Fair Stand in Naxxar, the Suncrest Hotel atrium in 1987, the Manhattan restaurant decorative canopy in 1990, the Oracle conference hall at the New Dolmen Hotel in 1991 and the roofing of the first 10 warehouses in the industrial storage facilities area in 1991.

In 1992, there were other projects assigned to Pillow Space Frame such as the canopy at the main entrance of the Sunny Coast Holiday Complex, and structures for the Independence Day activities at the Granaries in Floriana.

The following year was also a very busy year with a long list of projects including the Plaza Complex in Sliema, the first Malta International Boat Show, the Ziggy Marley concert, the Power Boat Grand Prix and the supply of stage for other concerts which were organised in 1993.

Various projects which were assigned to Pillow Space Frame over the years were the space frame roofing of the new Architecture and Civil Engineering building at the University of Malta, the light weight roofing system at Tigrija Palazz in Gozo, the 3,000sq. metre Magro tomato factory in Xewkija, a geodesic dome outside the arrival's hall at the Malta International Airport (on the occasion of the visit to Malta of Prof. Z.S. Makowski - founder of the Space Structures Research Centre in the UK), the Capua Palace Hotel, gaming hall at the Dragonara Casino, and the Freeport Open Day.

Over the last years, there were other major projects such as the design and construction of a roof supporting structure over a full size Coliseum used during the filming of the epic Gladiator.

Moreover, Pillow Space Frame was also entrusted with the design, manufacturing and erection of two low profile dome structure at the National Arts Centre within the St James Cavalier in Valletta.

Another project was the design, manufacturing and erection of the Malta stand at the EXPO 2000 Malta Pavilion in Germany. The company has also been commissioned the construction of the roof structure of the new 18,000 square metres Playmobil factory.

One of the projects which is currently underway is the construction of a Boeing 707 hangar inside the Tripoli airport in Libya.

The work for this hangar was commissioned by the Mediterranean Aviation Co. Ltd.