Acoustic panels have become a common feature in offices, schools, hotels, healthcare facilities, and other commercial buildings where controlling noise is important. While much attention is usually given to the panels themselves, the way they are installed has changed very little over the years. Most systems still rely on construction adhesives, making installations messy, permanent, and difficult to modify later.
New Zealand-based DBSorb has taken a different approach. Rather than focusing solely on acoustic products, the company has developed a family of glue-free, demountable mounting systems designed to make acoustic installations faster, cleaner, and easier to adapt over a building’s lifetime. Instead of permanently bonding panels to walls or ceilings, these systems use mechanical clips that allow components to be installed, removed, and reused without damaging the surface.
Among these systems, ReadyClip has become the company’s flagship solution, but it forms part of a broader ecosystem that covers everything from wall panels to suspended ceiling baffles.
Why traditional installations can be limiting
Conventional acoustic panel installations typically use adhesive to fix panels directly onto walls or ceilings. While effective, this approach creates several challenges.
Once glued in place, panels are difficult to remove without damaging either the panel or the wall. Renovations often mean replacing perfectly usable panels because they cannot be removed cleanly. Adhesives can also create downtime while curing, produce construction waste, and, depending on the product used, release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during installation.
DBSorb’s mounting systems aim to eliminate these issues by replacing adhesive with removable mechanical fixings.
ReadyClip: designed for fast installations
ReadyClip is the mounting system featured in many of DBSorb’s installation demonstrations.
Rather than attaching brackets onsite, the clips are factory-fitted to the acoustic panels before delivery. Installers simply position a supplied stencil, secure the matching wall clips with screws, and push the panel into place until it clicks securely into position.
The process removes several common installation steps, including applying adhesive, waiting for it to cure, and cleaning excess glue afterwards.
One demonstration shows a single installer completing 17 metres of acoustic panels in approximately 90 minutes, a speed that would traditionally require considerably more labour depending on the mounting method and site conditions.
Because the panels are mechanically fixed rather than bonded with adhesive, they can also be removed later if a building layout changes or individual panels need replacing.
According to DBSorb, ReadyClip is patent pending (PCT/NZ2023/050003) and is designed for both wall and ceiling acoustic panels. The company also highlights its compatibility with circular building practices by allowing panels to be reused instead of discarded during future renovations.
More than just wall panels
Although ReadyClip receives most of the attention, it is only one member of a larger family of mounting solutions developed for different types of acoustic treatments.
FinLock
FinLock is intended for vertical acoustic fins and baffles, replacing conventional aluminium mounting channels with a lighter mechanical fixing system.
Instead of permanently bonding fins into place, installers can mount and remove them using a clip-based design. DBSorb says this simplifies installation while reducing material use and making future modifications easier.
FinLock with TCR Clip
For suspended ceilings, DBSorb offers a version that works directly with standard Top Cross Rail (TCR) ceiling grids.
Rather than requiring custom framing systems, the acoustic fins can be integrated into existing suspended ceiling infrastructure. The company says this reduces installation complexity while simplifying engineering and seismic detailing for commercial projects.
X-Clip
X-Clip expands the flexibility of the ReadyClip system.
It allows acoustic panels to be mounted perpendicular to the primary clip system while creating an air cavity behind the panel. Besides providing additional design flexibility, this cavity can also contribute to improved acoustic performance depending on the panel construction.
Like the other systems, X-Clip remains fully removable and reusable.
FrameLock
FrameLock is designed for framed acoustic products and freestanding acoustic screens commonly used to divide office spaces.
Instead of relying on permanent mechanical fasteners or adhesive, FrameLock creates a structural connection that allows partitions and screens to be assembled, relocated, and disassembled as workplace layouts evolve.
Suspension Wire and ceiling grid systems
The product range also includes suspension wire systems for hanging acoustic baffles and ceiling rafts, along with slot-in ceiling grid solutions that allow acoustic panels to fit directly into suspended ceiling grids without additional adhesive-based mounting.
Together, these systems cover many of the common acoustic treatments used throughout commercial interiors.
A focus on healthier installations
One of the recurring themes throughout DBSorb’s mounting philosophy is reducing the use of adhesives.
The company describes its systems as VOC-free mounting solutions, meaning the mounting method itself avoids solvent-based construction adhesives that can release volatile organic compounds during installation. Besides creating a cleaner working environment, this also removes the waiting period associated with adhesive curing, allowing finished spaces to be occupied sooner.
Supporting circular construction
Another major advantage is adaptability.
Modern office buildings rarely remain unchanged throughout their lifespan. Departments expand, meeting rooms are reconfigured, and entire office layouts can be redesigned several times over the life of a building.
With traditional glued panels, these changes often result in damaged products being sent to landfill.
DBSorb’s clip-based systems are designed so that panels can be removed, repositioned, or reused without destroying either the panel or the mounting surface. This aligns with the growing emphasis on circular construction, where building components remain in use for as long as possible rather than being discarded during renovations.
Designed for commercial projects
While homeowners could potentially benefit from removable acoustic panels, DBSorb’s systems are primarily aimed at commercial environments.
Architects, interior designers, project managers, and commercial installers are the main audience, particularly for offices, education facilities, healthcare buildings, hospitality venues, and other projects where acoustic treatments are frequently specified.
By supplying panels that arrive ready for installation and using standardised mounting hardware across multiple product types, the company aims to reduce installation time while making future maintenance and refurbishment considerably simpler.
A different way of thinking about acoustic installations
Acoustic panels themselves have continued to evolve in terms of materials, finishes, and performance, but mounting methods have often remained dependent on permanent adhesives.
DBSorb’s approach shifts the focus from the panels alone to the entire installation process. By replacing glue with removable mechanical fixings, the company is attempting to make acoustic treatments quicker to install, easier to maintain, and more practical for buildings that are expected to change over time.
Whether it’s a flat wall panel installed using ReadyClip, a suspended acoustic fin mounted with FinLock, or modular office screens assembled using FrameLock, the common principle remains the same: create acoustic spaces without making the installation permanent.
Source: DBSorb
