Race Cottam - Industrial Development - Rotherham, Manufacturer Plans Green Expansion
Date: 05 Jun 2007
International manufacturer AESSEAL has proved that being green is not just a flight of fancy!
The multi-award winning company is planning the latest expansion of its Rotherham headquarters and production plant around the nesting season of neighbouring lapwings and other birds on its site.
AESSEAL is working with leading South Yorkshire architects Race Cottam Associates on the 30,000 sq ft extension, which will add extra production and new conference space to the site.
Construction work will start in October this year and finish in March to avoid disturbing the nesting birds on the specially created wetlands and wildlife area at the company's Bradmarsh Industrial Estate site.
Two years ago Race Cottam worked with company chiefs to turn a reclaimed slag tip into a wetland and wildlife nature reserve. A pond was excavated which has created a habitat for many species including lapwings, skylarks, ducks, dragon flies, herons and other wading birds.
AESSEAL recently became the only manufacturing company in Yorkshire and Humber to be awarded platinum status by the Business in the Community Environmental Index.
Lapwings are farmland birds which have suffered a significant decline in the last 25 years. They are a protected species because of the importance of their UK wintering population to biodiversity in the country.
The planned extension forms the fourth phase of development at AESSEAL's Rotherham site and cements a 12 year partnership with Race Cottam.
The Sheffield-based practice is currently on site supervising completion of internal improvements and extension of AESSEAL's high-tech testing and research facility.
Race Cottam director Dave Cottam said: "Not only is AESSEAL a highly prestigious partner on both a local and an international level, it also shares Race Cottam's sensitivity towards environmental issues. Green solutions form a key part of the entire site and also form part of our ongoing masterplan for this important wetland habitat.
"All phases of the project highlight our position as a renowned full service practice, from building a factory from scratch 12 years ago to its ongoing expansion and development."
AESSEAL is an international company, with subsidiaries in 30 countries, employing more than 1,000 people, and exporting 80% of its production to 83 countries. It entered the global mechanical seals industry in 1981 and is now one of the major specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems. Mechanical seals are used in pumps and rotating equipment to prevent liquids and gases escaping into the environment.
AESSEAL's Gordon Bridge said: "We are delighted to be working with Race Cottam on this ongoing development which will greatly enhance our production, testing and conferencing capacity at our Global Technology Centre here in Rotherham."
Artist's impression of the planned extension to AESSEAL's Rotherham headquarters.
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