New Casting bed Means Reduced Lead Time
- Lynden Dighton
- November 1, 2018
- 2:50 pm
Two decades of manufacturing prestressed concrete beams for developers, builders’ merchants, and contractors of all sizes have given our team plenty of opportunities to gain hard-earned experience in the construction industry.
We know that it can be difficult to plan ahead in a highly competitive, cost-conscious industry that is influenced by an ever-increasing range of economic and political factors.
Many will relate to demanding clients, challenging suppliers, and seasonal weather conditions, which add time pressure to a project.
These challenges result in rising pressure to complete work faster and on time, meaning our clients need to get materials and labour on-site quickly and at short notice. Lead times are critical.
We have responded to this need for shorter lead times by investing in a new production line for manufacturing our ‘light’ concrete floor beam. Our manufacturing capacity has recently increased by almost 20%.
Why Light Beam?
The need to increase our inverted T-beam output reflects the direction the industry is moving in. In 2018 – 19, residential developments make up nearly 30% of all new construction orders and beam and block, particularly our narrow section beam, is ideally suited to such projects.
We designed our product range to offer solutions that remain cost effective, whilst addressing each job’s specific requirements. ‘Light’ beam is one of three standard types manufactured at Floorspan.
It weighs 25kg per linear metre, can be moved by hand and is economical due to reduced transport and production costs.
Additionally, it can be combined with polystyrene floor panels to create a floor with a better U-value, which helps to meet building regulations.
All of this makes ‘light’ beam a natural choice for extensions, new dwellings, and large residential developments.
Since production began, we have experienced an increasing demand for this versatile product. A new manufacturing bed means we can meet demand whilst reducing lead time company-wide.
New Light Beam Casting Bed
The bed itself has been built at our production facility in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. It is 58.3 metres long and mean that we can produce an additional 3,500 linear metres, or 88 tonnes, of ‘light’ beam per week.
What this Means For You
This kind of production capacity is having a dramatic effect on how quickly we can get orders on-site. We can currently offer lead times of within five days from the point of approval for block and beam. We are confident that we can continue this for the foreseeable future.
Not every project is time sensitive and each presents its own set of unique pitfalls and pressures. Our philosophy has always been to provide true value by overcoming these issues on behalf of our customers. There is little value in a cheap product if it contains substandard materials, does not include essential parts, or delivery/installation is late. This latest improvement to our infrastructure means that we will continue to respond appropriately to our customer’s requirements with a high value, economical, quality product that is delivered efficiently and promptly.