Architectural aluminium glazing specialist, Technal, is to relocate its UK headquarters to a new purpose-designed office and distribution centre near Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The move will more than double capacity, allowing Technal to accommodate both new product stockholding and its ambitious plans for future growth, both in the UK and Ireland.
The new headquarters at Silkwood Park will provide around 70,000sqft of office and warehouse space and represents an investment of over £6m.
Designed by Carey Jones Architects, the building will showcase a number of Technal’s façade products, including the new MX curtain walling system which will be launched in the UK in 2005.
The curtain walling will span 60m along the front elevation, creating a transparent envelope for the offices. MX Trame profiles will be used to accentuate the horizontal lines across the façade and will be finished in dark grey Cendré – Technal’s exclusive flecked high gloss polyester powder coating – to complement the silver cladding panels to the production areas.
Commenting on the move, Bob Welsh, General Manager of Technal, said “Our UK operation has more than tripled in size since the early 90s. Despite this dramatic expansion, we have maintained lead times and customer service, and invested in new product development.”
“We feel the time is now right for the next stage in the development of the business. There is increased demand for our products and we are broadening our range of systems to meet specifiers’ requirements for enhanced thermal performance, visual appeal and ease of fabrication and installation. The relocation will allow us to more than double our stockholding capacity from the end of this year, with space for expansion by a further 17,000sqft.”
“We will also have bigger and better facilities for product development, and for customer training on new products and computer software”
He added, “At Silkwood Park, we have chosen a mixed use site which will provide a high quality working environment for our staff. It is centrally located for easy access to the national motorway network but with vastly reduced congestion. The new building has also given us the opportunity to showcase some of our key products in an architectural situation.”
Technal’s PH doors will feature on the main entrance of the new building. Engineered for use in high traffic areas, this single action pivot door has a patented high security pivot system that is fully concealed in the slim outer frame. The door stiles are shaped for an elegant finish and a specially designed hollow sill ensures superior weather performance.
Internally, the building will have a clean, modern design theme, with ash reception desk and doors, and fritted glass walls.
The main contractors for the project are York House Construction and the glazing fabricators are Airedale Architectural, part of Airedale Glass and Glazing Company Ltd. The headquarters are now under construction and scheduled for occupation at the end of 2004.
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