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The design specification for the internal and external line markings included the use of Quaker RapidShield™ for the internal markings and a combination of Thermoplastic Screed, Methyl Methacrylate and Preformed Thermoplastic for the external markings.
Clearly visible from the M5 Motorway, Morrisons massive new £90 million Regional Distribution Centre in Somerset will be fully operational early in 2012 andwill serve all its 65 stores in the South West of England and South Wales.
The striking green building is clad with horizontal panels of various willowcoloursall inspired by the famous ‘Willow Man’ which stands close by, overlooking the motorway.
The Centre has an overall floor area of 760,000 square feet comprising ambient, chilled and frozen warehouses. To ensure the safety of the 1,000 staff to be employed at the site, over 6,000metresof safety walkway lines and 500 pedestrian symbols were required.
When fully operational, some 1.8 million cases will be moving through the site each week. With such heavy pedestrian, fork lifts and trailer traffic, DLA Architects knew that the long-term durability of these lines and symbols would be paramount and that the selection of the coating used to create them was vital. ‘Cutting corners’ on the type of materials used could mean that they might fade, and deteriorate and have to be replaced sooner than anticipated - causing massive disruption and costing more money in the long run.
A representative for DLA Architects explained: ''After rigorous testing, and comparing various products we worked with the Morrisons team to specify RapidShield™. Morrisons had previous experience of the durability and cleanability of RapidShield™ at other sites and this, coupled with the right price and the fact that it could be applied and cured much quicker than conventional coatings, proved to us that we only really had one choice.”
Main Contractor Bowmer & Kirkland appointed CertifiedRapidShieldContractor - Quality Marking Services Ltd,who was tasked with marking out internal and external markings to all the safety walkways, parking bays and service roads, using the latest materials, equipment and installation techniques. Greg Clark Operations Director for Quality Marking Services Ltd commented: “This was a mammoth project with very tight timescales and required a huge amount of careful planning and logistics coordination. For the internal markings, we used the advanced QuakerRapidShield™ paint system. The system uses Ultra Violet light to instantly cure the specially formulated paint, enabling us to hand back the work space far quicker than traditional methods.”
Quality Marking Services Ltd completed the contract well within the seven weeks allocated. The initial ‘snagging list’ issued by Bowmer & Kirkland confirmed there was no remedial requirement needed for any of the markings applied – a great testimony to the quality of the products used together with the skill and conscientious approach of all the Quality Marking Services Ltd operatives involved.
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