Troax partitioning creates new r&d lab for Sandvik
Troax UK has used its Toledo modular, cleanroom partitioning system to design a new global r&d laboratory at the Sandvik Hard Materials manufacturing facility in Coventry.
Unusually, the series of seven laboratories incorporate two large, flush glazed vision panels around their entire perimeter to create clear viewing areas for staff outside the cleanroom areas.
Toledo’s modular, easily demountable construction made it an ideal solution for constructing the laboratories, which will be using the latest quality control, product development and testing techniques, focusing on new product and process development. Sandvik wanted to be certain that it had the flexibility to alter the layouts of the laboratories in the future should its requirements change.
The laboratories occupy the whole of the ground floor area of a building totalling several hundred square metres. The area is divided into seven separate laboratories around the perimeter, with low-level barriers bordering a central area.
Two flush glazed wall panels have been incorporated into the laboratory’s design to ensure that the area is light and airy and also to enable staff to view work going on inside the laboratories from outside. Sliding doors, also constructed by Toledo panels and incorporating circular, stainless steel frame vision apertures have been installed as well.
Troax worked on the project with contractor Martins’ Fixings, which installed the partitioning at Sandvik and recommended the Toledo system to the architect, Ark DM of Sheffield, which designed the laboratory.
The Toledo system was chosen for the Sandvik project for its versatility. “Because of its modular design Toledo partitioning is extremely versatile; it’s simple to install and can be easily demounted if layouts need to be altered in the future which was an important consideration for Sandvik,” explained Tony Gavin at Martins’ Fixings.
“Toledo’s flush glazed panels also allowed us to construct the large vision panels that Sandvik requested, creating a practical and useful viewing area for staff working outside the laboratory.”
Specially designed for cleanroom applications, the Toledo system is produced in a steel, monobloc construction and uses an inert and non-particle shedding infill finish. To prevent the collection of particles and ensure easy to clean, smooth surfaces, Toledo is coated in powder paint and has a two-line panel junction and flush line double glazing.