Gloucester-based Coldstore construction specialist ISD Solutions has finished work on its largest ever project, helping build what is believed to be the UK’s tallest high bay freezer warehouse in Lincolnshire.
The facility, constructed for Magnavale in Easton, near Grantham, is a giant, 101,000 pallet coldstore standing at 47.5m high.
The technologically advanced Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) warehouse is designed with an energy efficient external envelope and will operate entirely on renewable energy.
ISD Solutions was the first UK company to build a high-bay clad rack warehouse – so-called because the internal racking supports the cladding envelope – in 2009, and has also pioneered ‘single envelope’ construction since installing the first of its type in the UK, over 20 years ago.
Now it has designed and installed all the exterior cladding on the brand new £130m development for Magnavale, including the high and low bay warehouses, adjacent office block and plant room.
Following successful projects in Warrington and Chesterfield, the new development brings ISD’s portfolio of work with Magnavale to just under £20m in the past three years.
The new building is due to be fully operational later this year, after the construction phase is fully complete and with a month needed to gradually bring the interior down to freezing temperature.
Once finished, it will be the latest addition to the UK’s warehousing stock – addressing a shortage issue brought into stark focus following Brexit and during the Covid pandemic.
“We are extremely proud to be involved with such a landmark project and to be one of the trusted ‘client direct’ contractors for the scheme,” said Jason Denning, director of industrial and commercial projects at ISD Solutions.
“We believe that the finished building, with its energy efficient design, physical proportions and unique aesthetic features, sets it apart from all previous similar facilities and will raise the bar for future temperature controlled ASRS buildings.”
Standing at over 150 metres long and 100 metres wide, construction of the Easton facility required ISD Solutions to install almost 60,000m2 of composite Kingspan Cold Store quadcore panel and 18,500m2 of floor insulation, incorporating high density thermal blocks to support the building structures.
ISD’s special projects team also designed the facility’s low-bay freezer envelope, split over three mezzanine levels and standing at 24m high. The completed project includes 28 conveyor airlocks, each with two rapid roll airtight doors to minimise hypoxic air loss, with a further 28 fire rated shutters for fire compartmentalisation.
Meanwhile 20 loading dock pods each feature inner dock freezer rapid action doors, with strict humidity controlled via a bespoke dehumidification system.
All elements had to be delivered and constructed within a footprint restricted on all sides presenting logistical and storage challenges
Jonathan Gagg, director at Magnavale’s parent company Sadel Group, said: “Once in operation, in late 2024, we expect that the Easton development will transform frozen storage and value-added capabilities across the UK, allowing our partners to cut unnecessary cost, risk and complexity within their cold chain. We thank the team from ISD Solutions for their exceptional work on this project and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
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