New machinery brings environmental and operational improvements

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In line with our ISO environmental accreditation and our ongoing commitment to the reduction of waste from our manufacturing processes, Britplas has installed 2 brand new, 306 series balers at our Warrington factory.

The balers will be used for both cardboard and polythene and will allow for improved monitoring of recycling levels, however each baler has the capacity to also process textiles, paper and general waste.

In addition to the recycling benefits, the new plant means fewer skips and more efficient removal of waste, with fewer journeys required to transport compacted material. The half-ton balers are key to Britplas’ wider sustainability program, with other recent initiatives including the installation of new power points for electric cars and the replacement of most of the Britplas fleet with more fuel efficient vehicles and a drive to reduce paper waste in the office

Reflective of Britplas’ commitment to improved environmental performance and operational efficiency, the new balers are an important part of our factory investment plan for 2016.

Investment in tech helps Britplas slicken sales process

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Last year Britplas invested in a 3d printer, purchased to reduce costs and time lines associated with developing new parts or new design ideas. Prototypes can now be turned around in hours rather than weeks at a greatly reduced cost, helping address sometimes troublesome design issues and so ensuring the right solution is offered.

Through printing and sending cross sections of bespoke curtain walling solutions, the sales team was able to visually demonstrate new ideas and designs to both contractors and architects, achieving the best possible result for all. This method was used to solve a number of small but critical design issues on a large project which Britplas successfully tendered for this summer.

The printer works by digitally slicing up a CAD model into a series of layers, each layer is then fed to a heated extruder at 230 degrees, liquefying a plastic polymer before rapidly solidifying to form the desired shape.

Ben Woodward, Britplas Pre-Installations Manager commented ‘We are always looking to help clients and their design teams when looking at unusual or challenging façade design issues and the new printer has definitely made a significant difference in testing ideas and confirming via practical demonstration that certain concepts are viable’.

Britplas turns 10!

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Britplas has marked its 10th anniversary with an action packed company day at the ChillFactore in Manchester.

The company was incorporated on 15th September 2006 and has experienced rapid growth since then, now employing over 80 people and turning over £15m+.

Much of the business’ early success was based on sales of the patented, award-winning Safevent window. Developed specifically for the mental health sector, and designed, manufactured and fitted by Britplas, the company has now installed over 45,000 of them in healthcare facilities throughout the UK and across the globe.

The last few years have seen Britplas expand successfully into the more general commercial glazing sector, with several large façade projects underway and completed across the UK.

Friday’s event saw the whole Britplas team down tools and enjoy an afternoon’s team-building activities on the slopes, and staff were also updated on the company’s progress against its business plan and strategy moving forward.

Double win as Britplas stays strong for mental health

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Continuing its role as market leader in the UK mental health fenestration market, Britplas has recently secured two large contracts with Birmingham and Solihull (BSMHT) and South London and Maudsley (SLAM) Mental Health Trusts. Their values combined total over £1 million, and involve a total of 350 aluminium award winning Safevent windows which are to be fabricated and installed before Christmas, ensuring a busy run up to the festive period.

The smaller of the two projects is at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, with 150 windows split between 3 buildings over 2 sites. Our installation team will have to rely on their vast experience to complete this refurbishment in a ‘live’ sensitive supervised care environment; the install schedule is spread over 15 weeks to minimise disruption.

The larger project at Maudsley Hospital in Camberwell, South London requires 200 Safevent windows over 2 buildings as part of its refurbishment program. Like its Birmingham counterpart, Maudsley is also a live site but with additional resource planned in for the duration and working closely with the clinical teams on site, the install schedule will be only 8 weeks.

Britplas’ Business Development Manager for Mental Health, Paul Guest commented ‘We continue to build strong working relationships with some of the UKs biggest mental health trusts, where a mutual understanding of the delicate situation and need for quality assurance is an absolute must from all parties involved. We’re delighted that both SLAM and BSMHT continue to choose Britplas for all their fenestration needs.’

Britplas win £2m façade package for new Cambridge University building

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Britplas break new ground with Project Capella

Britplas’ Facades division continues to build on its current order book with the awarding of Project Capella, part of Cambridge University’s Biomedical Campus with a package value in excess of £2m.

The six-storey 18,000sq m centre is being built by Kier Major Projects (KMP) and will be located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus next to the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. The building will provide state-of-the-art research laboratories alongside office and meeting suites in a collaborative environment designed to stimulate the exchange of ideas.

Externally the building features a two-storey glazed box with gold metal detailing and double height entrance foyer, while the spine is to be clad in a flat-faced graphite panel. A variety of materials have been selected to define specific elements of the structure and to create interest on the external façade.

Britplas’ role within the project has two distinct stages, with the first involving the installation of over 800m2 of Schüco FW60+ curtain walling into precast concrete panels, which will then be lifted into place using a specially constructed rig. This will be the first time that this type of lift has been employed for this size of panel in the UK, and Britplas, along with their precast concrete panel supplier has undertaken extensive testing of the rig at pre-construction stage to ensure safe delivery and handling on site.

The second stage of the project will see Britplas delivering, installing and finishing over 1500m2 of curtain walling and over 1250m2 of cladding – completing the full façade building package.

Britplas are on site from September, with an expected completion date of June 2017. The development is due for overall completion in Q2 2018, and aims to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Britplas continues to strive to deliver innovative and reliable solutions to the construction industry, building on each success to help maintain their high levels of quality and service.

John Blackwell, Britplas Commercial Director “We are extremely proud to be appointed by Kier Major Projects to complete the façade package at Project Capella. We worked closely with the KMP team at St Bernard’s Hospital, Ealing so it is particularly pleasing they chose us again to deliver another landmark scheme.”

 

Schuco FW60 into precast concrete panels

The first lift of its kind in the UK

Bunker Building is a winner in RIBA Awards

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RIBA North West have announced that ten projects were winners of 2016 RIBA Regional Awards, in recognition of their architectural excellence, including the Bunker Building in Liverpool where Britplas completed the fenestration package last year.

The Bunker Building is the former Littlewoods storage building which has been remodelled by architects Shedkm to provide flexible office space for developer Capital and Centric.

Britplas provided aluminium curtain walling, casement windows and doors to the project.

Having shortlisted 17 buildings, the RIBA judging panel visited all shortlisted projects over a week in March and reached a decision to award 10 RIBA Regional Awards at a prestigious ceremony hosted by BBC 6 Music’s Stuart Maconie at The Bluecoat in Liverpool, attended by members of the profession from across the North West.

North West Regional Jury Chair, Mushtaq Saleri, commented:

“The 2016 North West Awards are testament to the strength of architecture in the region today. With a record number of entries even the shortlisting process was difficult, the judging even more so.

“The judges were impressed by the dedication and commitment of the architects we met along the way, matched by clients who were clearly thrilled to have been involved in the special projects recognised by the visits. The vastly differing functions, scale, complexity and budgets make comparisons between the winning schemes impossible. The fact that we were equally moved by a delightful private residence and (in the same afternoon) a state-of-the-art laboratory facility proves that architects can have a positive influence in all areas of our lives.

“It has been inspiring to have been privy to these remarkable buildings and to have shared the stories behind their conception and construction. We congratulate all the architects and design teams involved and in particular the clients who continue to support our profession and all it represents The RIBA Awards recognise how this unique relationship can deliver something truly special”.

Britplas’ case study on the Bunker Building can be viewed here.

The full list of RIBA North West winners can be seen here.

 

 

New version launched of Safevent anti-ligature window

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safevent accessBritplas has launched a new version of its award-winning Safevent anti-ligature window, the Safevent Access.

Retaining all the innovative features that have made the Safevent the number one window for mental health facilities such as an anti-ligature design, excellent natural ventilation and uncompromised security, the Safevent Access has an opening sash to allow for easier maintenance and increased flexibility.

The Safevent Access is available in aluminium with an internal or external sliding sash.

Contact us today to book a visit from our mobile demonstration unit to see the window in action.

Britplas starts new facade contract at Milton Park

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MEPC-Milton-Park-facade

Britplas has started work on the first of two new office blocks under construction at Milton Park, Oxfordshire. Selected by main contractor Barnwood Construction as the preferred glazing contractor and façade installer, Britplas presented the client with an innovative solution designed in-house by our specialist team.

The design solution included combining both curtain walling, brise soleil and rainscreen cladding within one system, reducing both the number of trades and time spent on-site. Britplas also chose to have the entire framework fitted with gaskets off-site to reduce the risk of complications during the installation period.

The 2500m2 Schüco curtain walling system is now being installed in line with the 12 week build programme. Glazing on the second building is set to start in early April with both office blocks due to be occupied in the autumn.

Ben Woodward, Operations Manager, Britplas said: “It is fantastic to see the commencement of the façade installation at Milton Park. The team have worked extremely hard to ensure that every detail has been considered. These projects further demonstrate the high level of in house design, manufacture and delivery capabilities by Britplas and we look forward to building on the relationships developed with the client, contractor and supply chain.”

Thames Lodge opens – the new medium secure unit at WLMHT

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This month saw the opening of Thames Lodge – the new 80 bed medium secure unit at St Bernard’s Hospital in London. The unit’s windows and glazing were supplied and fitted last year by Britplas and include an innovative curtain walling solution as well as our award-winning Safevent window.

Read our case study here.

Safevent window chosen for P21+ NHS procurement framework

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Britplas has been chosen as a preferred component supplier for the P21+ mental health scheme.

The ProCure21+ National Framework is a framework agreement with six Principal Supply Chain Partners (PSCPs) and their supply chains, selected by OJEU tender process for capital investment construction schemes. Any NHS client or joint-venture may use the framework for a capital construction scheme without having to go through the OJEU process themselves.

Born from Government initiatives to save money whilst retaining high standards of care, the P21+ is an NHS procurement framework that achieves efficiencies through standardisation of components and room layouts.

Following a testing and selection process, the Britplas Safevent window has been installed at the P21+ 4 bed bay sample room at the Static System Group’s showroom, Staffordshire. This facility provides Trusts, stakeholders and healthcare professionals with the chance to experience the repeatable room benefits and see the Standard Components in use.  A booking system is in operation, accessed by emailing: p21ward@staticsystems.co.uk

There are currently over 180 active P21+ schemes, with total savings to the NHS on completed schemes estimated at £1.3m. The scheme’s Repeatable Rooms initiative, where products from each preferred component supplier make up many of the fixtures and fittings for each bed or ward room, has won the British Construction Industry Award 2015 for Product Design Innovation.

“We are delighted to have come through a testing selection process and be now be a supplier for the P21+ process. We look forward to working closely with the client (The Department of Health), their architects and the PSCP’S to help create a more stimulating environment for treatment and rehabilitation,” notes Neil Guest, Britplas’ UK Sales Manager.

“This is another example of the Britplas team’s drive and determination to be at the forefront of the UK’S leading initiatives involving innovation, collaborative working and cost efficiencies across a number of commercial sectors.”