Challenge
Our client, a black and infusions tea manufacturer based in Manchester, green lighted its biggest and most invasive project in its recent history. This project involved the complete upgrade of the full tea manufacturing facility. The £40m project required a complete retooling of all processes which involved modification of existing tea feed, dust extract and other services feeding the lines. What was particularly challenging about this project was that it was to be completed over six phases whereby each phase could not impact any remaining operational tea manufacturing processes adjacent. This was further complicated with all services being distributed in a common void that could not be accessed above existing operational lines. To help solve this challenge Picow were nominated principle designer and principle contractor for the project
Solution
To effectively access all areas above in the service void, Picow with our structural engineering partners, designed and installed a comprehensive temporary support structure which was boarded and sealed from the void ceiling system below. This allowed Picow to design and plan to install all services without the need for inefficient working and enabled us to maintain tight programme requirements. Our scope for the project included all mechanical works involving the removal of all existing services, installation and fabrication of new tea feed lines, buffer hoppers, dust extract systems and compressed air. Our electrical installation included the upgrade of existing control systems and instrumentation in addition to new power and structured cabling systems to new line equipment on the manufacturing floor.
Outcome
Critical to the success of this project was the early engagement of Picows engineering and senior management team. The challenge was not in the scope of work, more so in how we could effectively complete such an invasive project over six phases without affecting any other future phased areas at any one time. The project was completed over a period of 8 months and was a complete success for our client and our ongoing customer focused relationship
