The UK’s factories are rapidly evolving into highly efficient hubs that are harnessing smart technology, automation and robots to transform production methods.
The digital transformation in this fourth industrial revolution – known as Industry 4.0 – has seen the advent of smart manufacturing, delivering enhanced productivity and agility in manufacturing and distributing of products and services.
With more than 40 years’ experience, Clegg Food Projects understands the ever-changing demands that factories and developments like data centres need to keep pace with these huge technological changes.
Here our business development manager Oliver Jenkins discusses how our skills in building advanced manufacturing facilities can come to the fore amid these exciting developments…
What is a smart factory and why are they growing in importance?
A smart factory is a high-tech upgrade to traditional manufacturing. As manufacturing becomes more dependent on technology than ever before, developing a smart factory or the development of data centres involves careful planning and consideration.
Real-time data analytics, robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are among the advancements that experts predict will drive the nation’s future prosperity and enhance its standing on the global stage.
According to the World Robotics report in 2023, there were 553,052 industrial robot installations in factories around the world, an increase of 5% on the previous year.
By investing in flexible technologies, focusing on sustainability and making cybersecurity a priority, manufacturers believe they can use these new methods to improve efficiency, quality and levels of production.
Although the methods inside a smart factory will continue to evolve through automation and interconnected systems, these specialist facilities must still be both people and product-safe, a philosophy at the core of what Clegg Food Projects does.
What experience does Clegg Food Projects have with smart factories?
Our expertise and reputation for delivering exceptional buildings in the food and drink sector and beyond over the last 40 years gives us invaluable experience to meet the increasing demand for advanced manufacturing facilities.
We understand the needs of companies with specific building requirements – from electronics and robotics to defence and aerospace. Whether you need a new factory or a refurbishment of your existing facility, we can help your company reach a new level of success.
What facilities do smart factories require?
We work with companies that use a wide range of robotic assembly lines, electronics, laboratories, data centres and premises that can house heavy technology.
Despite their differences, there are common requirements, including the need for safe, clean, fire-rated and well-ventilated facilities, whether for a food production line or car assembly processes.
We can assist with:
- Creating ‘clean room’ and temperature-controlled environments for premises making electronic devices, medical equipment, batteries and pharmaceuticals
- Upgrading power supplies and installing new technologies for complex installations
- Temperature control facilities such as refrigeration for data centres or dairies
- Accommodating increased floor loading, including for vibrating equipment
- Reconfiguring factories on ‘live’ working sites
- Ensuring specific drainage needs, such as in dairy production, to contain chemicals and prevent leakage
- Creating new sites to accommodate large process equipment in advance of the surrounding walls and roof being built
- Designing safe assembly spaces for robotics, research and development sections and new product development labs
- Safely managing dangerous gases – such as hydrogen – dust, fumes and creating ‘explosive-resistant’ industrial environments
- Implementing cage systems around production and robots
- Creating advanced fire safety protection in the battery, chemical and alcohol-producing industries
- Utilising renewable and sustainable technologies in the design phase to include car charging points, solar panels and high levels of insulation
Which manufacturing sectors does Clegg Food Projects operate in?
We collaborate with clients across a range of sectors, including electronics, robotics, hydraulics, hydrogen fuel, aerospace and defence, and the auto industry, to address their complex manufacturing processes.
A key aspect of our building strategy is integrating sustainable technologies and efficient energy solutions for our clients, from new builds to extensions, expansions and complete refurbishments.
What facilities do data centres require?
We can create world-class facilities for the booming data centre sector, providing the ideal locations for storing the computing infrastructure that IT systems need, such as servers and data storage drives.
Data centres require huge amounts of energy to operate their systems along, with vital elements of physically secure facilities. They need clean room – and potentially anti-static – environments and advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
What smart factory projects has Clegg Food Projects worked on?
Our impressive portfolio of work includes the fit-out of listed aerospace and defence sector manufacturer and FTSE 100 company Meggitt’s new facility, managing and installing complex building service requirements.
We also built a new 75,000 sq ft factory for global robotics company CMR Surgical in Cambridge. The project incorporated clean rooms, assembly lines and also included sustainable features such as rainwater harvesting and PV arrays.
Clegg was appointed as the principal contractor by ITM Power plc to carry out a major refurbishment and fit-out of its facility in Bessemer Park, Sheffield. It involved the installation of specialist rooms and zones to meet the research and manufacturing requirements of the business, which makes hydrogen electrolysers that produce low-carbon and sustainable energy for the transport industry.
With a 20-year working relationship with the leading bakery chain Greggs plc, we were appointed to design and build a new fully automated high bay cold store at a base in Newcastle Upon Tyne. The work included extensive groundworks and piling installations to cope with the high structure and the volume and weight of the stored products.
We worked closely with specialist equipment suppliers for the complex fit-out, cooling and automated storage retrieval system (ASRS). We are currently undertaking phase two of the site development which includes a state-of-the art high-care manufacturing space, research and development, new product development kitchens and a training centre.
Currently ‘live’ on site, we are undertaking specialist projects for defences, electronics and electric vehicle sectors. These include a new building for hydraulics manufacturer Parkinson Technologies that supplies the automotive sector, including electric vehicles.
Other projects include a new electric vehicle charging and service station for Gridserve and a production expansion at Schneider Electric’s manufacturing facility in Leeds
How does your food and drink industry experience help with smart factories?
Our expertise in creating complex and specialised food manufacturing facilities, including sandwich factories, bakeries, breweries and vertical farms, underlines our understanding of finding the best bespoke solutions.
We can work at speed to tight deadlines, particularly when new product launches require more manufacturing space, often on sites that are still operational, ensuring people and product safety is at the forefront.
Why should a smart factory or data centre developer speak to Clegg Food Projects?
We collaborate closely with our clients from start to finish, identifying the flow of processes and the key building specifications they need. We consider the raw material processing and what will be involved in fabricating, assembling and finishing the goods ready for dispatch.
Our 40 years of experience has given us a solid, trusted base from which to design and construct leading manufacturing and distribution facilities. We are successfully matching our core skills to new sectors, resulting in 2023 being our best year in the company’s history.
We have the expertise to understand the needs of the rapidly advancing sectors we work with, embracing the need for huge technological change while incorporating efficiency and low carbon at every stage.
Talk to our advanced manufacturing experts today
Whether you require a new factory or refurbished premises to accommodate your smart technology, automation and robotic systems and data centres, please get in touch with our specialists today to discuss your needs.
Email us at foodprojects@clegggroup.co.uk or call us on 0115 841 3121.