Kiwi nous underpins Bvlgari exhibition

Fastmount designers Ron Hanley and Gregg Kelly, whose clips have helped put together the Bvlgari exhibition in Paris. Photo / Supplied

An exhibit built in Paris to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Italian fashion brand Bvlgari is being held together by a New Zealand-made panel mounting system originally designed for superyachts.

The fifteen 8.5m-high pyramids constructed at the Grand Palais museum in the French capital are meant to resemble cut diamonds.

Using a plastic-clip system designed and manufactured by Muriwai-based Fastmount, the mirror-finish panels are positioned below the glass ceiling of the building to create light effects on the structures.

"Although the Fastmount panel system was originally designed to meet the demanding requirements of superyachts, we are seeing demand for our system from luxury hotels, shop fit-outs and exciting concept projects around the world," said Fastmount director Ron Hanley.

Jocelyn Hong, marketing manager for the company, said those behind the Bvlgari exhibition decided to use the Kiwi-made mounting system because it allowed the panels to be perfectly aligned.

"It was a quality finish," she said.

The pyramids, designed by Frenchman Fabien Iliou, will remain at the Grand Palais until January 12.

Hong said the mounting system was developed in 2004 and has since been used in around 1000 projects, mostly in the marine sector.

The company has four staff and contract manufactures its products through a South Auckland plastics firm, she says.