The North East has received a big boost to manufacturing with the opening of the latest distribution centre at Turbine Business Park in Sunderland.
The 421,000 sq ft building was delivered by building envelope specialist CA Roofing Services in conjunction with GMI Construction Limited, for Vantec Europe.
The structure, which went from conception to completion in just seven months, will be the hub of Vantec Europe’s automotive supply business and is the company’s largest overseas project to-date.
Steve Forster, from CA Roofing Services, explained: “The plot for the project was agreed prior to the construction team coming on board so we were operating within a very clear set of parameters - our objective was to ensure the structure covered as much of the plot as possible, creating maximum space inside the structure and limiting ‘dead space’ around the site.
“This created a challenge as manoeuvrability around the site was restricted. In order to resolve this issue and manage the plant effectively on site we left both ends off the building until work was almost complete. We then worked through the warehouse and used the inside area for storage, as and when required. Speed was of the essence on the project and we were able to put up the structure within 3-4 months”
CA Group's Twin-Therm® technology was selected for the project due to the fact that it provides a fully-walkable cost effective solution which offers a high degree of flexibility and exceptional air tightness levels. Twin-Therm® can be delivered as a carbon neutral envelope and uses man-made mineral fibre insulation, which is non-flammable and complies with UNEP’s (United Nations Environmental Programme) environmental recommendations.
Crucially, the system, which carries a 25 year guarantee, also successfully addresses the issue of water ingress, one of the biggest hidden costs for building owners, by eliminating fastener penetrations that go directly from the outside to the inside of the building – making it leak-free.
Another interesting feature on the building is the use of colour banding which has enabled the developer to brand the structure with their own unique signature.
Adopting a long-term view enabled the project team to ensure that the benefits would continue to resonate even after the building reaches the end of its useful life, through the use of materials which do not deliver any unforeseen disposal costs for the owner – a significant problem facing many building owners today.
Forster concluded: “We are extremely excited to have been involved with this project and for the future employment opportunities which it will bring to the region.”
