Discover our architectural, ornamental and decorative columns. These cut to size modular columns are both decorative and structural and can be used for outdoor architectural projects, as well as for interior decoration or renovation purposes.

Cast decorative columns, fluted or smooth, constitute pleasant transitions between the nature and your interior. These architectural and ornamental columns are fully modular: each element (shaft, capital, base, decorative rings) can be chosen independently from the others. There are hundreds of possible combinations. We now can deliver columns in the following diameters: 60,80, 100,140 and 200 mm. 

The elements of these cast modular columns are produced in our aluminium foundry in Belgium. We work with the traditional and very ancient 'green sand' casting technique. Once our columns have been cast and trimmed, shot-blasted and lacquered, there is no difference to the eye with ancient cast iron columns.

Consider the advantages of our cast aluminium columns in comparison with columns in cast iron:our columns and pillars are three times lighter than similar items in cast iron and are thus much easier to handle and to install. And further: our decorative columns can be delivered at the exact height you need, at no extra cost.

Our models are inspired from the traditional roman, ionic, doric and corinthian ancient styles, or even from the traditional colonial style.. But you will also find in our assortment some very contemporary models. We are inspired by tradition and legacy, but we are also open towards modernity and today's contemporary design.

Our columns can also be used as architectural and structural elements in a construction, indoor or outdoor. The maximum admissible weights vary from 5.1 to 21.1 metric tons for a column of 2.5 m (8 ft), depending upon the diameter of the shaft and its wall thickness.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information or advice. We only use high-quality aluminium alloys in our foundry and a we can thus offer a lifetime guarantee on the quality of our work. We organize shipments all over the world.

And notice: if you have your own idea for a capital or a base, please contact us. Since we basically are an aluminium foundry, we are able to produce or reproduce any model you may have in mind!

True Belgian Quality! Traditional European Classic style!

Our cast decorative architectural columns and pillars are modular since the capitals, the bases, the shafts and the decorative rings can all be chosen independently of each other. There are hundreds of possible combinations. For instance, if you chose one of our two models of 80 mm diameter shafts, you can then decide between 12 capitals, 8 bases and 6 decorative rings. There is plenty of room for exercising your creativity!

The shafts are available in three diameters (60, 80 and 100 mm; shortly also in 200 mm), two models (smooth or grooved) and three standard lengths (2000, 2500 and 3000 mm). The shafts are extruded, whilst all the other elements are produced in sand-cast aluminium, in our foundry located in Belgium. DC-colonnes: elegance, refinement, class... and Belgian quality.

These cast architectural and decorative columns can also be used as structural elements. A 2500 mm column of diameter 80 mm can bear up to 5.1 metric tons. A pillar of the same height but in diameter 100 mm can bear up to 14 metric tons when filled with concrete. You can download from our site (professionals, downloads) the blueprints of all our models in the DWG and DXF formats.

Since our columns are in cast or extruded in aluminium, they are much lighter than columns in cast iron, and, therefore, much easier to handle and to install.

Our tailor-made traditional cast architectural columns and pillars in aluminium can be used outdoor (porches, terraces, gazebo's, verandas, pergolas, patios, terraces) as well as indoor (decoration, renovation, pubs, loggias, mezzanines, lofts) . Since aluminium is three times lighter than steel, our columns and pillars are really easy to install. If you provide us with the reference of the colour you have chosen, we'll also take care of the lacquering.

You will also find in our assortment a very complete array of cast decorative elements such as rosettes, palm leafs, friezes, ornamental plates, spandrel corners,  etc.

The belgian company DC-colonnes is a subsidiary of Aludeclercq nv, which has nearly 60 years experience of aluminium sand-casting, and combines a high degree of traditional "savoir-faire" with the most recent technologies such as CAD and 3-D printing, and edge-cutting equipments.

Since we produce ourselves all what you can find in our catalogue, there is a good chance we can reproduce any model of base or capital you might have seen and liked, or designed yourself. Just ask us...

DC-colonnes is a branch of Aludeclercq nv, a belgian aluminium sand casting company, incorporated in 1957 .

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The main advantages of sand casting are:

• Swiftness and reasonable cost for the setting-up
• Excellent precision/cost ratio
• Products are easily adapted if necessary
• A perfect process for small to medium-sized quantities
• A perfect process for prototyping
• A perfect process for the production of our proprietary system of bespoke columns. 

But it is a relatively expensive process since it implies a high degree of highly skilled manpower. This explains partly the price of our elements for columns: it is a high-end product. It is made in Belgium, and it is belgian quality.

When it goes about large quantities, we subcontract the work to one of our partners specialized in die-casting. 

The development of the models and of the moulds for our capitals, bases and decorative rings used for the assembly of our columns..

This crucial phase will often imply a close cooperation with the client. 

The aluminium alloys

Many alloys exist, with various properties. These alloys were developed in function of the characteristics required for the casted parts, and in function of their usages. Aluminium is almost never used in its pure form. Alluminum is mixed with silicium, copper, magnesium, titanium, cobalt, etc. The quality of the alloy is measured before the casting, and noted in the "casting report".

In function of the needed characteristics, the casted parts will in some cases be case-hardened (to harden the surface of the part), or case-softened (to release the internal tensions in the metal).

Typical applications for sand casting 

• prototyping in its broad sense (automotive or aeronautical industries)
• small or medium-sized series, with high technical requirements (weapons, racing cars parts, high speed railway transportation)
• art castings, machinery for the food processing or the textile industries, the transportation sector, public lighting, etc.
• any part of complex shape, submitted to high mechanical strains, such as engine blocks, carters for torque converters, boggies for high-speed trains, landing gears...
• and: our system of modular, bespoke and and cut to size columns 

In brief, all applications where: lightness, good resistance to dynamical strain, weld-ability, a good thermal conductivity, etc. are required in various mixes, without necessarily looking towards mass-production.

It is not without reason that the engines and gearboxes of nearly all luxury cars are produced through aluminium sand-casting (much lighter than cast iron). See for instance this video on the Ferrari foundry. 

 

 

 

 

The four most used processes for the casting of aluminun are:

1. Sand casting

2. Die casting -gravity

3. Die casting - pressure 

4. Lost wax casting

We are specialised in sand casting, since we desire to be as flexible as possible so as to provide the best possible service to our customers. It is also the best process for the production of our system of cast decorative, architectural and structural columns for conservatories, gazebos, verandas, patios as well as for interior decoration or renovation purposes.. We use it for the manufacture of the capitals, the bases and the decorative rings, whilst the shafts are extruded. Our columns are much lighter than columns in cast iron.

Cast aluminium is a much better material for producing decorative columns inspired from traditional elegance than cast iron or cast steel, since it is lighter and thus easier to manipumale and to install; it is nearly as load-bearing as cast iron.

The main advantages of sand casting are:

• Swiftness and reasonable cost for the setting-up
• Excellent precision/cost ratio
• Products are easily adapted if necessary
• A perfect process for small to medium-sized quantities
• A perfect process for prototyping
• A perfect process for the production of our proprietary system of bespoke columns. 

But it is a relatively expensive process since it implies a high degree of highly skilled manpower. This explains partly the price of our elements for columns: it is a high-end product. It is made in Belgium, and it is belgian quality.

When it goes about large quantities, we subcontract the work to one of our partners specialized in die-casting. 

The development of the models and of the moulds for our capitals, bases and decorative rings used for the assembly of our columns..

This crucial phase will often imply a close cooperation with the client. 

The aluminium alloys

Many alloys exist, with various properties. These alloys were developed in function of the characteristics required for the casted parts, and in function of their usages. Aluminium is almost never used in its pure form. Alluminum is mixed with silicium, copper, magnesium, titanium, cobalt, etc. The quality of the alloy is measured before the casting, and noted in the "casting report".

In function of the needed characteristics, the casted parts will in some cases be case-hardened (to harden the surface of the part), or case-softened (to release the internal tensions in the metal).

Typical applications for sand casting 

• prototyping in its broad sense (automotive or aeronautical industries)
• small or medium-sized series, with high technical requirements (weapons, racing cars parts, high speed railway transportation)
• art castings, machinery for the food processing or the textile industries, the transportation sector, public lighting, etc.
• any part of complex shape, submitted to high mechanical strains, such as engine blocks, carters for torque converters, boggies for high-speed trains, landing gears...
• and: our system of modular, bespoke and and cut to size columns 

In brief, all applications where: lightness, good resistance to dynamical strain, weld-ability, a good thermal conductivity, etc. are required in various mixes, without necessarily looking towards mass-production.

It is not without reason that the engines and gearboxes of nearly all luxury cars are produced through aluminium sand-casting (much lighter than cast iron). 

 Endless possibilities with our modular columns

Compose your own column

Thanks to our large range of decorative ornaments, you can compose your column as you wish

Simple mounting

With DC-FIX (fixation plates), we ensure a quick and easy installation.

Customised

Any size from xx to xxx m is possible. The customisation that your project needs.

We have the shaft that fits in your project

- The shafts are extruded

- The shafts are available in 5 diameters 60, 80 ,100, 140 and 200 mm, two models-designs  P1= smooth/round or P2= fluted/grooved

- We cut the shafts to your desired length. The maximum lenght of our shaft is 6 metres.

-The column can be used as a decorative element or as a load-bearing element

Decorative column:       

No restriction - all types of shafts are eligible

Load-bearing column:   

Under load, when the post has to offer bearing capacity, the wall tickness and the length of the post determine the application load and the buckling load.

        Via the buckling load report, you can determine which type of shafts are eligible.

  Our large range of ornaments 

Our architectural and ornamental columns are fully modular. This means that all bases, capitals, rings and shafts whithin the same range of diameter can be selected independently. The whole of all elements is delivered in one kit. The composition of the column is done at the workplace.

 Two types of ornaments : Non-structural and structural elements.

Non-structural ornements: ( pedestals, capitals and rings)

The shaft slides through the ornament.

Structural ornements: ( pedestals and capitals)

The shaft is placed on the pedestal. The height of the pedestal extends the column.

A structural capital comes on the top of the shaft and extending the column.

Where is the column placed?

New situation:

Ornaments: all types ornements are eligible

Existing situation:

Replacement or placing a column in an existing environment.

Choose non-structural ornaments where a fixation plate DC-FIX B can be used.

Every situation is different, so you have to ask yourself: How do we place and fix the column?

New sitution + evacuation of rain water:

- Shaft minimum diameter : 100 mm

     DC-100 P1 - round shaft - inner diameter 90 mm

     DC-100 P2 - fluted shaft - inner diameter 82 mm

- Ornaments:

    Capitals: non strucutural element    

    Bases:

• DC-100 TRAD ROY A,
• DC-100 SQUA A or B
• DC-100 SQUA ROY A or B
• DC-100 SQUA A MAX or B MAX
• DC-100 SQUA ROY A MAX or B MAX

How to install our decorative column?

Preparing of the ornaments, preferably with drilling, tapping and grub screws 

 Mounting of the decorative column

 Consult our catalog. Use the filters to obtain all possible ornaments with your possible limitations (such as buckling load, existing situation, drainage).