Surface World August 2019 Surface World August 2019 | Page 56

ELECTROPLATING, ANODISING & GALVANIZING
Galvanizing business fi t for future
after major expansion project
A leading galvanizing
business has more than
doubled its footprint
following a £1 million
expansion project.
Manchester Galvanizing Ltd has extended
its site by around 5,500 square metres in
a move to improve service, reduce lead
times and create capacity for growth.
The development will also have a significant
impact on the day-to-day operation of the
plant, according to Commercial Manager
Mark Waters.
He said: “This was a substantial project that
will have a major effect on the business and
deliver massive benefits to our customers.
“We have more than doubled the size of our
site and that will give us the capacity we’ve
needed for a while.
Expansion of the site, at Heywood, near
Rochdale, required a feat of engineering
led by in-house specialists at parent
company Wedge Group Galvanizing. “Site restrictions were laid down at the
planning stage, but we went above and
beyond to minimise noise, vibration and
disruption throughout the development work.
“It will make our transport operation far
more efficient by removing the need to
double handle material and ultimately it
gives us the ability to take on more business. A mine shaft more than 50m deep had
to be capped, while the project also involved
the removal of 7,000 tonnes of spoil, the
erection of a new retaining wall and the
installation of drainage. “We’ve also erected sound-proof fencing
around the entire site to hopefully ensure
residents won’t be affected by any noise
in future.”
“It’s a win-win situation for us and, though
it was a project that required a substantial
investment, it’s one that will pay for itself in
the long term and means we’re geared up
for the future.” Mr Waters added: “There was a massive
amount of engineering work involved in
the project and we’ve been acutely aware
of the effect of that on neighbouring homes
and businesses.
“It gives us the yard space to take on larger
jobs than ever before, it improves our service
to customers and will help to significantly
reduce lead times.
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AUGUST 2019
The project will also improve health and
safety on site for both staff and visitors thanks
to the introduction of LED lighting, CCTV
cameras and a one-way system to streamline
the drop-off and collection process.
Visit: www.wedge-galv.co.uk
twitter: @surfaceworldmag