2 minute read
See Inside: The Weston Group ‘housebuilding factory’ in Braintree
In January 2019, Weston Logistics, part of housebuilder Weston Group, opened its new £12m ‘housebuilding factory’ in Braintree. We take a look inside and explore some of the facts & figures behind the site.
Weston Group’s new state-of-the-art “housebuilding factory” will be able to build off-site up to 5,000 new homes per annum
Weston Group forecast that within the next 10 years technology will allow for new homes to be fully manufactured off-site by robots and computer-assisted engineering tools
The new computerised complex can also assemble bespoke customer orders – up to 60 plots per day – typically a kitchen pack, bathroom pack and other fittings and finishes
The new complex offers 60,000 sqft of warehousing space, a 10,000 sqft state-of-the-art manufacturing, assembly and quality-control workshop and 5,000 sqft of high-tech offices
The vast new 75,000 sqft (6,970m2) distribution and build-off-site complex is one of the most advanced in the UK construction industry
Computer controlled wire-guided system fitted to the floor and storage isles allows for the computer-assisted Toyota folk-lift trucks in the complex to operate safely and precisely at extremely high-speeds
The workshop allows for raw materials to be cut and assembled into items such as bedroom wardrobes, bathroom vanity units and bathroom cabinets
The 10,000 sqft state-of-the-art manufacturing, assembly and quality-control workshop is designed around a series of conveyor belts and stillages-on-wheels
Constructed over a period of 18 months, the complex currently has 40 staff, including technical engineers previously employed at Airbus Industries
Once fully operational, the logistics division will provide over 60 new jobs
Sophisticated IT allows raw materials, goods and components being freighted from suppliers around the world to be tracked via GPS from the complex’s control centre
Effectively a ‘housebuilding factory’, the new hybrid plant introduces automotive-industry style logistics, assembly and quality-control to the homebuilding sector
An advanced storage and retrieval system (ASRS) has items barcoded and stored in a 60,000 sqft, 26 feet (8 metre) high pallet racking complex with 27 storage isles – complex can hold over 8,000 pallets and other materials
Located on a high-security 3.5 acre site the new £12 million Braintree Logistics Centre is a huge 33 feet high (10m) warehouse and manufacturing complex
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